I was introduced to the canoe as a youngster at summer camp, an event that sparked a lifelong interest in the role of the canoe in our history and modern-day lives. This fascination led me to collect information on the subject over many years, meet many of the colourful characters involved with canoes and give talks about these craft to audiences across British Columbia.
I have owned a red sixteen-foot wooden canoe for over forty years and have taken it on trips throughout Canada including to the Broken Islands, Bowron Lakes and Gulf Islands in BC. I continue to take it on regular outings and have also paddled in virtually all the types of craft covered in my book.
I moved from Toronto to Vancouver with my wife and two children in 1992 and have lived in Deep Cove since 1993. In addition to canoeing, we sail, hike, bike, ski and snowshoe in the outdoor paradise that surrounds us. I hold an MA from the University of British Columbia and am currently Chair of the North Vancouver Museum and Archives Commission and a trustee of the North Vancouver District Public Library.