Growing up in White Rock, a seaside community, in British Columbia, Marissa was drawn to the strong and soothing energies of the ocean at an early age. Nurturing her sense of adventure both at work and at play, after twenty-five years in the corporate world, she traded in her suits and high heels for board shorts and flip-flops.
Today, Marissa is an outdoor guide, sharing her love of the ocean, nature, and adventure for over fifteen years, as a Paddle Canada certified sea kayak and SUP instructor, hike leader, and yoga teacher. She guides backcountry kayaking trips, leads skills clinics for Women on Water (WOW) paddling festival, facilitates mindful hikes, and hosts paddle/hike/yoga adventure retreats designed to empower women over fifty to live their best life. Most recently, Marissa was featured in an issue of Mountain Life’s magazine, Choosing Joy.
As part of the expedition team, Marissa has guided on both coasts of Canada, Greenland, Alaska, the Arctic, and Antarctica. When home in Meaford, Ontario, she finds time to volunteer—organizing beach cleanups, coordinating yoga in the park, building bridges and boardwalks for a local trail—and was elected as Chair of the first Parks Advisory Committee in the municipality.