Breaking Water with Maddi Leblanc
Swim Drink Fish is highlighting members of our incredible ecosystem. This Breaking Water segment features Maddi Leblanc. Establishing a connection to the water in her early 20s, Maddi describes her life purpose as getting people involved in water recreational sports.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us where you work/what you do?
My name is Maddi Leblanc, I'm 26 years old, and I am a professional stand up paddleboard athlete from Welland, Ontario. I'm also the Surf School Director for Surf the Greats in Toronto and take outdoor recreationists out on the Great Lakes for sup and surf lessons. I am a recent graduate student from Brock University with a master's degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. I'm also obsessed with coffee and love hiking trails with my dog Luna!
Where did you grow up, and what was your relationship like with the water there?
I grew up in Welland, which is located in the heart of the Niagara region. I'm located in between two Great Lakes, and I am close to the Niagara River as well. The closest body of water to me is the Welland Canal. I didn't establish a strong relationship with this man-made body of water until I was in my early 20s and started training for competitive SUP seriously. When I learned about this amazing resource right in my backyard, I tried to find a way to get on the water almost everyday. Now I am fortunate enough to say that I've built a career around my local waters.
Could you tell us about ‘On Board’ and what this cause means to you?
On Board was a SUP fundraiser I founded in 2014 and have been running annually ever since to raise funds for brain cancer research with the Canadian Cancer Society. I lost two close friends of mine to cancer in 2011 and On Board became a creative outlet for my sadness. On Board built the foundation of my intense relationship with water. On Board taught me how to turn to the water whenever I'm happy, sad, frustrated, and/or confused. I now find that whenever I need to overcome life's challenges, I turn to the water to help process my thoughts and actions. On Board essentially has taught me how to make my way in the world. You can learn more about On Board here.
What advice would you give to women who want to get involved in the surf or SUP community but need help knowing where to start?
We are so fortunate here on the Great Lakes to have so many wonderful resources for getting into the SUP/Surf community. First and foremost, you can come visit us anytime at Surf the Greats in Toronto, where we can hook you up with all of the necessary gear required to have a fun time out in the water! I'd encourage those who are interested to join one of our introductory lessons to surf and sup before jumping in the water on their own. There's lots to know about our Great Lakes such as safety, forecasting, wind, etc. and we are passionate about educating outdoor recreationists so that they can have a fun but safe time out there. You can find more information about our school here.
Do you have anything else that you'd like to share about your work, your connection to water, or how we can encourage people to join the movement for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future?
I truly believe that my life's purpose is getting people involved in water recreational sports. I love teaching and sharing my love for the water with others, whether that be on a sup, surf, or prone board. My athletic career allows me to travel and connect with others all over the world, but my favourite place to come back to will always be the Great Lakes. I want others to know how special our bodies of freshwater are and how we can further protect these precious lakes. It starts with establishing a sense of place and connection with the water, and we can only do that by getting people on, in, or at least near the water. We can work towards a swimmable, drinkable, future by creating memorable experiences with the water. I won't stop working towards this for the rest of my life because we can always work towards a brighter, cleaner future.
Clif Family Foundation is proud to support hundreds of organizations that are working tirelessly to strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and protect the places we play by being stewards of our environment and natural resources. Their desire is to leave the world a better place for our children.
