About
Brenna is an elite paddlesports educator with more than two decades of teaching experience in canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding and swiftwater rescue. Since discovering whitewater kayaking as a teenager, she has dedicated her career to making the water accessible, safe and thrilling for everyone.
A former raft guide on the Ottawa River, Brenna has taught whitewater kayaking around the world. Today, she continues to instruct for fun because she believes few experiences compare to helping someone discover what they’re capable of on the river.
Experience
Brenna has spent nearly her entire adult life on the water, building an extensive resume as a professional paddler. Her career spans instruction, competition and instructor development. She began teaching with Ottawa Kayak School, where she spent seven years instructing resort guests and students in Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure program. She later became an Instructor Trainer with Canoe Kayak Canada, where she trained whitewater instructors to the organization’s highest certification level.
As a former semi-professional creek boater and competitive freestyle kayaker, Brenna earned a spot on the Canadian National Freestyle Team after just six years in the sport, and also competed at an elite level in boatercross.
She holds advanced certifications in flatwater canoe instruction, whitewater kayak instruction, and both flatwater and whitewater (SUP) instruction, and continues to teach swiftwater rescue (now as a hobby) because she loves sharing it with others. Her deep technical knowledge, patient teaching style and respect for river safety have made her a highly sought-after voice in the outdoor community.
Fun Fact
Brenna attributes her love for extreme sports to growing up with three brothers, where she was constantly driven to prove she wasn’t a wuss against their competitive antics. She’s convinced that if she had grown up with a sister or as an only child, she’d likely be under the stage lights as an actress or singer today rather than running wild rivers.
