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 The Story of Voyageur Quest
Voyageur Quest came from an idea I had during a long arduous canoe trip in Northern Ontario. I was working for another company at the time, a company that specialized in taking people out of their comfort zones for 23-day canoe trips. The days were long and the food limited. The scenery however was spectacular. Waterfalls, jack pine forests with sphagnum moss, caribou swimming across Lakes, pike and walleye on every second cast. It was so unfortunate that we had to rush through it on another day paddling and portaging from sunrise to sundown. Why couldn't we come back here and stay for a week! Have nowhere to go! Explore, swim, fish, - and bring lots of good food! Why not come back with friends and have a comfortable time in the wilderness ! The idea of a comfortable wilderness vacation was born and Voyageur Quest took out its first comfortable adventure to Algonquin Park the next fall. It was 1991.
Over the last 15 years, Voyageur Quest has built all of our trips on the idea that a trip in nature can be a vacation- something fun and enjoyable.
Choosing Algonquin Park, and more specifically the northwest corner of Algonquin Park, to be our home was less arbitrary. The Algonquin area has deep roots in my family.
My mother Marion Langford (nee Barker) was director of a summer girl's camp, Camp Inuuendain in Dorset, Ontario in the 1950's. Her days were spent tripping through Lake of Bays on sailboats or into Algonquin in canoes. Prior to working at Iunenedain, my mother spent all of her summers on Lake Nipissing and Powasson. In the 1920's to 40's, my mother's grandfather (my great grandfather), Thornton Reid lived and worked in Powasson and had a cottage at Lighthouse Bay on Lake Nipissing.
He was an expert fisherman and loved to eat fresh pickerel for breakfast every morning. The picture to the right is of my Grandmother and great grandfather sitting on the shores of Lake Nipissing. The picture below is of my grandfather, Elzwood Barker, fishing for speckled trout on the South River in the 1920s.
Powasson and this part of the South River are just a short drive away north from our present day lodge and canoe trip outpost locations on Surprise and Kawawaymog Lake.
On the other side of my family, Ken Langford, a cousin of my father's great grandfather, started one of Canada's oldest canoe companies Langford canoes, located in Dorset, Ontario. My love for the Algonquin area, canoes, and a sense of adventure come from these family roots.
Since taking out our first trip in the summer of 1991, Voyageur Quest has evolved from a one-person operation to one of Canada's most recognized adventure travel companies. Our journey has been immensely satisfying. Growth has been slow and steady- one customer at a time. Our customers are what have made this journey feel so special. Our business is small and unique, not exactly the type of place you find in mainstream travel agencies. Our customers have had to search to find us and when they did find us, it was like a reunion of old friends. Kindred spirits who love to be off to be off the beaten track. We have been so incredibly lucky to work in a business that attracts such interesting and well-traveled guests.
Our adventure vacations today are considered best in class. In 1998, the Canadian Tourism Commission selected our 3-day Algonquin Park winter adventure, Footsteps of the Pioneer as the Best Winter trip in Canada in the learning and culture category.
1n 1999 and again in 2000, Voyageur Quest was again selected by the CTC as one Canada's top 50 Ecotourism and soft adventure companies. We are proud of our past but continue to work very hard to find new ways to improve our trips and offer excellent value to our guests.
Our Algonquin Log Cabin, built in the fall of 1997, was created as a way for our guests to enjoy a wilderness trip but avoid sleeping outside. Our new Algonquin Cottage Outpost purchased in 2000 and renovated in 2003, offers deluxe solar -powered comfort for those couples and families looking for a private adventure.
Voyageur Quest today is a small team of hard working individuals who are determined to provide the best possible adventure experience to our clientele. Collectively, our mission continues to be to introduce people to the outdoors in a fun and comfortable way.
