Gary and Joanie McGuffin | |
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Born | 1959, 1960 London and Thornhill, Ontario |
Alma mater | Seneca College |
Occupation(s) | Explorers, Conservation Photographers, Authors, Public Speakers |
Years active | 1983–Present |
Website | http://www.themcguffins.ca |
Gary and Joanie McGuffin are Canadian explorers, conservation photographers, writers, motivational speakers, documentarians and conservationists. Their most documented adventures have been about canoeing on waterways throughout North America,[1] bicycling from the Arctic to the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans,[2] backpacking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, circumnavigating Lake Superior by canoe[3] and paddling across Northern Ontario in the footsteps of Grey Owl.[4] The McGuffins are noted primarily for their popular paddle sports instructional books on canoeing and kayaking,[5] and their documentary film based on their research about the Group of Seven artists.[6] Between adventures, the McGuffins are ambassadors of the wilderness, touring the world through speaking events, photo exhibitions, book tours, eco-tourism development, and educational seminars on conservation. In 2000, the Ontario government officially appointed Gary and Joanie as Champions of the Coast under the Great Lakes Heritage Coast program. In 2003, they were the recipients of the Premier's Award and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal[7] for wilderness preservation and environmental education achievements for their province and their country.