Our Team

The 'He' and 'La' of HeLa, Henry and Lana have owned and operated HeLa since 1987. Until 1997, they provided school programs from May to June and September to October, and spent their summers guiding for Nahanni River Adventures. Their winters involved more University, cross country skiing, and various contract positions with school boards and university.

Following the birth of their first daughter, they figured it was time to upgrade their living situation, so they moved out of their blue van and purchased the present HeLa facility. ​​Henry and Lana are heavily involved in the cross country ski community, and the winter finds them both on their skis as often as possible. Henry is also a Principal with Edmonton Public Schools while Lana is active on the Paddle Alberta & Paddle Canada Boards. During their spare time, if they have any, they pursue their outdoor passions with their 2 daughters, Kiera and Rhea.  

Nadine considers the outdoors her office, classroom, and playground.  She graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Physical Education with a major in Sports Psychology and a minor in Recreation as well as a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology.  She has extensive experience teaching Environmental, Adventure and Outdoor Education, with instructor and coaching certifications in several outdoor disciplines as well as instructor trainer status.   She loves spending time in the wilderness with people, sharing experiences and connecting with the natural world.  

Nadine has decades of experience as a guide, working for HeLa Ventures and guiding canoe and raft-based expeditions for Nahanni River Adventures in Northern Canada.  She has also guided sea kayaking trips for Nahanni River adventures and the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre.

In her free time, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors with her husband and four-legged furry friend Denali, doing things like sailing in their 24-foot sailboat, skiing and paddling the waterways around Alberta.

Kiera graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor in Kinesiology and a major in Sport Performance. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Education. She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor and Instructor Trainer, and a SoloNCCP 1 Orienteering Coach. Kiera is also a Gymnastic coach in Edmonton.

The 2023 season will be her seventh season working as a guide at HeLa. Prior to working at HeLa she spent her summers in HeLa's MAS programs. Her love for the outdoors started at 4 days old when she took her first canoe trip; she summited her first mountain at 3 weeks old (through no physical effort of her own of course!).

Rhea Madsen started guiding with HeLa in 2022 as part of the ALP program. Prior to that, she completed the entire MAS program at HeLa. She grew up in the outdoors, going on her first ski when she was only 5-days old (technically, she was dragged in a sled as her parents skiied). She has spent much time in the mountains, watching the stars.

Rhea is now in her second year of a Physical Science degree at the University of Alberta, pursuing a love of astronomy and physics.  She is also a cheerleading coach in Edmonton, and has competed at both the junior and senior World Championships.  In her free time, you’ll find her skiing, hiking, climbing, and wearing as much pink as possible!

We're excited to welcome Matt Smith back for his third summer at HeLa Ventures, this time with a new addition, his best buddy Maximus, marking Max's first season with us. Matt is responsible for the considerable task of maintaining our facility—a job he handles with expertise thanks to his background in the outdoors. His versatility extends beyond facility management, as he often steps in to guide activities, showcasing his adaptability and dedication. We are indeed fortunate to have such a flexible Facility Manager who is always ready to lend a hand wherever needed.
 

Max, equally enthusiastic about the great outdoors, loves hiking and making new friends, from squirrels to deer, and even the occasional cat. Truck rides are Max’s absolute favorite, but he also enjoys unwinding in his big, comfy chair. Matt and Maximus are looking forward to a season filled with new adventures and exploration at HeLa.

Cassie completed HeLa's Adventure Leadership Practicum in the summer of 2022. This season she returns as a program guide and instructor! Cassie is originally from Vancouver Island, and graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.A. in Recreation and Health Education. She has her certification in the following: Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue, Paddle Canada Moving Water Tandment Canoe, Paddle Canada Tandem Lake, Paddle Canada Camping Instructor, Waterfront Canoe Instructor

She loves to camp, climb, hike, and ski. You will be able to recognize her by her chaotically scrambled plates of food in the mess hall!

Jaidyn Bergmann has been part of the HeLa family since she attended MAS 101 in 2014. She went on to complete all of the MAS programs, as well as the ALP program in 2019, and has been a guide and instructor with HeLa since 2020. Jaidyn is passionate about travelling! After graduating University she lived in New Zealand for a year backpacking and living out of a van she built. She has also travelled to Australia, Europe, and the Dominican Republic, where she spent a month in a small community building homes for elders. Her next travel adventure will include walking the El Camino in Spain. Jaidyn is also an animal-lover and is obsessed with her cat, Peaches! She hopes to one day have a farm where she can care for a variety of animals. When she's not working, you can find Jaidyn enjoying a nice lake day or exploring the river in canoes. She's also developed a new passion for biking and looks forward to learning more bike skills this year.

Jaidyn's certifications include Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Intro Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor, Intro Solo Lake Canoe Instructor, Waterfront Canoe Instructor, and tandem Moving Water Canoe Instructor.

We are thrilled to have Dan Geddes back on the HeLa Ventures team, bringing a wealth of experience and passion from his adventurous and multifaceted career. Dan first discovered HeLa at the age of 15 when he joined the MAS program, progressing through the 350 and 400 levels and eventually working through the (M)ALP program, culminating in at least two more seasons as senior staff. In the winters, Dan honed his skills coaching nordic skiing at the Strathcona Wilderness Center.

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His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Dirtbag Climbing Corp, a company dedicated to merging physical literacy with food security and literacy through community-focused indoor climbing, outdoor climbing programs, and regenerative agricultural practices. This initiative offers a wide range of services to individuals from toddlers to adults, including private guided tours and educational programs in multi-pitching, outdoor bouldering, and both sport and traditional lead climbing skills.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Dan is a fully certified ACMG Rock Guide and WFR, and plays an active role in multiple not-for-profit organizations in Golden, contributing significantly to the community. 

