Facilitators

Blair Doyle

Owner of Adventure & Safety Atlantic based out of Halifax, NS; Blair has an extensive outdoor and wilderness background having hiked, biked, kayaked, and canoed most of Atlantic Canada. He holds several certifications in paddling, in guiding, and as a PADI Divemaster since 1985 he still goes down under chasing scallops. Currently, he is a Sea Kayak, River Kayak, SUP and Canoe Instructor Trainer with the Paddle Canada program. Active with the paddling associations for several years, he is a Past President of Paddle Canada and Canoe Kayak NS. In keeping with his water affinity, he is a Rescue Canada Swift Water Rescue Instructor for Atlantic Canada. Further, in 2001 he completed the Intermediate Care Paramedic program. As a First Aid/CPR, Wilderness and Professional Responder IT with the Canadian Red Cross, he was responsible for implementation of the Wilderness program in eastern Canada. He has been involved in Ground Search and Rescue since 1988 and has held differing leadership roles with Halifax Regional SAR, currently acting as Search Director since 2008. As an active SAR responder he teaches all aspects of wilderness rescue practices including the Search Management  and Lost Person Behaviour courses. He has a strong drive to “keep it real” for the learner, thereby bridging the gap between actual versus perceived capabilities in the wilderness. With an experiential approach to wilderness wisdom he currently uses his consulting and training business to impart his energy and passion to several organizations, government agencies and individuals.

Dave Hubley

Dave enjoys sharing his enthusiasm and interest in the wilds with his students and brings his skill as an experiential educator to his work as a Paddle Canada Instructor for Flatwater Canoe and Sea Kayak Level 1, as a First Aid Instructor with Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, and as an avid coach for various school and racquet sports. He is a retired high school physical education teacher from the Halifax Regional School Board. Dave co-developed a youth leadership course, known as ABEL (Adventure Based Experiential Learning), that focuses on the outdoors and has been leading trips since 1996. Not someone who neglects any season, Dave has been a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol since 2001.

Melissa Russell

Melissa has lived an active lifestyle since childhood when she was involved in competitive sports like gymnastics & baseball. As an adult she became a personal trainer and taught group fitness classes for a local school fundraiser. She has participated in numerous outdoor athletic fundraising events, including two Tough Mudder challenges and competed as a figure competitor in the NBPFA – Atlantic Classic Championship. Melissa has studied nursing, fitness, holistic nutrition and is a registered naturopath, which is congruent with her love for nature. She enjoys many outdoor activities, year-round, from camping to canoeing and trail riding to hiking. She has even completed long distance hikes along the Fundy Footpath and the Appalachian Trail. Melissa is passionate about helping others, especially when it comes to building their knowledge, health and confidence. Her transition to become a Red Cross Instructor of First Aid and Wilderness First Aid has successfully brought all her passions together.

Adam Doyle

Adam has a lifelong experience lifegaurding the shores of NS and all the way to Australia. He is savy with a blade too through many years of wilderness tripping with Canoe and SeaKayak; engaging in river canoe running annually.  He teaches through Paddle Canada the SUP and teaches the Swift Water Rescue courses regularly. He began teaching the WRFA in 2014 after several years of being a volunteer. He gets diverted at times to his ‘real’ job engineering the land.

Jen White

As a registered Ostiopath and medical officer for a tall ship Jen brings her energy and enthusiasm to all she does…. more to come

Joel Fogarty

As an active SeaKayak guide and teacher of high school outdoor recreation Joel gets outside regularly…. more to come