My dear friends and family,
Bob Henderson, mon ami, it’s your unbounded enthusiasm that convinced me to initiate this book project. It’s so inspiring to share history with you while canoe tripping in the wildest reaches of Canada. Amanda Gibson, my precious first reader, you paddled through the mire of this book with me with such perfect complicity. How wonderful it was to share this project with you! Love you so much. Billy Rioux and Jean-Charles Fortin, my trustworthy and dear friends, I so appreciated you reading my first manuscript to give me your precious advice.
Les Stroud, I’ve witnessed your gusto from the very beginning of your Survivorman journey and have greatly admired all you have accomplished since. What an outstanding career. Thank you so kindly for having accepted to write the foreword to this book.
Jacques Montminy, I could not have chosen a better partner for the Survivathon adventure. I never told you, but your calm inner strength really helped me overcome. My dear brother Michel, my life would not have been the same without your quirky sense of humour. You are a unique breed indeed. Gaëtan, Guy, Réal, my other dear brothers, I could always count on you three to participate in adventures and laugh at Michel and me. You are part of my very best memories. Hey, Rob Bicevkis, pal of so many of my early adventures, we must do more now that we’ve both retired. Your intelligence and wit have always inspired me. James Déraps, Michel Martineau, and Marcel Savoie, my Retro-Propulsion partners and long time friends, you have always encouraged my folly. Never a dull moment with you guys around. Mario Bilodeau, dear brother-like colleague, your presence at my side for thirty years comforted me so. Our new fishing career is just beginning. And then there are all of you, former members of the Thornlea High School Outing Club where I grew up. I am so happy when I receive news of you guys and gals. We must organize a family reunion trip and invite Angus Baptiste!
Jimmy Bossum and Gérard Siméon, my Native American mentors, memory of you will forever be encrusted in my brain. You were the end of an era, but your skills, talent, and wisdom live on. Same with you Kirk Wipper and William E. Harmon; joy still flows when I remember you. You were my second dads. And Doctor Taylor Statten, I will forever be indebted to you for guiding me so preciously over all of these years. An inspiration in the greatest sense.
I learned myriad technical tricks and gained countless insights from you Mike Obarymsky, Harland Gold Metcalf, Alexandra Conover-Bennett, Garrett Conover, Ron Hood, Barry Keegan, Chuck Chase, Steve Watts, Benjamin Pressley, Denis Morissett, and George Hedgepeth. And thanks for experimenting at my side Manu Tranquard, Fredéric Fournier, Pierre Bossé, Gilles Levesque, Jeff Thuot, Martin Gagnon, Frédéric Dion, Frédéric Parent, Marc-Olivier Forget, Jean-François Dubé, David Boulais, Nicolas Letourneau, and Jesse Schobb. May we continue to share superb moments.
Barry Penhale, publisher emeritus, and Jane Gibson, editor, you believed in me. It was precious to feel the support of such an experienced team. I also appreciated working with the fine group at Dundurn, real professionals. Hats off to you Jennifer McKnight. What editing skills! Bravo. Nice to have crossed your paths Shannon Whibbs, Sheila Douglas, Caitlyn Stewart, Karen McMullin, James Hatch, and Margaret Bryant.
As for you, dear university students, there are so very many of you that I have grown extremely fond of. I won’t name all of you here, but you know who you are, because you visit me at home. I have gained so much sharing with all of you.
Dad, your true passion lit up my life. You were my coach, my mentor, my buddy, my confidant. You live on through me. Mom, I dedicate this book to you. I hope that says it all, because there are no words strong enough to recompense you. Danièle and Renée, my dear sisters, you were wise not to follow in my adventures. But I always knew you were there with me in spirit — it was obvious. Kisses to you both.
My other cherished friends: Johanne, Richard, Jean-Claude, Cécile, Lise, Vincent, Eve, Eddy, France, Marc, Gilles, Diane, Linda, Cylvie, Mario, Véronique, Jacques, and Martina. Your support throughout all of this has been priceless.
And for dessert there are you two treasures, Lizon and Veronica, my loving family. You make my life worth living each and every day.
To all of you, I express my most sincere and heartfelt thanks. May your lives be long and serene.
André-François