ADAM VAN KOEVERDEN

My first trip to Algonquin Park was with my Grade 8 class in the spring of 1996. We kayaked at Camp Tanamakoon, and I recall thinking how lucky I was to be from Ontario, with so many beautiful lakes and rivers to explore by boat. I returned in the spring of 2008 while preparing for the Beijing Olympic Trials. I saw a “for sale” sign on an old dock and committed the phone number to memory. The Algonquin cottage lease was owned by a man who had recently passed away. His widow insisted that it be purchased by “the right person.” Thankfully, I fit the description and bought a tiny cabin with no electricity or running water. It’s my favourite place and most cherished possession, which has allowed me to share the beauty of our province with friends from around the world as well as my fellow Canadians. A great park thrives with ambassadors and great stewardship, and it’s with tremendous pride that I hope to maintain that obligation for years to come. Adam van Koeverden, a lifelong Ontarian who calls Algonquin Park “home,” is a world and Olympic champion in kayaking.