Our Ambassadors

To inspire people to explore lakes, rivers, and oceans, to reconnect with nature through the water and live their own adventures. Our ambassadors draw on the strength of a community that shares a love of wide open spaces and collectively works to make our waterways accessible, so that we in turn feel compelled to protect them. With abitibi&co, a boat means exploration, whether you seek intensity or pure tranquility.

Interested in becoming an ambassador? Reach out to us.

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SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

#TheBrave

Gabriel Rivest
Canoe Ambassador | Biologist, Teacher and Photographer.

Gabriel Rivest

Whitehorse, Yukon

What is your vision of the outdoors? For me, it encompasses both the familiar trails just behind my house in Whitehorse and more remote places. I like to enjoy the outdoors without being surrounded by people and, above all, without having to leash my dog. For bigger adventures, I always try to go off the beaten path—even if, in the Yukon, that's not very difficult!

Your favorite place to unwind? There's nothing like the edge of a good trout hole.

A cause that is important to you? Subsistence fishing and hunting. Even if resources seem abundant in the North, they are actually much more limited than in some places further south. It is therefore important to take care of them. The example I often give is that of lake trout: a very common fish in the Yukon, but whose populations are declining due to overfishing.

Your dream trip? The Horton River is at the top of my list right now. But there are too many for me to choose. A friend just put the Leaf River in my head, and just like that, I have a new dream!

Guillaume Rivest
Canoe Ambassador | Owner and guide at Exode Bâtisseur d’Aventures, outdoor and environmental columnist.

Guillaume Rivest

Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

What is your vision of the outdoors? For me, adventure is an opportunity to face yourself. It's a moment that is as much athletic as it is introspective. On an expedition, you completely disconnect from your daily life and reconnect with yourself. It's also an excellent way to truly get to know yourself.

Your favorite place to disconnect? Any place where you don't hear an engine. Generally, whitewater sections with a surf wave do the job very well.

A cause that is dear to your heart? The preservation of biodiversity and natural spaces.

Your dream trip? Crossing the Northwest Passage by sea kayak (and/or an impressive number of rivers that appeal to me).

Pascale Anctil
Canoe Ambassador | Photographer, Content Creator & Passionate Adventurer.

Pascale Anctil

Stoneham, Quebec

What is your vision of the outdoors? Freedom! I love exploring new places, letting myself be carried away by adventure, and discovering the beauty of nature.

Your favorite place to unwind? Without a doubt, on the water. Nothing beats an end-of-day outing where I can feel a sense of peace and tranquility. If I can also watch a magnificent sunset, it's paradise!

A cause close to your heart? The environment. I am committed to taking care of our planet and adopting a healthy, ecological, and responsible lifestyle. I am a strong believer in the "Leave no trace" principle.

Your dream trip? Making my everyday life a true dream. I try to enjoy every moment, every adventure, and live my passions to the fullest.

Your best outdoor story? My first canoe camping experience at Poisson Blanc, heading towards an island 14 km from our starting point. Halfway there, we faced a 30 km/h headwind. This adventure is etched in my memory, as it was at that precise moment that I developed my passion for canoeing.

One thing every adventurer should know (or have)? A Swiss Army knife. This versatile tool is essential in all outdoor situations. Preparing a meal, repairing equipment, or simply being ready to face the unexpected.

Yann Martin-Bluteau
Canoe Ambassador | Entrepreneur and Adventurer

Yann Martin-Bluteau

Saguenay, Quebec

A word that describes your vision of the outdoors or your attitude toward adventure? Respect

Your best outdoor or expedition story? My family comes from Anticosti Island, so I would say my trip to that paradise. To travel its magnificent lakes and rivers, in the footsteps of my ancestors, was truly special for me. I was able to see with my own eyes the places where the many stories I had been told since my youth took place. The Jupiter River, Anse-aux-fraises, McDonald Lodge, etc.

Your dream trip? 30 days in survival mode with my canoe in Nunavik.

Your favorite place to unwind? The Monts-Valin

One thing every good adventurer should have? Curiosity

Francis Valley
Canoe Ambassador | Commercial Representative at SEPAQ & Adventurer / Fly Fisher

Francis Valley

Charlevoix, Canada

One word that describes your vision of the outdoors? Authenticity. Being outside and embarking on adventure means reconnecting with what is real, returning to our deepest roots and to what truly matters.

