The Connected in Motion Team
CHLOE STEEPE, founder + executive director
Chloe’s family is still confused as to how the little girl from downtown Toronto developed such a passion for the wilderness. Maybe it was living on a sailboat for the first year of life, or it might have been that field trip to Algonquin Park in Grade 6 when she was devoured by mosquitoes… whatever the cause, it resulted in wanderlust – an insatiable need to keep her things in a backpack, pannier or barrel and hit the trails, rivers and forests for as much of the year as possible.
Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 18 pushed Chloe to pursue a degree in Physical and Health Education at Queen’s University, along with a degree in Geography. After a brief hiatus from school, she returned to complete her B.Ed. with a specialization in Outdoor Experiential Education. Fully certified as an Advanced Wilderness First Responder (80 hour course), Swift Water Rescue Technician, Nahanni River Guide, Flat Water Canoe Instructor and more, Chloe has spent the past 5 years guiding extended canoe and raft trips in Ontario, Quebec, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. She has travelled extensively within Canada, as well as to Europe, South and Central America, and most recently Australia and New Zealand, where she circumnavigated the South Island of New Zealand by bicycle.
Travelling and working for a variety of different camps, companies and organizations has allowed Chloe to see the impact that wilderness tripping and experiential education has on the average person. Inspired by the possibility of using the outdoors as a forum to engage people living with Type 1 diabetes, Chloe created Connected in Motion. In her opinion, diabetes education and support systems in Canada needed a breath of fresh air. Now was the time to do something about it.
ROB VANCE, co-founder + wilderness medical guruThroughout his childhood, Rob spent countless weeks at his family cottage outside of Huntsville, Ontario. A landscape of clear blue lakes, sun-warmed rocky shores and forests of maple, birch and pine are where Rob feels most at home. It was not until he headed off to Queen’s University that he felt the need to explore beyond the boathouse and dock. An experience with Outward Bound Canada, revealed the need to delve into the world of expedition guiding, outdoor education and travel. After graduating with degrees in Geography and Physical & Health Education, Rob spent the next year exploring Canada- the East Coast to the West, the Great White North and the Prairies in between.
A true Canadian, travelling by canoe is his passion. He has had many opportunities to share his enthusiasm for paddling with his work as an expedition guide in Ontario, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He has guided a 50-day canoe trip through Northern Ontario and Quebec and is a certified Emergency Medical Responder, Wilderness First Responder and Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Technician. Although his toes have become slightly webbed from all the time in the water, it hasn’t prevented him from pursuing adventures on terra firma. In addition to travelling abroad, Rob completed his Bachelor of Education with a specialization in Outdoor Education at Lakehead Univerisity, has led various groups mountain biking, hiking and climbing and continues to seek the next big adventure.
Rob’s blood sugars consistently register at about 5.5mmol/L. Although he doesn’t have Type 1 diabetes, he has 6 years of experience living, learning, working, guiding, adventuring and travelling with someone who does. As a 5.5’er, he holds a unique perspective of diabetes. Influenced by the impact that the wilderness has on people, Rob is committed to expanding the realm of outdoor education to include those living with malfunctioning pancreases.
Chris Jarvis – director of operations + head coachChris was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14, four years after his younger sister received the same diagnosis. Growing up trying to be the ’strong older brother with diabetes’ set the stage for him to become a leader and role model for all people living with diabetes.
Chris was always an active kid, but it was his diagnosis of diabetes that spurred him on to excel in any and every sport he set out to play. Diabetes, he determined, would not hold him back from keeping up with his team mates. And keep up, he did – Chris’ passion and determination to reach his athletic goals forced him to develop working strategies to manage his diabetes, strategies that would eventually allow him to compete against the best athletes in the World….and WIN!
Chris is an Olympic Rower and member of Canada’s National Rowing Team. His athletic resume is jam-packed full of MVP recognitions, prestigious athletic awards and medal rankings at National and World Championships, World Cups, Pan Am Games and the Olympics to name a few. While training and competing internationally, Chris also managed to complete a degree in Chemical Engineering while on scholarship at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Chris has used his passion for sport to advocate, educate and inspire people with diabetes around the world. He is an active member and supporter of numerous diabetes-related organizations and shares his experiences and knowledge as an athlete with diabetes through motivational speaking and his involvement in various group-mentoring activities including international hiking expeditions and marathon running teams. Jarvis is well-known for his rowing accomplishments, but what most people don’t know is that he is an outdoorsy guy too! He is an avid mountain biker, runner and international traveler.
Jen Hanson – director of logistics + social media Jen is from Sunderland, Ontario but is currently living in St. Catharines completing her Masters of Education at Brock University. She has completed degrees in kinesiology, education, has taught visual arts, physical education and special needs programs at the elementary level. She is currently researching outdoor experience, character development and Type 1 diabetes. In her spare time she loves to play guitar, go on adventures and to dream about traveling!
Jen was diagnosed with diabetes when she was three years old. She grew up on a farm in Sunderland, Ontario with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. When she was eight years old she became a camper at Camp Huronda and spent the next eighteen summers on the shores of Lake Waseosa working as a counsellor, pottery instructor, climbing tower instructor, challenge course instructor and program director! Jen had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica in 2008 and teach at an environmentally focused experiential school in the mountains of Monte Verde. Since then she has been keen to expand her traveling horizons.
Jen grew up exposed to an abundance of sport and physical activity, but competed most passionately in rugby, hockey, ringette and wrestling. Jen attended Brock University and competed both provincially and nationally with the Varsity Women’s Wrestling team and trained among Canada’s olympians with the Brock Wrestling Club.
Sarah Ketcheson- logistics + brainstorm queen + first official CIM member
A self-proclaimed science nerd, Sarah loves being outside and watching nature happen. She was diagnosed with diabetes at 14 and after just 8 months headed off to Camp Huronda, a summer camp for kids with Type 1 diabetes. That first summer eventually led into working at camp for the next 9 years as a counsellor, lifeguard, high ropes and climbing tower instructor and finally as co-ordinator for the Junior Counsellor program.
Outside of camp, she graduated with a degree in Ecology (hence the science nerd title) and last year graduated with her Bachelor of Education. Teaching outdoor education was therefore a natural fit for Sarah. It meant that she could spend most of her days tromping through the marshes, fields and forests of Ontario and sharing her passion with ‘little’ ‘aspiring’ science nerds.
Sarah feels that Connected in Motion is exactly what is needed in the world of diabetes. There are just too many members of the Type 1 posse doing cool things that are never heard about. Connecting with these people, hearing about their adventures and helping others to do the same, is what Sarah looks forward to most! Well, that and hanging out in hip waders.
Mike Last- technical aficionado + website super heroMike has been traveling and enjoying the outdoors his whole life. Growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, Mike played sports like any suburban kid. At 8 years old, he started going to summer camps and has spent time in the wilderness every summer since. With 7 years experience as a camper at the Taylor Statten Camps, and working at Camp Huronda for five summers including mountain bike instructor and boating instructor, Mike has spent just about every summer of his life in Northern Ontario.
At 15 years old, Mike moved to England for school and used his European homestead as a base to travel numerous European countries. This was about the time he started seriously taking photos. Traveling through England, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain, Mike combined his love of travel and snowboarding and started making photos.
Now finishing his 4 year Managerial and Organizational Studies degree at the University of Western Ontario, Mike plans to continue traveling and enjoying the outdoors with his camera, snowboard and mountain bike. Oh yeah, he’ll continue helping to bring Connected In Motion to the internet. With his parents recently moving to Utah, he has a new outdoor wonderland to explore.