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The "Paddle for Resilience 2025" presentation outlines the 32-day, 1,000+ kilometre canoeing journey along the entire length of the Ottawa River, from its Headwaters (Lac des Outaouais in NW Quebec) to Ottawa. This expedition was a fundraising effort for Wounded Warriors Canada.The presentation is organized into five main parts:
- The Mission & The River: Why we did this and how the river's characteristics shaped our plan.
- Getting Ready: A look at the planning, gear, and logistics it took to pull this off.
- The Journey: A breakdown of the route, leg by leg, the specific challenges and insights.
- Staying Safe: How we planned for the worst, managed risks, and kept the team and equipment going.
- Conclusion & Q&A: We plan to make the P4R an annual event and a Q&A session.
Link to video: — a trailer that outlines the expedition.
About Shawn
Shawn spent over 30 years in the army, commissioning as an officer from the ranks. He completed numerous overseas and domestic deployments.
A former combat engineer (sapper) once laughed mid-gunfight. This exemplifies his core worldview: enthusiastically embrace challenges, maintain forward momentum, and clear the way. At Gasparotto Group, he applies this by helping leaders navigate personal minefields and bridge knowledge gaps, ensuring they move forward and "struggle well." Shawn asserts that leadership is a combination of instinct and purposeful work.
Shawn co-led the 2025 Paddle for Resilience, a 33-day, 1,000-km Ottawa River canoe expedition with Mark Gasparotto. The trip supported Wounded Warriors Canada, raising $100,000, and featured exceptional Canadians challenging their resilience.
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