A cause that is important to you? Conservation and the protection of our natural territories, which ties directly into the mission of the Sépaq, my employer, as well as mental health issues. Nature plays an essential role in our well-being, and the two are, in my view, deeply interconnected.

Your best outdoor or expedition story? A full week completely isolated on the legendary Walker Lake, on the North Shore. It was during the peak of wildfire season, in June. The sky was orange, the smoke was thick, at one point, we thought we'd have to be evacuated by helicopter.

In the end, with the source of the fires far enough away, we were able to see the expedition through to the finish. Between drifts of smoke, we had the chance to land some magnificent catches, against a backdrop that was equal parts dramatic and awe-inspiring. An unforgettable experience, as much for the conditions as for the raw beauty of the land.

Your dream trip? A fly fishing adventure in Patagonia.

Your favorite place to unwind? On my land in Charlevoix, in the forest, chopping wood and working outside. A simple, grounding return to nature.

One thing every good adventurer should have? An endless curiosity and a genuine desire to discover new territory. That's often what leads to the most remarkable experiences.

Florence Rivest
Canoe Ambassador | Artist

Florence Rivest

Quebec, Canada

One word that describes your vision of the outdoors? Humility. For me, going outside is a reminder of our tiny place in something so much bigger.

A cause that is close to your heart? Gender equality

Your best outdoor story? Meeting my partner during my 5-month hike in New Zealand

Your dream trip? So many! A hiking/surfing trip in Norway, the Nahanni River, the Broken Group by kayak, the John Muir Trail, the Moisie River, and a thousand and one excursions close to home in BC.

Your favorite place to unwind? Les Escoumins! I've been going there with my family for a few years, and it's always a precious time to reconnect.

One thing every good adventurer should know? The ability to think in (and for) a team. That, and ideally a WFA certification!

North Shore Fly Fishing
Canoe Ambassador | Fly fishing collective specializing in outdoor content creation, fishing, and adventure.

North Shore Fly Fishing

North Shore, Canada

A word that describes your vision of the outdoors, or your attitude towards adventure? Fulfillment

A cause that is close to your heart? The protection of Atlantic salmon and its rivers.

Your best outdoor or expedition story? Our first expedition to the Godbout River began in the pouring rain. Arriving at the ZEC around 7:30 p.m., we were ready to fish at dawn the next day. We woke up before daylight and headed towards the pool, but the day on this river was not easy.

We then headed to the Trinité River ZEC, where we slept on site to be the first ones there. All day, we tirelessly explored pool after pool until, around 6 p.m., Jean-François finally broke the ice by catching his very first large salmon. What a thrill!

Your dream trip? To go on an expedition to a river in the Great North where it is possible to catch Arctic char as well as Atlantic salmon.

Your favorite place to unwind? On the bank of a river, with my feet in the water with the gang.

One tip every good adventurer should know (or have)? It's important to have fire-starting equipment with you or at least know how to start one using what's around you.

Sabrina Barnes
Canoe Ambassador | Co-founder of ReelTrip, based on learning fly-fishing.

Sabrina Barnes

Montreal, Quebec

For Sabrina, fly fishing is much more than a passion; it's a calling that has been with her since the age of 13, when she joined a fly fishing group at the Point de Mire youth center in Verdun. Her dream then? To fish for Atlantic salmon with her grandfather. A dream that would mark the beginning of a long journey pursued with dedication.

Today, certified casting instructor by the prestigious International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) and pro staff for Sage, RIO, and Redington, she has honed her expertise on numerous rivers, in both fresh and saltwater. Her time at the Iron Bow Fly Shop in Calgary, Alberta, allowed her to further specialize in trout fishing.

An established columnist, she shares her expertise through her articles in Sentier Chasse et Pêche and Pêche à la mouche Destinations. True to her long-standing mission, Sabrina continues to shine in the world of fly fishing and to share the joys of this magnificent sport with as many people as possible.

Alexandre Nadeau
Canoe Ambassador | Adventure Guide and Arborist.

Alexandre Nadeau

Quebec, Canada

Your best outdoor story? The Old Voyager's Channel on the French River.

Your favorite place to unwind? Somewhere in nature where I can disconnect and realize how small we are in this nature that surrounds us.

A cause that is important to you? Everything that concerns our planet Earth.

Your dream trip? I'm very interested in a canoe trip to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, but otherwise a beautiful wild river carved into the landscape with trout.