It was 2 years ago that Northern Edge Algonquin was contacted by Universal Studios in the UK and asked to create a prize package for an international group of 30 contest winners for the film Evan Almighty.
Evan a high powered, income driven politician, played by Steve Carolle is approached by God, Morgan Freeman, and instructed to build an ark. Evan turns is family, office, and neighborhood upside to build an ark large enough to hold a pair of animals form every species. The film carries with it a powerful message about environmentalism and land conservation.
While many international groups visiting Ontario opt for Niagara Falls and Toronto area attractions, Northern Edge Algonquin had a different itinerary idea. Wendy MacCrimmon, lead facilitator thought "Evan built an ark, our winners should do the same and they should see some of the landscapes that make Canada Special. After all, the Canoe is one of Canada's Seven Wonders and Algonquin Park, a priceless natural destination"
Following almost 2 years of planning, MacCrimmon and her team arrived in Toronto and shuttled the group of 30 to Peterborough, Ontario where the winners visited the Canadian Canoe Museum to see the worlds largest collection of canoes!
While there, the group of 30 international winners from Australia, Ireland, Germany, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico, and England would (like Evan in the movie) build boats. With years of team building experience, Maccrimmon and her team rallied the group, dividing them strategically, and charged them with the task of building a 3 foot long kayaks. Each group emerged triumphant an hour later having constructed a Canadian ark.
That evening the winners enjoyed local produced gourmet fare at "A Movable Feast" in the city's downtown. MacCrimmon said of the experience "A Movable Feast represented Canada well. A trendy, intimate location featuring local and organic meals! What more could we have asked for?".
The winners woke early the next morning and were shuttled North towards world famous Algonquin Provincial Park. Three full days and nights were spent at Northern Edge Algonquin's Solar Powered Eco-Lodge. Here the group learned to paddle their own arks with daily canoe and kayak lessons. The group ventured into the back country of Algonquin Park, enjoying a true Canadian wilderness experience. Meals by the camp fire, wildlife photography, and hikes into the woods.
Alexis Burnett, the head adventure guide said "This was a one in a life time experience. We're so lucky in Canada, with access to so much land and water. I think the group learned a lot about what it means to be Canadian and a lot about themselves as well. We all had a blast."
