He works as a guide, a certified outdoor interpreter and an experience developer with the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy
Every now and then you run into some real special. Someone who has a gift or passion that makes them the exception rather than the rule.
Young Peter Greve is that someone. The Sault and Algoma region are blessed to have the likes of Peter walking and working here among us. He is a young man with a love for the big lake, Superior that is, and he is an adventurer and conservationist at the highest level.
You may have just heard, read, or seen his latest adventure endeavour. He and his father, Rob, kayaked 300 km along the Lake Superior north-east shoreline this past summer to raise awareness about the big lake and the incredible work of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy.
Peter’s personal mantra, from the words of his father are, “leave no trace”, and it is this vision that has steered Peter into conservation, healthy living, adventuring and guiding folks along the big lake shoreline during his young life.
When Peter is not on the water, surfing, sailing, kayaking or canoeing, he could be found volunteering his time and talents to a plethora of causes. For a young guy, his volunteer activity is over the top.
Working with the Big Brothers in the Sault, the Alzheimer’s Society, helping to coach Korah basketball, and coaching with the Sault Major Football League.
Peter did a lot of work with the University of Western Ontario SERT (student emergency response team), and while in London, Ontario, he taught swimming to children. Peter even has participated in the “Hair of the Dog” run held on New Years Day. Runners run 1 km shirtless for every 25 dollars of sponsorship raised in an effort to raise funds for the SPCA (the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
Today Peter works as a guide, a certified outdoor interpreter, an experience developer, a you name it he does it, with the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy.
He was instrumental in getting the necessary grants and funding for the Canoes for Conservation program. The LSWC runs tours in authentic voyageur freighter canoes along the St. Mary’s River shoreline.
Along the way, Peter teaches about the history of the water, and the relationship the water has with our indigenous people, the original inhabitants of Bawating. His overall message and instructional theme is about taking care of and keeping sacred this beautiful gift of water.
Peter had the good fortune of working with and being mentored by the renowned outdoor and conservation enthusiasts and authors, Gary and Joanie McGuffin. Having folks with national level exposure and fame certainly helped Peter on his path toward love for the water, and his way of being of caring for that water. He has truly become a steward of our landscape.
Gail and I have had the pleasure of working with Peter on several occasions. I guess when you have a voyageur canoe, people with like minded interests find you pretty quickly. His stops here at the lodge for re-supplying or just taking a highway break are always something we look forward to. Peter has a smile you can see a mile, and his enthusiasm and passion for the big lake is just contagious.
He has launched many a canoe from out in front of the lodge, and along the way he has taught countless people the responsibility we have to care for the world’s largest body of fresh water. He does this with such care, and genuineness that you cannot help but trust that he knows his business.
It’s December time now, and as most people have retreated back from the Superior shoreline into their warm and cozy winter dwellings, it is the perfect time for Peter to go for a white water surf. He loves the cold break of the big waves that Superior churns up in Nov./Dec.. You might just find Peter out on the north coast, with his wet suit on, surfing in these early winter storms.
He truly is a boy of the coast, and his love of this coast has made it a much better place for all of us to live, work, and play along.
Thanks Peter for your love of our coast. I hope you and your entire family have a wonderful and Merry Christmas season.
Your shoreline pal, Frank O’Connor
