Patrick has been working in the non-profit and Crown corporation sector for more than 15 years. His interest in performing socially responsible work and making a difference in the Lake of the Woods area, Kenora, and the region's communities has brought him to LOWDSA.  

Patrick's broad skill set, healthy initiative, and ability to develop strong interpersonal and business relationships will help LOWDSA serve its members and the larger community by providing leadership, education, and communication on issues affecting the Lake of the Woods region.

His ability to draw on his non-profit experience will be an asset to our members. It will help LOWDSA sustain one of the most beautiful places on earth for future generations.

Shelley lives in Kenora a few blocks away from beautiful Lake of the Woods. While working in media for the past 15 years, she’s spent a lot of time on the water and appreciates the need to protect its beauty for the generations ahead to enjoy.

Shelley has worked with LOWDSA through her work in media within the Kenora area, and is familiar with the benefits of many of the association’s programs. She looks forward to meeting and working with members and to having a direct involvement with the LakeSmart program.

She joins the LOWDSA team, bringing with her an extensive knowledge of the area, drawing on her personal love of the area,and her media background, which ranges from writing to video production, much of it centering on the lake. Shelley has written articles on the lake and lake people, filmed features about the lake, even ones with the LakeSmart team. 

As someone who shares our passion for the lake, Shelley is clear on the value of this area, what it offers and is fully onside with the importance of sustaining and protecting it. She told us that she really likes the idea of being a part of association initiatives to help maintain and grow what is already an established organization, and the Board is pleased to welcome her to the team

Cassidy (she/her) grew up spending her summers at her family cottage in Nestor Falls. She enjoys backcountry camping, paddling, waterskiing, fishing, and practically any outdoor activity that can be done in the area. Her appreciation for the environment started at a young age and translated into a Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the University of Manitoba.

Her passion and specialized study is Environmental Education, a great fit as our new Environmental Program Coordinator Intern. She has strong work experience in interpretation, outreach, and public relations through working with Manitoba Sustainable Development and IISD-Experimental Lakes Area. She particularly enjoys working with the public on environmental topics and is looking forward to her involvement with the LakeSmart program and working with all our members.

Cassidy has been very involved in the environmental community, perhaps most notably volunteering as the President of The Environment and Geography Students’ Association. She is excited to transfer her experience with project management into LOWDSA’s events, taking on our existing programs as well as exploring new ones.

The value of the area’s beauty and sustainability is close to Cassidy’s heart and will remain a top priority in her work with LOWDSA. You can expect to see her out on the water this summer in her bright yellow kayak! Make sure to give her a wave or spark up a conversation!

A summer like no other, that’s how we would describe last year’s LakeSmart season. I am thrilled to be jumping back on the team this year for my second COOP work term with LOWDSA. My name is Abbi Friesen, and I have just completed my third year in Environmental Science at the University of Manitoba with a focus area in Conservation Biodiversity. I fell into my studies by accident, following a passion for the outdoors and aquatic environments and have been able to grow immensely in the program. My studies have helped me gain a whole-ecosystem perspective from experiences at the lake, backpacking and diving all around the world. I have enjoyed studying the countless interactions that take place within our environment and learned how disturbance, especially ours, can change those interactions.

I have been lucky enough to spend my summers in Kenora,  growing up at my family’s cottage on Coney Island and off-grid at camp on the Winnipeg River. My family and I enjoy spending time around the fire, watching our local loons, eagles and pelicans going by. There is nowhere else I would like to be and working on the LakeSmart team has granted me the opportunity to truly enjoy and gain a deeper understanding of the Lake of the Woods Watershed. 

We have many new LakeSmart initiatives planned for this summer that I am proud to be a part of, including the development of a mobile boat wash station, to help reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species, online webinars and increased monitoring of zebra mussels in our area. Ensuring the long-term health of this stunning lake ecosystem is an important part of my summer and I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with you, learning from my teammates of course and from all the wonderful people we meet throughout the summer. 

It is an honour to be returning to the LakeSmart team as an Environmental Stewardship Technician. My name is Brie McCardle, I am from Kenora and grew up on Black Sturgeon Lake. I am very excited to continue projects we started last year and to introduce our many new ideas to the LakeSmart program. My team and I are all very passionate about what we do and are looking forward to seeing everyone at the lake if circumstances permit. 

This year I graduated from Niagara College as an Environmental Technician. My focus was in field and lab work to protect and preserve environmental wetlands, water supplies and other natural habitats. The program was based on biology, chemistry and civil engineering, where I learnt to understand and manage complex environmental problems. 

Growing up on the lake introduced me to a special appreciation for the water.  Whether it is fishing, swimming or exploring, I am very fortunate to be in an area surrounded by lakes, big and small, providing me with many opportunities. I adore nature and am truly fascinated by all it offers. My love for the environment has grown through travelling and observing the ample display of earth’s beauty. I can't wait to grow and share my knowledge in my field. I hope to continue to travel and work toward conserving the natural beauty for years to come, for all to enjoy. 

Hi everyone! My name is Seanna Cyncora, I am a 2nd year student of the Natural Environment Technician program at Sault College. I am from Kenora, Ontario and grew up on the lake surrounded by hot days, refreshing water and never-ending adventures. I can't wait to start working with the LakeSmart team to expand my knowledge and experience on the lake. I am thrilled to be a part of such a great team and am looking forward to working on LifeSmart’s awesome events and projects.

Growing up on the lake has shown me that the lake provides for all and is not just a body of water, but a place that people call home. I couldn't imagine being away from nature, the lake and all of the gifts it offers. I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with my teammates to teach fellow lake lovers about environmental health and sustainability. Wildlife and ecosystem conservation is an important part of my life and I hope to make a positive impact working with the LakeSmart team this summer.

I am thrilled to be joining the LakeSmart team for the 2021 season! My name is Quinn Miller and I live in Winnipeg and have grown up spending summers at my family cottage in Clearwater Bay, a place that has been passed down through the family for four generations. From this time spent at Lake of the Woods, my passion for the lake and for science was nurtured, leading me to study Microbiology at the University of Manitoba, with minors in Biology and Chemistry.

I’m really looking forward to sharing my knowledge in the field of microbiology and growing with LOWDSA and the LakeSmart team. These times are challenging but allow for innovating, exciting and novel ways of outreach and creative development of educational strategies. It is important to me that the Lake of the Woods area is preserved for future generations to enjoy and appreciate, just as I have thanks to the efforts of my family and countless others. I’m eager to work with the team in such extraordinary circumstances and to learn as much as possible from LakeSmart and LOWDSA this summer.