Meet the Organizers

Phil Cotton - An avid canoe historian, "Uncle" Phil manages The Wabakimi Project which he founded in 2004. His winters are spent researching and planning routes, recruiting volunteers, organizing the annual speaking tour and preparing equipment and supplies for the next summer's trips. He is actively involved in forest management planning exercises that impact canoe routes on the Crown lands adjacent to Wabakimi Provincial Park.

Barry Simon - Barry designs and produces the Wabakimi Canoe Route Maps. He often shares the podium with Phil during the annual speaking tour. His tireless efforts, unstinting support and 'hands across the border' collaboration has earned The Wabakimi Project an enviable international reputation. A trip participant in 2005 and 2007, Barry led his first reconnaissance trip in 2008.

Bill McCarvell - A close friend of Phil's family and a veteran of three Wabakimi reconnaissance trips, Bill lives in London, ON where he operates his own internet development firm, Syntaxis On-Line, Inc. He is the designer and manager of The Wabakimi Project website and each year, he helps Phil prepare the annual speaking tour presentations and accompanies him to ensure things runs smoothly.

Sarah McCullough - Sarah manages the daily business of The Wabakimi Project while Phil is away leading trips. She maintains his home where she conducts the pre-trip briefings, outfits participants with the gear they require, packs the supplies and acts as our liaison with the air base in Armstrong.

Yolanda Wanakamik (née Elliott) - As manager of the Mattice Lake Outfitters air base, Yolanda co-ordinates our air and road shuttles, greets participants on their arrival, issues their fishing licences and camping permits, stores their valuables in the office safe and collaborates with Sarah as our emergency contact in Armstrong.