Dog Sledding in Algonquin Park, Ontario
Meet our Dog Sled Guides & Team
2007-2008 Winter Season
The key to the success of our dog sledding programs is our guides. It is their knowledge, their skills, and their enthusiasm that unites the key elements we have developed over our years in Algonquin Park. We select our guides carefully and then put them through an intensive dog sled 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. Each fall, they descend on South River, Ontario with new energy and ideas to prepare for a new dog sledding season. They are committed to personal and professional growth and to delivering to you a dog sled experience you shall cherish and tell stories about for years to come.
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 34 years providing educational/recreational dog sledding programs.
MARG REID
Marg is Paul’s wife of 38 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 & works in the entertainment industry in the off season as a seamstress & wardrobe mistress for stage shows & the movie industry.
KATE REID
Kate Reid, Paul’s neice, is Program Manager at Chocpaw Expeditions. Kate graduated from nursing school in 1990 and spent the next decade working overseas with various development and aid organizations. In 1993 she began working with Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders and for the next several years worked in a variety of settings including war zones, refugee camps, famine and disease epidemics.
Ultimately her path brought her home to Canada, to the dogs and the outdoors. With a Reid family history that goes back 10 generations in Canada, Kate grew up with stories of life and survival in Ontario’s north. It was her grandfather, James Reid, that taught her camping, canoeing and fishing, and passed on a love for the Canadian wilderness. Initially involved at Chocpaw to help out, her passion for the business grew. Kate strives to make Chocpaw both successful and sustainable in all areas. Although she enjoys the rush and intensity of the winter season, she takes great pleasure in the off-season as that is when she gets to spend time with the dogs.
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 RACE PAGE.
DONNA ARCHER
Donna is a teacher with the Peel District Board of Education teacher in the Brampton area. She has been a weekend warrior since her start many years ago, always and will continue to guide this winter part-time.
“This will be my 13th season guiding for Chocpaw since falling in love with the dogs and the sport 14 years ago.”
CINDY BARRAND
After 4 years as an integral part of Chocpaw Expeditions Cindy took her love for the sport to Alaska. She managed a kennel & guided tours on the glacier for the summer. This fall & winter Cindy is working with Ken Anderson , an Alaskan racer, pursuing her dream to run the Yukon Quest 1000 mile sled dog race. We wish her luck in this new venture.
LISA FERRIS
Graduated from the Parks & Forest Rec program at Sir Sanford Fleming with post-grad studies in Eco-tourism. She is returning this season for her sixth year at Chocpaw.
Lisa’s interest is conservation & making eco friendly life style choices. She is very enthusiastic about her work & makes very evident her commitment to the dogs & the experience.
DON GLAUDE
Graduated from Outdoor Rec and Natural Resource programs at Sir Sanford Fleming. Copious canoeing and wilderness tripping experience including dog sledding in the Temagami region of Ontario.
Don & Amy & baby Etienne move south this fall but Don will be back to lear a couple trips this winter.
LIZ JONES
Graduated from Outdoor Rec & Management programs at Sir Sanford Fleming and completed an internship at Haliburton Outdoor Centres. She is pursuing studies and a career in dog training and obedience. Liz is returning to guide at Chocpaw for her seventh season this winter.
"My love for the dogs is what keeps me coming back. I first came to Chocpaw to visit a friend and I was invited to go on a night run with the guides. It was quoted as "one of the worst runs ever", but I had a blast."
Liz has started her own dog care & training business in Southern Ontario. Her ever increasing knowledge & skills are a real asset to this staff.
DREA LATFORD
Graduated from Seneca College in Outdoor Rec program and began guiding at Chocpaw in the 1998/99 season. She guided here for 5 winters and returned to University to pursue an undergrad degree and work towards teacher's college.
With the heavy load of education behind her Drea hopes to be able to do some guiding this winter.
JEN MCFARLANE
Jen is a graduate of Adventure Tourism Management from Sir Sanford Fleming College, & a Parks & Outdoor Recreation Technician from Sault College. Jen has extensive experience in outdoor recreation having worked in the ski industry, as a river rafting guide, a canoe & kayak guide and as program director at two camps. Jen spent this summer at Algonquin Outfitters putting her organizational skills to use.
This will be Jen’s fourth season leading trips at Chocpaw Expeditions. Jen is known as a hard working guide with an excellent sense of humour.
GRAEME MITCHELL
Graduated from Outdoor Rec program at Seneca College and gained extensive canoe tripping and leadership experience before coming to Chocpaw six winters ago. Graeme has a strong philosophy on wilderness tripping which he demonstrates through everything he does and passes this on to clients and fellow staff members alike. He is an excellent dog man & his introspective approach to running dogs & tripping has made him very successful & an outstanding guide.
Graeme completed a paramedic course at Niagara College. Now employed as a paramedic in the Niagara region, he hopes to combine his new knowledge & skills with his passion for the outdoors. Graeme will be back this winter.
KERI MOLYNEAUX
Keri is a honor’s graduate of the Outdoor Recreation Parks & Tourism Program at Lakehead University. She did a double degree in Geography with a minor in Women’s Studies. She has considerable expertise organizing & delivering programs for a variety of activities. Keri brings a previous dog sled experience with Outward Bound to her position.
Keri spent the summer sharing her knowledge & developing new skills at Howling Dog Kennels In Alberta.
