Hamilton Adventure Expo

09/11/2026

08/02/2026

Exhibitor Spotlight: Algonquin Yeti Paddling

Your first choice for ultra-light canoe rentals and guided excursions in the beautiful Panhandle of Algonquin Park.
Guided adventures are available in all four seasons; the options are unlimited!! Guided packages are all inclusive, just pack your clothes and AYP will do the rest.

Making your adventures Epic!

08/01/2026

2027 Presenter: James Paige
❤️WILDERNESS

James Paige was born into a canoe-tripping family and has spent a lifetime exploring the Quetico and Algonquin wildernesses. A passionate photographer, he enjoys capturing the beauty of the backcountry and the wildlife that lives there. He is also a fishing enthusiast who makes up for a lack of skill by using his canoe to access remote locations where the fish don’t know any better. As a high school teacher, James takes great pleasure in sharing his love of the outdoors and sparking that explorer’s curiosity with his students.

07/21/2026

Exhibitor Spotlight: Owl Rafting

OWL Rafting on the Ottawa River offers unforgettable whitewater rafting adventures, from day trips to weekend getaways there are packages for everyone. Every trip includes a BBQ meal served aboard our scenic pontoon boat cruise. Enjoy an overnight stay at our waterfront resort - camping, glamping, cabins and more available.

owlrafting.com

07/20/2026

Exhibitor Spotlight: Madawaska Kanu Centre

Madawaska Kanu Centre offers world-class kayak and canoe instruction on the beautiful Madawaska River. With programs for all skill levels, MKC creates a welcoming environment where paddlers can build confidence, develop new skills and experience the excitement of whitewater.

mkc.ca

06/28/2026

2027 Speaker Spotlight: Adam Shoalts

He’s back! We’re thrilled to welcome Adam Shoalts back to the Hamilton Adventure Expo for his third year!

Adam Shoalts is a professional adventurer, Westaway Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and Outward Bound ambassador. His expeditions have taken him from mapping remote rivers to exploring some of Canada’s most challenging wilderness.

Known for his incredible solo journeys - including crossing nearly 4,000 km of Canada’s Arctic alone - Shoalts has been called one of the “greatest living explorers” by CBC and “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star.

His bestselling books include Alone Against the North, A History of Canada in 10 Maps, Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada’s Arctic, The Whisper on the Night Wind, and Where the Falcon Flies, which follows his epic 3,400 km solo journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic.

Adam’s newest adventures in storytelling continue with his latest releases, including Vanished Beyond the Map and his children’s book The Young Explorer’s Nature Adventure Book, bringing his passion for exploration and the natural world to a whole new generation of adventurers.

Adam holds a PhD from McMaster University in history, and when he’s not exploring the far corners of Canada, he enjoys long walks in the woods.

We can’t wait to welcome him back to HAE!

adamshoalts.com

06/27/2026

2027 Presenter Spotlight: the Baird Family -
Tori Baird, Jim Baird, Wesley & Hudson

The Baird Family believes adventure is for everyone. Over the years, they’ve explored some of Canada’s most incredible wild places together, including canoe trips on the French, Teslin, and Lower Stikine Rivers, a cross-country road trip to Newfoundland via the Labrador Highway, hikes throughout Gros Morne National Park, and a 500 km winter snowmobile expedition from their home to their remote off-grid cabin in Northern Ontario.

Their adventures are shaped by their two sons: Wesley, who has FOXG1 syndrome and continually inspires creative ways to make the outdoors more accessible, and Hudson, whose boundless curiosity and adventurous spirit remind them to slow down, embrace curiosity, and find joy in every adventure.

Jim is the creator of the successful Jim Baird Adventurer YouTube channel, where he has spent the past seven years sharing wilderness expeditions with hundreds of thousands of viewers. Tori is the founder of Paddle Like a Girl, a community dedicated to helping women build confidence and skills in canoeing and outdoor adventure. Together, the Bairds are passionate about showing that the outdoors can bring families together, build resilience, and create lifelong memories-no matter what challenges you face.

06/25/2026

2027 Presenter: Ben Beauchamp

Ben Beauchamp is a Canadian outdoor enthusiast and YouTuber known for his backcountry camping and fishing adventures.

He’s had the pleasure of exploring some of Ontario’s most iconic canoe routes, areas such as Temagami, Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, Lake Superior, Pic River, and the Steel River. He has also ventured along the lesser-known and seldom-explored Jimmy Kash River, which flows into the Dog River just above Denison Falls, a location made famous by filmmaker and paddler Bill Mason.

Ben’s goal is to inspire people to enjoy the outdoors by showcasing the beauty nature through his own passion and enthusiasm.

06/04/2026

2027 Speaker: Ann-Marie Brissett-Laverty

After almost a decade of competing in Powerlifting, National competitor Ann-Marie decided to put the singlet aside in exchange for hiking boots and her tent coined as her “nylon mansion” .

Her story to the outdoors didn’t start when she was young, so this was all brand new to her. Years later, she is sharing her love and journey of the outdoors through her chuckle filled content.

Ann inspires others to take the leap with her. She’s a weekend warrior through and through. Her love for the backcountry isn’t complete without a paddle and fishing rod that she holds on to year-round.

Featured in the book “Tent Life”, Ann reminds us that getting outside shouldn’t be difficult. It is simply about doing the damn thing and living in the moment of it all!

06/01/2026

Missed dog sledding in 2026? Don’t worry - you’ll have another chance in 2027!

is returning to the Hamilton Adventure Expo for their second year, bringing the excitement of dog sledding and sharing the rich history of this iconic Canadian tradition.

📸 Photos from the 2026 Expo by