Canoeing & Hiking in Algonquin Park, Ontario
Meet our Team
2011 Summer Season
The key to the success of our programs is our guides. It is their knowledge, their skills, and their enthusiasm that unites the key elements we have developed.
We select our guides carefully and then put them through an intensive training and apprenticeship program to provide them with the skills and knowledge to place them in that elite category of the best in the business. They are committed to personal and professional growth and to your satisfaction.
<<SUMMER – STAFF>>
During the summer of 2011 Paul Reid(Owner) , Marg Reid and Rene Marchildon(Paul & Marg’s son) wil be taking care of the dogkennel together with our Belgian crew (Kevin Vandenbussche - Dries Van Hecke – Seppe Maes). The Belgians will also be guiding the canoe/hiking – trips.
The summer team will be reinforced by energetic adolecents: James Payne & Alec Duric.
PAUL REID
I am 8th generation Canadian. My father was an avid bushman who instilled a love of the wilderness in his children. My mother emigrated from England in early 1900 & settled in the bush north of Dryden. Dog teams were very much a part of their lives. Growing years were spent hiking & canoeing throughout Ontario & during this time I developed a special love for the Algonquin wilderness. I taught elementary school level in southern Ontario for 17 years before coming north to South River to devote full time to my passion for sled dogs & the wilderness experience. This year marks 35 years providing educational/recreational dog sledding programs.
MARG REID
Marg is Paul’s wife of 39 years. Her parents were also pioneer spirits who spent time in the Peace River district ministering to the needs of the residents. Marg is a graduate of Kempville College of Agricultural Technology where her focus was Home Economics. She worked in hospitals as a food supervisor. Her responsibilities at Chocpaw are managing the kitchen & food services, and special dietary needs of clients, feeding a large staff, & doing all the buying of food & equipment. Marg is extremely creative & artistic and works in the entertainment industry in the off season as a seamstress & wardrobe mistress for stage shows & the movie industry
RENE MARCHILDON
Rene is Paul & Marg’s son. He has been involved with the business for more than 20 years & running dogs for almost 30 years. Although the last few years Rene’s focus has been racing he continues to contribute preseason to trail work & camp setting, & the breaking & training of pups. Rene is one of the top mid distance racers in the country. For more on his racing effort see the
DRIES VAN HECKE
Dries Van Hecke originated from Belgium and born in Ghent is part of our full – time staff. He is 25 years young and lives life by challenge. Influenced by his bachelor studies in physical education and kinetics, addicted to a good portion of adrenaline and inspired by the love for outdoor lifestyles Dries made his way over to Canada to fullfill his personal Canadian dream. This is the fourth year that Dries is guiding for Chocpaw. His experience extends into numerous outdoor activities… He loves the mental challenge in traditional climbing and mountaineering, has a passion for the exertion to be found in trailrunning and distance swims, practices skills like slacklining, snowboarding/skiing, paragliding and canoeing etc… Lead by example is Dries’ motto. He is inspiring to be around, his energy is very contageous and persues exelence in guiding skills, dogcare, leading expeditions, accomodating clientelle and canoeing.
Dries is looking foreward to welcome you and show you around in the green heart of Ontario, Algonquin Parc.
Either on dogsled or in the canoe he will accpompany you with humerous remarks positive spirit and a strong will to make wonderfull experiences come true!
Cassandra brooks
Is new to the team and the guiding industry. Cassandra is from Toronto, she grew up in the city but always felt the call for the wilderness inside. She studied Child and youthwork at Centennial College and worked two years full – time as a frontline child and Youth Worker at Youthdale treatment centers in Magnetawan. Cassandra moved North, in the direction of her roaring passion for the outdoor lifestyles.
Cassandra has been around,… She found Chocpaw Expeditions last winter and functioned as a fill in support staff on a few trips and has been helping trough the summer maintaining the kennel.
Cassandra is very outgoing and radiates a wave of positive energy that will rub off on all the participants.
She brings her extended experience with youth to chocpaw with intentions to learn new things, meet new people and to deliver an outstanding experience on sleds !
Kris Sampson
This will be Kris’ sixht season at ‘Chocpaw Expeditions’. His guiding background ranges from rafting in Alberta, tracking grizzly bears in BC to participating in a guide exchange program in Zambia. Kris is also entering his 4th season racing for Chocpaw as a successfull mid distance racer in Ontario, Quebec and the USA. Kris is working towards his goal of building a competative racing kennel of his own. Kris shares the position of vice president of “the ontario federation of sled dogs sports” (OFSS), a club who’s goal is to bring together all dog powered sports.
James Payne
Alec Duric
Contacting Chocpaw Expeditions