Lana & Henry Madsen
Owners
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.
Brett Pawlyk
Program 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. He can't pick a favourite river, although it has 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. Lana and Henry have been kind enough to allow HeLa to be his full-time home.
Certifications and training include:
B.A Recreation & Tourism, B.Ed University of Alberta
Alberta Certified Teacher (PPC)
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Trainer Advanced Tandem
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Trainer Advanced Solo
Paddle Canada Canoe Tripping Instructor Tandem and Solo
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Trainer Intermediate Tandem and Solo
ACMG Top Rope Instructor
Avalanche Safety Training 1
Annabelle Oung
Administrative & Kitchen Manager
Annabelle has been with HeLa since 2009. Annabelle moved to Alberta from France for what was supposed to be a 9 month stint. 10 years later, she is still here. She spent her first few years in Canada teaching French in Edmonton in the winters and working at HeLa in the summers, before eventually moving to HeLa full-time. She is also a freelance translator. Annabelle is an avid hiker/backpacker and if she gets any days off during the summer season, she is usually gone exploring somewhere in the Rockies. She spends her winters travelling the globe to other mountain ranges.
Certifications and training include:
B.A English & French as a Foreign Language, Post Grad Diploma FFL - Université de Rouen
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Alberta Food Sanitation & Hygiene
Annabelle Oung
Administrative & Kitchen Manager
Annabelle has been with HeLa since 2009. Annabelle moved to Alberta from France for what was supposed to be a 9 month stint. 10 years later, she is still here. She spent her first few years in Canada teaching French in Edmonton in the winters and working at HeLa in the summers, before eventually moving to HeLa full-time. She is also a freelance translator. Annabelle is an avid hiker/backpacker and if she gets any days off during the summer season, she is usually gone exploring somewhere in the Rockies. She spends her winters travelling the globe to other mountain ranges.
Certifications and training include:
B.A English & French as a Foreign Language, Post Grad Diploma FFL - Université de Rouen
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Alberta Food Sanitation & Hygiene
Adam Biesinger
Facility Manager
Adam worked at HeLa in its early days, in the late 90's and early 2000's, before leaving for many years to pursue other life goals. The HeLa vortex brought him back in 2016. Adam is an ultra-runner, climber, biker, skier and all around explorer. A jack of all trades, his latest project involves building his own tiny home. You may even spot him on a biking or climbing program at HeLa.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Avalanche Safety Training 1
Certified Bicycle Mechanic
Registered Massage Therapist
Adam Biesinger
Facility Manager
Adam worked at HeLa in its early days, in the late 90's and early 2000's, before leaving for many years to pursue other life goals. The HeLa vortex brought him back in 2016. Adam is an ultra-runner, climber, biker, skier and all around explorer. A jack of all trades, his latest project involves building his own tiny home. You may even spot him on a biking or climbing program at HeLa.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Avalanche Safety Training 1
Certified Bicycle Mechanic
Registered Massage Therapist
Kiera Madsen
Instructor
Kiera is going into her 3rd year at the U of A, studying kinesiology with a major in sport performance. This is Kiera's 3rd 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 competitive cheerleader and cheer coach in Edmonton. Fun fact: the first time Kiera 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:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
NCCP 1 (Gymnastics)
Kiera Madsen
Instructor
Kiera is going into her 3rd year at the U of A, studying kinesiology with a major in sport performance. This is Kiera's 3rd 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 competitive cheerleader and cheer coach in Edmonton. Fun fact: the first time Kiera 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:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
NCCP 1 (Gymnastics)
Keo Ohler
Instructor
Keo is going into her third year of a concurrent degree in English and education at the University of Calgary. This is Keo’s third 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:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
Colby MacIntyre
Instructor
This is Colby's third year working with HeLa after graduating from the MAS program. Colby (also known as Bina) is currently studying Education at the University of Alberta. She loves being teased about how young she looks and getting mistaken for a Grade 10 student.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
National Lifeguard
Dave Merkosky
Instructor
Dave is pumped to start his second season out at Hela. He has just completed his first year teaching and is looking forward to guiding and teaching this spring and summer. Just like last summer, Dave loved working on the river, trails and in the classroom and especially out on the lake! Here's to a great summer and spring with a wicked staff line-up!
Certifications and training include:
B.Kin, B.Ed University of Alberta
Alberta Certified Teacher (IPC)
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
Derek Warrior
Instructor
This is Derek's third season working at HeLa. He is a graduate of the Mountain Adventure School program. In the off season, Derek (also known as Der Der) studies at Grant McEwan University and teaches cross-country skiing. During your visits to HeLa you might spot him frying bacon and listening to Bon Jovi while wearing a jean jacket.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
David Erasmus
Instructor
This is David’s 7th summer being part of the HeLa community and is very excited to return. The mountains offer a great deal of comfort for him as he grew up hiking and exploring in the David Thompson Corridor. His first hike was a gentle 4 day hike and the ripe age of three. Since then David (also known as Moose) has been on several group and solo adventures in paddling, hiking and climbing. He is very excited to return to the mountains after studying in Vancouver, BC.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor
Daniel Geddes
Instructor
Dan has been working at HeLa for the last three years. He is also a graduate of the Mountain Adventure School program. Dan is an avid climber and can be found travelling across North America in search of rock during the off season. Dan also works as a cross-country instructor at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Born and raised a hockey player, he couldn't handle the pressure of conforming to a clean cut society, so he grew out his hair and now lives in an 80's van. He is also known for his exceptionally bad taste in music.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
Food Safe
Kaliegh Boyce
Instructor
Kaliegh's introduction to HeLa was through one of our summer school programs in Grade 10. This is now her second season working at HeLa. During the snow season, when she is not off adventuring around the world, Kaliegh works as a snowboard and cross country ski instructor. At HeLa, she can usually be found rolling around in fields of flowers while eating granola.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
CASI 1 (Snowboard Instructor)
Avalanche Safety Training 1
Instructor
Kaliegh's introduction to HeLa was through one of our summer school programs in Grade 10. This is now her second season working at HeLa. During the snow season, when she is not off adventuring around the world, Kaliegh works as a snowboard and cross country ski instructor. At HeLa, she can usually be found rolling around in fields of flowers while eating granola.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
CANSI I, NCCP- XC (CC ski Instructor)
CASI 1 (Snowboard Instructor)
Avalanche Safety Training 1
Lori Davis
Instructor
Lori has worked at HeLa Ventures as a river guide and instructor for the last 13 years. She is heavily involved with the Rocky Canoe Club and organizes multiple paddling events in the Rocky Mountain House area every year. Her favourite Alberta canoeing river is the Upper Red Deer and her favourite Alberta Kayaking river is the Sunwapta. She is affectionately known as the 'Momager' to all of our staff. Lori is also a cross-country ski and swim instructor.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor Advanced
Paddle Canada River Kayak Instructor Intermediate
Paddle Canada Kayak Rolling Instructor
Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Instructor Basic
Instructor
Lori has worked at HeLa Ventures as a river guide and instructor for the last 13 years. She is heavily involved with the Rocky Canoe Club and organizes multiple paddling events in the Rocky Mountain House area every year. Her favourite Alberta canoeing river is the Upper Red Deer and her favourite Alberta Kayaking river is the Sunwapta. She is affectionately known as the 'Momager' to all of our staff. Lori is also a cross-country ski and swim instructor.
Certifications and training include:
Wilderness First Responder (80hr)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Intermediate Tandem
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Instructor Solo
Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor Advanced
Paddle Canada River Kayak Instructor Intermediate
Paddle Canada Kayak Rolling Instructor
Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Instructor Basic