Having grown up in Oakville, Maddy’s love for the outdoors was sparked by family canoe trips throughout southern Ontario. At the age of eight, she began attending YMCA Camp Pine Crest where her appreciation of all things nature was further solidified. It was on a Pine Crest canoe trip down the Coppermine River that Maddy first experienced the beauty of the far north. After that she was hooked.  Maddy went on to work for the YMCA as a multi-week whitewater expedition guide for 6 years. She led canoe trips across Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, with a specific focus on leadership building, interpersonal skill development and the environmental sciences. During the off seasons, Maddy attended Queen’s University, where she studied Theatre and Geography, before graduating from the Queen’s Faculty of Education with a specialization in outdoor experiential education. She joined the Canoe North Adventures Guide team in 2018.  As an avid theatre goer and creative writing fiend, Maddy holds a passion for merging outdoor adventure with storytelling. She believes that the natural landscape is the best inspiration for sparking creativity! In addition to working in the outdoor adventure industry, Maddy is a studio-potter whose work is deeply inspired by summers in the north.