Lin Ward
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Canoe North Guide

Lin Ward is an experienced canoeist with an enthusiasm and commitment to wilderness travel. She is a skilled whitewater paddler, an even more accomplished horse-back rider and has her private pilot license. Lin's approach to canoeing involves not just a love of the wilderness but also a true enjoyment of the group experience. She brings a calm and friendly approach to training paddlers and building their confidence while on the river. Lin is also involved in the Farmhouse Pottery and a small publishing company that Al and she operate in the Hockley Valley.

Lin was born in the west end of Toronto where her parents, Dorothy and Jack Ward ensured that Lin and her sister spent a great deal of time either in the country or in the wilderness. Early years were spent camping in such places as Algonquin Park, Martin River and Pancake Bay. This evolved into summers at a cottage in Haliburton at Portage Lake. Her teen years were spent in the Caledon Hills riding and showing horses.

Up until the time she married Al, canoeing had really not entered her vocabulary. In fact, it was a strong deterrent to marrying Al since he was always off on some major excursion. Shortly after they were married, Lin reluctantly went on her first canoe trip on the Spanish River in Ontario. Although only a five day trip, she loved every moment of it - well maybe not the paddle across Lake Biscotasing in a major rain storm! The next few years involved other such forays but Lin managed to avoid the big trip to the "far north". Finally, there was no way out and the South MacMillan in the Yukon called her name. That was it! She was hooked.

Since then, she has travelled and guided with Al over thousand of miles of river travel. She now guides her own women's trips in the far north and feels that she is a prime example of those who think that a northern trip is beyond their ability.