Speakers
Learn from experts everything from where to fish, what to take camping, hunting tips and tricks, and so much more!
Adam Shoalts
Adam Shoalts is a professional adventurer and Westaway Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
His expeditions range from mapping rivers to archaeological projects, but Shoalts is best known for his long solo wilderness journeys, including crossing alone nearly 4,000 km of Canada’s Arctic. Named one of the “greatest living explorers” by CBC and declared “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star, Shoalts’s latest quest was retracing the route of a lost explorer, the subject of his new bestselling book Vanished Beyond the Map.
His other books include Where the Falcon Flies, The Whisper on the Night Wind, A History of Canada in 10 Maps, and Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic, all of them national bestsellers. He has a PhD from McMaster University in history, and in his free time, enjoys long walks in the woods.
Gisele Landriault
Gisele is a Canadian wildlife photographer based in North Bay. While Gisele has travelled extensively throughout Africa, photographing the multitude of species there, her passion is making beautiful images if the iconic wild animals of her home country. Gisele's images have graced the pages of the Canadian Geographic and Wildlife Photographic Magazine. Her work has also been exhibited at the WKP Gallery in North Bay.
Mathew Koprash
Mathew Koprash is a passionate multi-species angler who chases fish year-round across Northern Ontario — from open water to hard water. As President of the North Bay Bassmasters, he’s a driving force in the local fishing community and a proven tournament competitor. Mathew is a two-time North Bay Bassmasters Angler of the Year, 2022 Nipissing Bass Series Team of the Year, three-time Team Ontario member, and the 2025 Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation Member of the Year. A freelance outdoor writer, he’s proudly sponsored by Smoker Craft Boats and Pure Fishing.
Curtis Lafleche
Curtis Lafleche is a lifelong outdoorsman focused on practical wilderness skills and self-reliant travel. What began as a young passion for hiking, fishing, and exploring has evolved into decades of hands-on experience in backcountry camping, dog sledding, and canoe tripping across Canada — from the mountains of northern interior British Columbia to the rugged coast of Newfoundland.
With more than 20 years in the forest sector, Curtis built his foundation in navigation, terrain assessment, and working safely in remote environments. Those years in demanding terrain shaped his approach to trip planning, risk management, and efficient camp systems.
Now based in North Bay, Ontario, he regularly explores the North Bay, and Temagami region. His recent 16-day solo canoe journey across Temagami, including fly fishing along the Lady Evelyn River, demonstrates his extensive backcountry skills, and his passion for wilderness exploration. Through photography and video storytelling, Curtis shares field-tested skills that inspire confidence, self reliance, and respect for the land — showing people of all ages and experience levels how to travel safely and have fun in the backcountry.
