LEADERSHIP TEAM

Sascha Ellis (he/him) • Executive Director • sascha@canoe.org 

Sascha started as Executive Director in 2021 but has been part of the Project Canoe community for many years now.  He is a Child and Youth Worker with over 15 years of experience working with youth in outdoor, community, justice and educational settings. From 2014 - 2021, Sascha worked with 360°kids and was integral in launching and growing their Youth Hub in Richmond Hill. Sascha is passionate about creating programs that empower youth and their families to develop new life skills while building strong connections.

Sascha loves all things comedy, the Toronto Raptors, dancing around the kitchen and his family. He looks forward to sharing his love of camp and the outdoors with his daughters (Madeleine, 3 and Norah, 1).

John Hissink • Director of Programs & Operations • john@canoe.org

After being a summer canoe trip leader at Project Canoe in 2016 and 2017, and leading some contract trips in 2015 and 2018, John has returned to PC to fill the Director of Programs & Operations role. John has been canoe tripping since being introduced to it as a volunteer at Camp Outlook in 2009 and has been helping out Outlook in various ways ever since. John also spent some summers running leadership programming and leading trips with Camp Kirk in 2018 and 2023. A big believer in the interplay between challenge and teamwork required on a canoe trip, the most exciting part of trip for John is when someone does something they didn’t think they could do. John’s current favourite trip food is a coconut curry stir fry and favourite lake in Algonquin Park is McIntosh.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peter Szathmary (he/him/his) •President/Co-Chair
Peter has been a volunteer with Project Canoe since 2011, working on Fund Development Committee and the Finance Committee.  Having spent many summers of his youth camping and canoeing with Scouts Canada he gained a love for the wilderness early in life and remains an avid tripper to this day.  Working with the passionate people at Project Canoe fulfills Peter’s desire to support the wellbeing of Toronto’s youth by sharing the healing power of the wilderness.  

Peter has been a technologist for over thirty years, specializing in information technology for trading floors and wealth management. Peter is a lifelong Torontonian with two grown children who both share his love for the outdoors.    

Sara Udow (she/her) • Co-Chair
Sara is an urban and community planner in Toronto but has never really stopped being a canoe tripper/camp counselor. Sara has worked with many summer camps and canoe tripping organizations over the past 15 years and has been on Project Canoe's Fund Development and Programming Committee for one year. Sara believes that the wilderness acts as a powerful backdrop for the important life lessons we learn on canoe trips - teamwork, community development, leadership skills, resiliency and most importantly, how to have fun.

Landon Roedding (he/him) • Treasurer
Landon, a Chartered Professional Accountant, has over 14 years of experience in financial reporting and is currently working at Blue goose Pure Foods as their financial controller. Landon previously worked for Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP as a senior manager in their audit practice as well as working in senior financial roles with Sherritt International Corporation and Kinross Gold Corporation. Landon grew up with canoeing and hiking integrated into his family vacations and has nurtured a passion for the outdoors ever since. Landon enjoys sharing his love of the outdoors with others through canoe, camping and hiking trips. In his role as Treasurer, Landon has leveraged his many years of experience in financial reporting to support the financial functions of Project Canoe and ensure sound financial practices are being followed.

Anne Comer (she/her) • Secretary/Former President and Chair
Anne started volunteering with Project Canoe in 2012 and joined the Board in 2013, assuming the position of Chair & President in 2019. Having a career that spans both education and business gives Anne a unique perspective on personal development and organizational effectiveness, which she brings to Project Canoe’s HR & Governance committee.

Shveta Kanetkar (she/her) • Member Shveta has been involved with Project Canoe since 2013, beginning as a Canoe Trip Leader. She joined the Program Committee in 2015 and was appointed to the board in 2019. As a past tripper, current Girl Guide leader, and outdoor enthusiast Shveta brings a wide breadth of youth programming and outdoor education experiences to the Project Canoe Board. As a member, she feels passionately about increasing the diversity of the outdoor community and providing the best possible experience for the youth Project Canoe serves!

Andy MacDonald (he/his/him) • Member
Andy started volunteering at Project Canoe in 2020 and has been working on the Sustainability Fund and Finance Committee. He currently works as an Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities and previously held various roles as an equity research analyst for investment management companies in Toronto. Andy holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from McGill University as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Andy's canoe repertoire includes trips down the French River and through Algonquin Park. In his free time, he enjoys curling, fishing and eating spicy food with his friends and family.

Rohith Suresh (he/him) • Member
Rohith got first involved with Project Canoe as a participant on a partnership trip with Sherbourne Health Centre in 2017. He connected very well with Project Canoe's mission on that trip itself and saw the impact in himself. He then returned as a trip leader for the next two years making many more memories and impacting diverse youth at various capacities. He continued to be involved with the organization as part of the program committee and joined the board in 2021. Rohith currently oversees harm reduction work at one of the Shelters in the city of Toronto. He is passionate about outdoor education and bringing diversity and inclusivity to the outdoor world.

Kate Barrett (she/her) • Member
Kate has been a volunteer with Project Canoe's Program Committee for the last two years. She is an avid outdoors woman and has led over 250 days of canoe trip. In 2018, Kate guided her 2nd 50-day canoe trip, paddling from Lake Superior to Algonquin Park. With a passion for the outdoors, Kate attended OISE's Master of Teaching program and conducted her research on the impact of Outdoor Education. Kate has spent the last three years working as a teacher at Upper Canada College teaching Outdoor Education, Year 2, and Year 3. Kate believes in the power of education, and in particular, the importance of getting kids outside to foster a love of nature and a strong sense of self.

Ren Wiebe (he/him) • Member
Ren caught the canoe camping bug on a 10-day father and son trip at the age of 9. He has been a life-long tripper and appreciates the lessons and life skills that come from group wilderness adventure. In his professional career he has spent the last 30 year dedicated to leadership development as a coach and team facilitator. He started volunteering with Project Canoe in 2020, sitting on the Human Resource and Governance Committee. He facilitated the 2021 Strategic Planning Process for Project Canoe and in 2022 joined the Board.