Wild Northerner Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 28

She now splits her time between Canada and Brazil with her family, guiding hiking and canoeing and camping trips.

“I really fell in love with the company. I really align with their goals and objectives,” Wannan said.

Wannan has guiding trips coming up in Patagonia in February and in Vietnam in April. In Patagonia, Wannan and others will take part in sea kayaking, visiting glacial lakes, wild horse tracking, yoga, hiking, biking and camping. In Vietnam, Wannan will be taking in a hiking, biking and cultural trip in which she will visit seven hill tribes and experience their lives.

Thanks to guiding, Wannan is getting to see the world.

“Meeting people from all walks of life and showing them an amazing place or culture for the first time and seeing their reaction is the most amazing part,” Wannan said. “When I see a person achieve something they thought was unachievable, it is beautiful. The most rewarding part is I get to work in the wilderness and facilitate life changing experiences for people. It means a lot. Personally, nature is what calms, centres, and focuses me. Nature is healing. I see so many people who are unhappy, or stressed and I just want to share my secret that going out in nature, being active, and exploring can make the world a better place to be. Life is so short, too short to feel unhappy and uninspired by life. If I can share some of the joy that I get while in the wilderness than my day feels complete.”

Wannan endears herself to clients of Wild Women Expeditions because of her truly genuine personal nature and approach to trips and life.

“Kate's passion for eco-tourism shines in her work as a guide in Canada and in organizing our Wild Women tours around the world,” Wild Women Expeditions director Jennifer Haddow said. “To her, it is a personal mission to ensure that tourism works for local communities and brings benefits to people who are usually marginalized in the tourism industry. Her experience developing programs in South America - from Brazil to Galapagos to Peru - gives her a grounding in why tourism can be a force for conservation and positive social change. She brings that perspective to her work here in northern Ontario, where she has deep roots in the adventure world going back to when she was a canoe guide. Kate's enthusiasm for sustainable tourism is contagious."

Wannan’s wild side has her loving to ski and surf when she gets time. Again, it’s all about the connection to nature and what it has to offer.

“My favourite things to do are ski x-country or downhill because it makes me feel so alive and I love the way the forest looks in winter,” she said. “Especially after a big snowfall. I also like hiking in the outdoors because you can access remote parts of the forest or the highest peaks with the best views. I really enjoy surfing because it is the next best thing to skiing powder. The feeling of being one hundred percent in the moment, in connection with the sea, is incredible.”

Wannan always looks forward to the next adventure. She has learned the journeys she goes on with people around the world help her grow and provide moments of lasting impact.

“I have learned that my passion is to share my love of the wilderness and adventure with as many people as possible, this is my greatest joy,” she said.