Meet the Team!
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Lana & Henry Madsen
Directors 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 works as a Programmer at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. During their spare time, if they have any, they pursue their outdoor passions with their 2 daughters, Kiera and Rhea. |
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Brett Pawlyk
Operations Manager Brett has been with HeLa since 2002. Brett's passion for paddling has taken him to rivers all over North America and the rest of the world. His favourite would have to be either the Churchill in northern Saskatchewan or the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. He is also an avid rock-climber, scrambler and backpacker and spends most of his winters exploring warmer countries. He recently published the guidebooks David Thompson Country: A Scrambling Guide and Nordegg in Winter : Ice Bubbles, Frozen Waterfalls, Hikes and More. Lana and Henry have been kind enough to allow HeLa to be the full-time home for his family. Certifications and training include: B.A Recreation & Tourism, B.Ed University of Alberta Alberta Certified Teacher (PPC) Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swiftwater Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Trainer Advanced Tandem and Solo Paddle Canada Camping Leadership Instructor Trainer Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Trainer Advanced Tandem and Solo ACMG Top Rope Climbing Instructor Avalanche Safety Training 1 NCCP 1 Orienteering Coach |
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Annabelle Oung Administrative & Kitchen Manager This is the French accent you'll hear when you phone HeLa! Annabelle moved to Alberta from France in 2009 for what was supposed to be a 9 month stint. Fast forward 13 years and she is still here. She spent her first few years in Canada working at HeLa in the summer and teaching French in Edmonton in the winter, before committing to HeLa full-time. She is also a certified translator. Annabelle is an avid mountain explorer and this is where you will almost always find her on her time off, usually with her 2 year old daughter in tow. She recently coauthored Nordegg in Winter : Ice Bubbles, Frozen Waterfalls, Hikes and More with her partner Brett. Certifications and training include: B.A English & French as a Foreign Language, Post Grad Diploma FSL - Université de Rouen ATIA Certified Translator English-French Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Alberta Food Sanitation & Hygiene |
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Kiera Madsen
Lead Instructor - Administrative Coordinator Kiera graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor in kinesiology - major in Sport Performance, and is currently pursuing an education after degree. This is her 6th season working as a guide at HeLa but prior to that, she spent most of her summers doing the MAS programs from 101-401. She is also a cheer coach in Edmonton. Fun facts: the first time she was in a canoe, she was 4 days old and she summited her first mountain at 3 weeks (through no physical effort of her own of course)! Certifications and training include: B. Kin., University of Alberta Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Trainer Intro Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo NCCP 1 Orienteering/XC/Gymnastics Coach CANSI 1 |
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Keo Ohler
Lead Instructor - Education Coordinator Keo Ohler just graduated with a concurrent degree in English and Education at the University of Calgary. This is Keo’s sixth year working at HeLa Ventures after graduating from the 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. Certifications and training include: B.Ed, B.A English, University of Calgary Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Trainer Intro Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo NCCP 1 Orienteering Coach |
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Derek Warrior
Lead Instructor - Program Coordinator Derek has always enjoyed the outdoors, from camping with his family growing up, to participating in HeLa programs as a student. He has now worked for Hela for 6 years. He has continued to pursue related fields in first aid and rescue while working as a ski patroller in the winter. You can still find him driving bus (very occasionally) and rocking out to great music. Certifications and training include: Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Trainer Intro Tandem Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Instructor Trainer Intro Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo ACMG Tope Rope Climbing Instructor Occupational First aid Level 3 AST 1 NCCP 1 Orienteering Coach CANSI 1 |
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Kenny Lord
Lead Instructor Kenny recently graduated with an Earth and Atmospheric Science degree at the University of Alberta. This will be his fourth year working at HeLa Ventures. He grew up loving the outdoors and is a keen paddler, climber, skier, biker, hiker, slackliner and more. He can be easily identified by following the sound of whistling or by his flamboyantly coloured paddling jacket! Certifications and training include: Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo NCCP 1 Orienteering Coach |
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Tegyn Heale
Instructor Tegyn has recently completed their Bachelor of Health and Physical Education in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership at Mount Royal University and will be returning to the HeLa team again this season. They haven’t always embraced a love of all things nature, but after some haphazard and very influential experiences, dove head first into the outdoor world. Through guiding and exploring on their own time they have discovered their one true and everlasting love: mountains, and will surely tell you multiple times how intricate and alluring they are. Certifications and training include: Bachelor of Health and Physical Education: Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, Mount Royal University Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Tandem Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Basic Camping Instructor Paddle Canada Waterfront Canoe Instructor Avalanche Safety Training 1 Outdoor Council of Canada Field Leader Hiking CSI Coach |
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Ben Eggink Instructor Ben is currently in his 4th year of a Bachelor of Secondary Education at the University of Saskatchewan. This will be his first year working with HeLa Ventures, after working through the MAS and ATLEP programs. In his spare time, Ben is always up for a hike, bike, and paddle, as well as a game of Spikeball! You can typically find Ben running around HeLa in his tie-dye Keens, making obscure movie references, and wearing the same gear as Leif. Certifications and training include: Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Tandem Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Basic Camping Instructor Paddle Canada Waterfront Canoe Instructor |
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Leif Hvenegaard Instructor Leif just finished his 3rd year of Environmental Science at the University of Alberta (Augustana Campus). Leif went through the mountain adventure program (101-401) as a student and this is now his second year working at HeLa. When he's not working you'll find him climbing mountains, paddling rivers, and maybe even some bird watching. He can be easily identified by wearing the exact same gear as Ben. Certifications and training include: Wilderness First Responder (80hrs) Swift Water Rescue Technician Paddle Canada Moving Water Tandem Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Tandem Lake Canoe Instructor Paddle Canada Basic Camping Instructor Paddle Canada Waterfront Canoe Instructor |