David Sugerman, former board chair, Project Canoe

My first introduction to Pegi was by way of reading her resume when she applied to be the Executive Director at Project Canoe. It was impressive, including a top position at an international environmental organization and work as parliamentary assistant to a MP.

In the interview it quickly became apparent that there was only one real question I needed to ask. ‘Why after being in such illustrious and likely well paying jobs were you applying to unassuming us when you could have your choice of many larger better funded places to work’.

Her reply was simple and short. She wanted to feel the top and bottom and all four sides in her next adventure. She wanted that challenge. We hired her unanimously.

In early June soon thereafter I found myself in the bow of a canoe with Pegi in the stern. We were setting out to rendezvous for a few days with the Project Canoe staff training trip in Temagami. I quickly learned that rain, fog, bugs and my wrong compass reading would not faze her.

Pegi’s prowess was her ability to relate to people and she succeeded immensely in that realm. She loved getting to know the campers, often meeting them as they came back from trips, and she formed a supportive bond with a number of returning campers.

Pegi proved equally adept at paddling the waters of board management, staff hiring and training as well as dotting all the innumerable i’s and crossing all the innumerable t’s that a small charity requires. Pegi invited Project Canoe into her home and she, Phillip and Beth warmly made us part of their family much to our great gratitude.

For eight years Pegi’s wisdom, grace, coolness under fire and around bears was the heart of Project Canoe’s success. Our appreciation is immense.