Tanner Fisher is back on the HeLa Ventures team as a seasoned guide and instructor with extensive experience in outdoor education and paddle sports. Tanner, who first joined us in 2013, has honed his skills with companies throughout Canada, enhancing his expertise in canoeing, kayaking, and rafting.
 

Currently a teacher at St. Albert Public Schools, Tanner has also served as a Guide and Instructor at Grant MacEwan University, managed challenging waterways as a Guide Manager at Owl Rafting, and spent summers teaching at Madawaska Kanu Centre. His career exemplifies a commitment to spreading the excitement and skills of paddling!
 

Tanner's return to HeLa Ventures aims to advance our Paddle Canada courses, preparing a new generation of instructors and guides with the skills and reverence for our natural waters. His dedication to outdoor education and adventure positions him ideally to train our team and encourage more Canadians to safely explore the joys of paddling.

The 2023 season is Ben's third summer as HeLa staff. Ben graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor in Secondary Education. He holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and Swift Water Rescue Technician, as well as several Paddle Canada certifications, including  Moving Water Tandem Canoe Instructor, Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor, Wilderness Camping Instructor, and Waterfront Canoe Instructor.

Before working at HeLa, he completed MAS 101-401 as a student and participated in the ALP program. In his spare time, Ben is always up to hike, bike, paddle, and compete in camp Spikeball games. You can typically find Ben running around HeLa in his tie-dye Keens, making obscure movie references, and planning his next excursion in David Thompson Country.

Keo Ohler graduated with a concurrent degree in English and Education from the University of Calgary. She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor, Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Trainer, and a SoloNCCP 1 Orienteering Coach.


The 2023 season will be Keo's seventh year working at HeLa. She is also a graduate of HeLa's Mountain Adventure School program. In her time off, Keo loves to be out on the river. She can be easily identified in the wild by her abundance of purple gear. 

Bronwen Taylor recently completed her Bachelor of Music in French Horn Performance at the University of Alberta. In 2022, she completed HeLa's ALP program, which involved earning multiple certifications including, Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Paddle Canada Moving Water Tandem Canoe, Paddle Canada Canoe Instructor, Paddle Canada Camping Instructor, and Waterfront Canoe Instructor.

In addition to working at HeLa, Bronwen does ski patrol in the winter. She balances her love of everything outdoors with her passion for music, and when she's not playing her French Horn or at HeLa, you'll find her on the water in a canoe, scrambling a mountain, or possibly on a unicycle.

Asha started working at HeLa in 2021 as a kitchen staff, then completed the ALP program in 2022, in which she earned numerous certifications in canoe and camping instruction, wilderness first aid, and swift water rescue.

Asha has been a lover of hiking, biking, and all water based activities since she was young, and her passions have only grown with time. When she’s not outside exploring, Asha is working on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at MacEwan University. Asha also competes nationally on the University of Alberta Artistic Swimming team, and passes on her love of the sport through coaching. 

James will be returning to HeLa for his second season. In 2022, he completed the Adventure Leadership Practicum (ALP) program with HeLa, where he received his Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician I, as well as his Canoe and Camping instructors’ certifications. James is a Mountain Adventure School (MAS) graduate, completing all four levels with HeLa. Outside of HeLa and the ALP
program, James is also passionate about scuba diving and is a certified PADI Rescue Diver.

James is in his second year at MacEwan University, where he is taking a Bachelor of Science degree. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys many activities, including year-round biking (yes, that includes in the snow and cold), rock climbing, skiing (water and snow), scuba diving, and paddling. James also
enjoys soapstone carving, with over 12 years of experience, and has been passing his knowledge and skills on to students as an instructor for 2 years. He can be spotted wearing his cowboy hat around camp
and sporting a grin. Don’t be afraid to say, “Hi!”

In 2023, Laura joined HeLa for her second season after completing the ALP program in 2022. She recently graduated from Mount Royal University with a degree in Health and Physical Education, majoring in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. Laura holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue Technician, and Outdoor Council of Canada Field Leader. She also holds several Paddle Canada certifications, including  Moving Water Tandem Canoe Instructor, Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor, Basic Camping Instructor, and Waterfront Canoe Instructor. She has completed the AST Level 1- Avalanche Skills Training.

When she's not playing varsity hockey for the MRU cougars, Laura is out hiking, xc skiing, camping, paddling, and climbing! 

With a head full of hair and a mind full of wonder Tristan got his start in the guiding industry through HeLa Ventures ALP program in 2006.

He quickly developed a passion for the outdoors, a specialization in whitewater and leveraged the experience gained through the ALP program to
gain access to guiding opportunities internationally. After guiding for a winter in Australia and a second season with HeLa, Tristan then participated in a program called WILD (Whitewater
Intensive Leadership Development). After WILD, Tristan guided Canadian waterways
during summer in Alberta, BC, and Ontario, but once the mercury started to dip, he would migrate south escaping Canadian winters to enjoy the sun of southern hemisphere (Chile, Argentina, Zambia, Mexico, and Australia). Once Tristan graduated to “real job” status he
continued his involvement with guiding part time with Nahanni River Adventures, HeLa Ventures and pursues his fascination with whitewater exploring rivers all over the globe from the seat of his kayak.
 

What started with an introductory guiding program bloomed into 18 years of exploring, guiding, and appreciating the beauty that rivers throughout Canada, and the globe, have to offer.