John Langford
Director and Owner
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 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - TORONTO
Tracy Karges runs our Toronto office. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Tourism Management from University of Guelph, Tracy's passion is travel and the outdoors. She is the friendly voice who takes care of your reservation and ensures all aspects of your trip are organized to perfection. Tracy is a great skier, loves good wine and spending time outdoors.
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 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - ALGONQUIN
Kris Shaw has directed our Algonquin day-to-day operation since 2002. On top of being a certified canoe and sea kayak instructor, Kris is a talented chef with a special talent in open air grilling. Kris loves to kayak on Georgian Bay and is a graduate from the adventure management program at Algonquin College.
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 ALGONQUIN CANOE GUIDES AND NATURALSITS
Algonquin Park guiding is what defines Voyageur Quest. At the Algonquin Log Cabin, adventure naturalists lead unique excursions to the forests, lakes and rivers around Surprise Lake. Our canoe and sea kayak guides lead trip into the interior of Algonquin park and out into the 30, 000 islands of Georgian Bay. Voyageur Quest guides are skilled outdoorsmen and women who are there to ensure your canoe trip is an adventure of a lifetime. On top of being well versed in the natural and cultural history of Algonquin and northern Ontario, our guides are selected for their love of the people and the land. All Voyageur Quest guides are qualified professionals and trained in wilderness first aid. Our guides and naturalists are warm and friendly and make your experience memorable.
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 ALGONQUIN SUPPORT TEAM
Often out of sight, our support teams do all the little things before, during and after your adventure to make sure your experience is seamless. As drivers, shoppers, cook, and cleaning staff - they are the backbone of any trip. A New York City Fireman, Dan Girard was recently at our Log Cabin and described our team in these words, "Having been a New York City fireman for the last 20 years, your staff put on an amazing demonstration of what effective teamwork is."
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 2008 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Working full or part time with Voyageur Quest is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, learn new skills and have some fun. Voyageur Quest operates two small lodges and a canoe trip outpost at the northwest corner of Algonquin Park.
Voyageur Quest is currently interviewing for the following positions for the Spring/ Summer 2008 season :
* Team leader Algonquin
* Outpost Logistics Algonquin
* Algonquin Canoe trip Guide
* Adventure naturalist
For more information please see below for a job description.
Please e-mail a resume and letter to:
Jobs@voyageurquest.com
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2008 Spring/ Summer Fall Employment Opportunities
Voyageur Quest is currently accepting applications for our Algonquin Park operation for the 2008 spring/summer/ fall season.
Team Leader - Algonquin
This position is a player/coach who both guides 3 day trips (canoe trips, log cabin and cottage outpost) and helps lead a small team of guides and support positions. The Project leader lives on site for up to 20 days a month divided into 3 or 4 working stints. There is the option of living on site. Accommodation is rustic and without electricity.
Applicants must have Wilderness First Responder, life guard status (bronze cross or NLS), experience guiding canoe trips, strong leadership experience as well as solid hospitality skills.
This position has an option of being extended to a year round management position which includes winter guiding and Toronto office work. It is preferable that this candidate lives in or closes to Toronto and has an F class drivers license.
April 28, 2007 October 28, 2008
Salary position
OUTPOST LOGISTICS-ALGONQUIN
This position involves dealing with cottage customers, packing out canoe trips, meet and greet for all trips and trip logistics. Applicants should have the following:
* Valid drivers license
* Personal vehicle
* Proven organization skills
* Good hospitality skills
It is preferable that this person has experience canoe tripping and packing out extended wilderness trips. This position has the option of living on- site in a platform tent.
April 25 to October 1, 2008
Salary position
CANOE TRIP GUIDE - ALGONQUIN
Voyageur Quest is looking for an outdoor leader to guide 3 and 5 day Algonquin Park canoe trips. Applicants should have the following certification:
* Wilderness First Aid
* Bronze Cross or higher swimming lifeguard status
* Strong leadership experience in a wilderness environment
It is preferable that this person has experience leading commercial canoe trips and has good interpretative skills.
June 1 to September 3, 2008
$120/day
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