Brian Craig was raised on a dairy farm in the Ottawa Valley. In his early teens his first major purchase was a canoe for $129.00, which led to serious questions from his father about why you would spend that kind of money on a canoe when you live and work on a dairy farm! But both his parents were always supportive of his endeavours to learn about nature both on land and water, and in fact it was his parents respect and love of nature that set Brian on the path of studying biology, ecology and the environment.

Brian has degrees in Geography, and Environment and Resource Studies from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario, and Masters Certificate in Project Management from York University. His varied interest have led to careers in agricultural drainage, as a musician with a southern rock band that toured Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, a chemistry technician with the Steel Company of Canada, a teacher with the Oxford County Board of Education, a Senior Science Advisor with Environment Canada’s Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network and most recently as a Restoration Ecologist and Project Manager with Parks Canada. Brian sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association, the Carolinian Canada Coalition, and is the current President of the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve.

Brian settled in the Long Point area over three decades ago and has canoed and kayaked Big Creek many, many, times over the years, and every trip provides a wonderful new experience through the Carolinian Forest to Long Point Bay. Brian looks forward to sharing his knowledge about the unique geology, ecology, history and culture of the area, but most importantly, just enjoying together with new friends a leisurely paddle down one of the most beautiful river valleys in our great country of Canada.

Paula’s biggest life lesson so far: “As a nurse I have seen many people whose lives were cut way  too short , so I see it as an awesome privilege to be alive and able to be ‘out there’ enjoying and appreciating our natural environment as much as possible!”

Paula spent her early years in Brantford, Ontario and was a faithful, enthusiastic camper for many years at the YMCA Camp Ruddy on the shores of Lake Erie. Little did she know that after attending Nursing at Victoria Hospital in London, raising her three daughters, and enjoying a successful 25+ year career as an Emergency Room nurse, that she would end up building her home right on the banks of Big Creek in Norfolk County.

As a past leader with Girl Guides of Canada, she has helped to inspire young people to do their best, and encouraged teens to make informed choices as she was co-coordinator of the successful CHAT program (Community and Hospital Against Trauma) in Haldimand County.

Paula is proud to have become intimately involved conserving the flora and fauna and natural beauty of the area. Paula is Past President of UNESCO’s Long Point World Biosphere and currently sits as a Director on the Long Point Biosphere Foundation Board. As Chairperson for one of the projects with the Biosphere Reserve – the Long Point Causeway Improvement Project - Paula enjoys the opportunity to help improve habitat conditions for Species at Risk reptiles in the Long Point Big Creek National Wildlife Area, in cooperation with numerous government agencies, non-governmental organizations and concerned citizens.

Besides her obvious love of kayaking and canoeing, and the co-founder of the Canadian Flat Water Kayaking Club, Paula enjoys gardening, birding, music - trying to learn the fiddle! - riding her horses, and swimming. As a fund-raiser for the Biosphere Reserve, Paula earned and still holds the record with the Ontario Solo Swim Association for the “most mature” woman to swim across Lake Erie as she completed her 49 kilometre marathon swim across Lake Erie from Erie, Pennsylvania to Long Point, Ontario.