PAT MORRIS
Graduated in 1994 from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Rec, Parks & Tourism. He came to Chopcaw with a vast experience in canoe tripping, leadership & instruction, as well as kayaking, skiing and winter survival. Pat worked several years guiding for us full-time, then part-time as he pursued other paths.
His standards of excellence and commitment have been an inspiration to this staff for many years. He is now a graduate of Lakehead teacher's college and is living and teaching in Sudbury with his wife, Nadine and 2 yr old son, Dominic.
In past years, Pat has taught recreation and outdoor education programs at both Laurentian University and Cambrian College. Both Pat & Nadine come down every year to lead trips and help with various Chocpaw activities.
ANDREW PACE
Andrew is an extremely active person. Along with participating in many sports & Activities he has been one of the driving organizational forces behind organizing a Mountain Bike Club, a Cross Country Ski Club, and an Outdoors Club in his hometown area of New Brunswick. He has tripped extensively throughout eastern Canada & this summer has begun exploring Ontario. He has a quiet enthusiasm for the wilderness & tripping that is quite infectious. He is a tireless worker & plans to make guiding his immediate career.
Andrew has aspirations to race & will make his debut in Ontario this winter.
SCOTT ROCKS
Graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College from the Ecosystem Management Technician program. Scott's first year at Chocpaw was the 2002/2003 winter season. He has plenty of outdoor experience including military training, tree planting and previous experience dog-handling at Haliburton Forest.
In the off season Scott guided canoe & Kayak trips with Black Feather.Scott raced at Kearney again last year improving to a 5th place finish. Scott has become an outstanding outdoor leader. He has a very natural & relaxed style that inspires confidence. Scott completed his paramedics course tops in his class. He plans to be here more often this winter.
KERI RUTHERFORD
Keri is a graduate of the Outdoor Recreation Certification Course at Seneca College & also from the Hospitality, Recreation & Travel Course at Humber College. She is a very accomplished & skilled outdoor person & very highly respected in the outdoor field. Keri first came to Chocpaw in 2001. She spent a winter guiding dog sled adventure for Quimik in Alberta & a winter guiding for Blue Kennels in the Yukon before coming back to Chocpaw Expeditions. Keri exudes her love for all things outdoors. This past summer Keri led trips on the Nahanni River.
KRIS SAMPSON
Kris spent this summer in Alberta, guiding rafting trips in the Rockies. He is an excellent team member and a cheerful person, even under stressful situations. Kris loves the outdoors and travelling. He has backpacked extensively through-out Asia and Australia, and will have some interesting experiences to share.
MIKE STRATTON
Mike is a graduate of the Recreational Leadership Program from Nova Scotia Community College. He has certifications in canoeing & kayaking. As well Mike is trained as a Canadian Ski Patroller & in Search & Rescue & as a Firefighter. He has extensive guiding experience in the Maritimes & Ontario. This summer Mike led canoe trips for a youth treatment centre in the Almaguin area. Mike is a quiet sort who lets his actions, knowledge & skills speak for him. He majes people feel very secure in the ouitdoors. This will be Mike’s fourth year guiding for Chocpaw Expeditions.
STEFAN SUPERINA
Stefan is a graduate of McGill University with a BA in Economics & International Development Studies He began as a tripper at Wabun & over 7 years progressed to leading long river trips. He has extensive tripping experiences. As well he was part of a rock climbing school delivering programs to schools in Toronto & area. He finds the lure of the wilderness too strong & brings great enthusiasm to this winter.
SAM BALL
Sam is a lifelong lover of nature, the outdoors and dogs. After studying English and modern literature for four years he spent a year working at an ATV and outdoor pursuits centre in his home county of Leicestershire, England. Since arriving in Canada in April Sam has embraced the Ontario wilderness, particularly falling in love with Algonquin Park where he began guiding canoe trips this summer.
This will be his first season with Chocpaw and first winter in Canada. He is excited.
KRISTINA LEIDUMS
Kristina graduated from Lakehead's 'Outdoor Ecological and Experiential Education' program as a high school teacher. She is passionate about Muskoka and especially the Algonquin area, and has been canoe tripping, hiking, ski instructing and guiding in Ontario (and recently Alberta) for 8 years. Her goals are to stick with outdoor education and guiding for as long as possible and turn it into year round work.
This will be her first year at Chocpaw and she can't wait to learn the ropes.
MARTY POMERLEAU
Marty has been an avid outdoors person for many years. His earliest memory of a week long canoe trip was with his parents, down the Mississaugi river for a week, he was only about 7 at that time. Since then he has been loving the wilderness. Marty has worked as a canoe guide, guiding month long expeditions for YMCA camp PineCrest, as well as shorter trips for Algonquin Outfitters. He attended Lakehead University for their Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism course. As well he attended Confederation College for their Paramedic Program. Marty currently reside in Bracebridge ON, and works as a paramedic for Muskoka Ambulance Service.
SUZY
Suzy is a recent graduate from Aurora University with a Master of Science in Recreation Administration and has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science. Suzy has a passion for outdoor camp craft and has been a part of the outdoor industry for the last 9 years serving a variety of roles & has considerable experience as an instructor at project DARE. Suzy has extensively traveled the globe originally from Zimbabwe; Suzy has spent her time between America, Canada and England.
This will be Suzy’s first season at Chocpaw Expeditions.
Chocpaw Expeditions