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Stefi Van Wijk

@stefisunshines

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Live without pretending. Love without depending. Listen without defending.

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It’s good to do hard things with old friends. Pontax River September 17-23, 2026: Great rapids, much bushwhacking, creative camping, cold winds, many songs, delicious food, solid support net, lots of hugs, good memories. Waskaganish is an awesome town to be welcomed back by. Many thanks to Harvey Blackned for shuttling, care and freshly smoked fish!! 🐟 taken in Waskaganish First Nation by @stefisunshines

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23 days ago

Alastair, thank you for loving me. I am very very happy that I get to marry you.
🩵❤️S💜A❤️🩵
(Shout out to Bella and Indy for the perfect bracelet) taken in Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park by @stefisunshines

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a month ago

This Sunday!!! I’m so stoked that our rural community puts on such a heckin event! taken in Maynooth, Ontario by @stefisunshines

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3 months ago

Interview with Stefi Van Wijk, director of Madawaska Kanu Center, about their summer courses for 2026!

The Madawaska Kanu Center in Canada (@madawaskakanu), located two hours east of Ottawa and just under four hours north of Toronto, is a haven between forest and lakes, set on the beautiful Madawaska River. With a welcoming resort, comfortable accommodation, ethical outdoor practices, and locally sourced food, it is the perfect place to unwind and take a whitewater course this year.

Connecting people to the environment and the paddling community, the Madawaska Kanu Center offers a range of specialty courses this year. From women’s to family programs, packrafting to whitewater, and from two-day sessions to week-long experiences, there is something for everyone.

To learn more about this beautiful whitewater center, we had a chat with Stefi. Read the interview on kayaksession.com 👉 link in bio

#kayaksession #whitewater #canada by @stefisunshines

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6 months ago

Cross country ski racing in my 30s be like:
🌞🩰❄️💙😍
Heck ya for Opeongo Nordic Ski Loppet 2026! Thanks team Jones-Whyte for putting together this awesome community event!!
I love the Madawaska Valley. taken in Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club by @stefisunshines

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9 months ago

The past in snapshots is a strange thing. 2016 was a year of heartbreak, failure, hard work, new beginnings and transition. This decade passed very quickly.
I started the year living in Asheville, NC and ended the year living in Fernie, BC.
1- Honouring the life too soon lost of Andrew Wolf
2- Biking in the WNC with @emshanblatt
3- Rafting with past MKC staff’s children (most who will be back this year taking kayak courses!)
4- @bbabundanceburlesque on her first descent of the Main
5- My first descent of the Rouge
6- First time co-guide with @titsdeeep
7- the last of the infamous @aliveoutdoorsinc staff weekend at MKC
8- ALIVE without the kids
9- biking up Tom’s with my sis
10- finishing the deck and wood shed at “Stefi’s Cabin” with my dad (available for rent at Nakkertok.ca!)
11- A super warm and fuzzy lap of the Ottawa with Leh and Jordi
12- driving across the country with @mimibastien 💙
13- Tour de Saskatoon by canoe. Miss you @nat.gillis
This was also the day the US allowed a very scary man to lead their country for the first time.
14- Hot dog day on Fernie Mtn with the team (ok, this was early 2017, you’re right) by @stefisunshines

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9 months ago

In the northern hemisphere, in December, we celebrate the dark and cold, when human needs are so obvious. We need to gather for warmth, rest for strength, share for nourishment, celebrate for joy.
💙May you gather, rest, share and celebrate this Winter Solstice.
❄️Wild ice skating is the best; please take precautions: know your waters, adventure with friends, bring good snacks, test for thickness, wear flotation, carry picks. taken in Kamaniskeg Lake by @stefisunshines

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10 months ago

🚴🏼‍♀️🏕️Tour de Vélo Camping Oct ´25🍁☕️
A 1 week mountain bike trip in Eastern Qc for 2 newbies/ low intermediates. Here are some notes from a trip we would do again in a heartbeat:
🟢Stick to green runs, pretend nothing else exists. Sometimes they’re hard and labelled easy, so you must remind yourself that practicing being a beginner is good practice.
🚲 Alastair and I both have bikes bought used 12+ years ago at ~$800 each. They did us so well!
Day 1️⃣ Packed up in Barry’s Bay, hit the road to Larose Forest and biked the big green loop from P1. A smooth and satisfying warm up for our trip. $25 seasons trail pass! Money well spent!
Day 2🐴Woke up with horses in the sunrise at Alastair’s family farm. Biked all the green trails from Larose Forest P7. Drove to Oka National Park Sépaq to set up camp and make dinner.
Day 3🧀Rode to Oka Beach for some morning yoga, headed to Sentiers de l’Abbaye Oka. So much fun cruising these trails; a lot more bumpy than the past 2 days and so cool to be surrounded by kind, keen bikers. Drove to Vallée du Bras Nord! Mind blown, set up camp, made dinner.
Day 4🍁Got passes, kind advice and lattes at the Acceuill Shannahan and were blown away by a beautiful day of biking through a sugar bush of sap lines. A huge beautiful waterfall was a great lunch stop.
Day 5🛶 A break from biking. We rented a canoe and paddled 17km down the low- water class 1 Rivière du Bras Nord. So much scenicityness.
Day 6❄️Stayed in the same spot because wow. Rode the awesome Grand Ours Loup! Got cocky and tried the Petit Ours Loop to check out some Neilson rapids… quickly turned around. Just… pretend the black diamonds don’t exist, right. Packed up and headed to Camping De La Joie.
Day 7 💪🏼Empire 47. This spot is bumpin! The map was overwhelming, very serious biker people. Found some fun swoopy and giggly runs- Minosaur, Gargallon, Flowrentide. I took my first crash… took wind from my sails.
Day 8 🌞Le Moulin. Shout out to the Ti Louie trail and its builders; got my stoke back. Did a big wrap of the hill on the greens!
💙And now, we drive home. Satisfied, and stoked on this epic sport. by @stefisunshines

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a year ago

Summerrrrrr starteddddddddd 🦋🌱💙🛶🚲🌞 taken in Madawaska Kanu Centre by @stefisunshines

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a year ago

A visit to the PNW in Early Spring
⛈️🛶💧🫖🚘⛈️
In the rain: Camping, driving, eating, cooking, walking, paddling, changing, shivering, hanging with pals.
Out of the rain: Staying at @jowastaken’s amazing adventure basecamp 🍕🛁💙
And an awesome show by Jesse Welles 💚💚💚
Thank you for your epic songwriting and music sharing @wellesmusic
Not pictured: actual kayaking and Poison Oak all over my butt. taken in White Salmon, Washington by @stefisunshines

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2 years ago

Cheesin. Day 1 at Battle Abbey with the fam. I can do hard things… it’s just not that easy❄️🏔️⛷️ taken in Battle Abbey Hut by @stefisunshines

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2 years ago

What a joyful gathering of love this was, and still is in my heart 💚. Thank you both so much for getting married Katrina & Kent!! And to everyone for coming to celebrate!
@thekentaloupe & @titsdeeep 4Ever.
I am grateful to be able to re-live these moments forever thanks to @madawaskamoments and @sab_michael taken in OWL Rafting by @stefisunshines

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2 years ago