Thank you to CBC News and Murray Brewster for featuring our Paddle For Resilience journey. We are paddling 1,000 km along the Ottawa River in support of Wounded Warriors Canada, specifically supporting building upstream resilience and recovery initiatives for first responders and military personnel.
Ottawa River Canoe Expedition 2025
Support Resilience and Mental Health Initiatives for Canada’s Heroes.
Join Us in Supporting
Wounded Warriors Canada
In August and September 2025, the Gasparotto Group will paddle 1,000 km down the historic Ottawa River from Lac des Outaouais to Westboro Beach, Ottawa. Inspired by Mark's keynote and workshop entitled, Struggle Well™: My Experiments with Resilience, this expedition embodies endurance and resilience, raising funds for Wounded Warriors Canada.
Veterans Embark on 1,000 km Ottawa River Odyssey to Forge Resilience
Paddle for Resilience
Your support makes this journey possible and contributes to lasting mental health support for Canada’s heroes.
About the Expedition
The Ottawa River is not just a waterway—it’s a symbol of resilience and connection. This 1000 km journey will challenge the Gasparotto Group paddlers physically and mentally while raising awareness and funding for mental health support programs for first responders and military personnel.
How You Can Get Involved
Your support fuels this mission to provide life-changing programs for Canada’s heroes.
Three Ways to Support:
Expedition: Corporate Sponsorship
Align your brand with leadership and resilience by becoming an expedition sponsor.
Expedition: Charitable Donation
Every contribution directly funds mental health initiatives for Wounded Warriors Canada.
Paddle for Resilience: DIY Route
Form your own team, choose your route, and raise funds while tracking your progress.
Paddle for Resilience:
Join the Movement
Using Strava, participants can track their paddling routes, log distances, and share progress with supporters across Canada. You can be part of the journey.
Download Strava and join the Paddle for Resilience Club.
The Route:
A Historic Adventure
The expedition follows the Ottawa River’s path, an iconic corridor used by Indigenous peoples, explorers, and traders for centuries.
The journey spans 5 legs:
Lac des Outaoais
to Dorval Lodge
Rugged wilderness and untamed waters.
Parc de la Verandrye
to Timiskaming Shores
Historic portages of the fur trade era.
Timiskaming Shores
to Mattawa
Big water, wind, and waves.
Mattawa to
Petawawa
Rapids and remnants of the timber trade.
Petawawa to
Ottawa
Whitewater and final stretch home.
Meet the Team
Led by Mark Gasparotto and Shawn Groves, this expedition highlights the power of resilience and leadership. Their mission is to inspire action and make a lasting impact on mental health.
Mark Gasparotto
President
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Shawn Groves
Director of Operations
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Will Groves
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Nathan Jocko
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Peter Ceponis
Developer
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Expedition Partner:
Wounded Warriors Canada
Supporting Mental Health for Canada’s Heroes
Wounded Warriors Canada delivers life-changing mental health programs for veterans, first responders, and their families. These programs include:
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Trauma-informed workplace training
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Operational stress injury recovery programs
-
Spousal and youth support services
Why It Matters
of first responders
face mental health injuries
face mental health injuries
0
%
of paramedics are affected
by operational stress injuries
by operational stress injuries
0
%
Canadian Armed Forces members
are medically released annually
are medically released annually
0
WWC Impact
Individuals supported
0
/year
Funds invested in programs
$
0
M
Annual clinical delivery
0
hours
Our Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Expedition Updates Follow the Journey
Stay connected with real-time updates, photos, and videos from the paddlers. Witness their challenges, triumphs, and stories.
Join the Movement
Your support makes this journey possible and contributes to lasting mental health support for Canada’s heroes.
