Paddling Home 2015: The documentary

Benoit Gendreau-Berthiaume is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

We are a family of three who completed an epic family canoe trip between Edmonton, Alberta to Montreal, Quebec last summer (see map of our route here ). We travelled approximately 4200km by canoe in 147 days and we paddled on 13 different rivers, crossed over 60 lakes (some of which seemed more like oceans) and completed over 75 portages. Our family members are Benoit (aka dad) who has an extensive background in canoeing and forest biology, Magali (aka mom) retired climbing instructor who now works in an outdoor retail store and Mali (aka the captain) our 5 year old son who is always keen on following us on adventures.

We were very lucky to have support from many different organizations and companies who enabled us to make this trip possible by providing us logistic and financial support. Here are the compagnies that believed in our project so far.

Right from the start we also planned on filming our adventure so we could share it with others and hopefully inspire them to dream big as well. A good friend of ours (Mike Quigley from Front Range Films) helped us by recommending the camera equipment we should use as well as trained us on how to use it. With Mikes help, a 4000$ investment in camera equipment and lots of work during the trip we capture amazing footage allowing us to make a great film about our family adventure.

Now that the trip is over we need your help to make a great film. The funds we collect will go towards paying for the post production cost of the film (time of the film editors from Front Range films and music licences). We are hoping to have the film ready by the fall of 2016 so we can submit to next year’s Banff Mountain film festival, the first festival were we are hoping we can showcase this film. So as soon as we have the funds our collaborators from Front Range Films will be able to block their schedules and work full time on our film.

We are already so grateful for all the generosity and help we received during our trip. So many complete strangers offering us warm meals, cool drinks, shelter, help, name it. It would me so much to our family to receive another wave of support enabling us to really complete our project by producing this film. To show our appreciation here are some of the rewards we will be providing are funders. The estimated time of delivery for the rewards is July 2016.

Pledge 10$ or more

We will send you 5 high resolution digital pictures of your choice from a selection of our 20 best pictures from the trip for your personal use (see bellow). The pictures will also have a short description of where and when these pictures were taken during the trip.

Pledge 25$ or more

Reward from previous pledge plus you will get a chance to pre-screen the short version of the documentary (approximately 20 min) in the comfort of your own home.

Pledge 35$ or more

Previous rewards plus an upgrade to 10 high resolution digital pictures of your choice from a selection of our 20 best pictures from the trip for personal use. The pictures will also have a short description of where and when these pictures were taken during the trip. You will also receive monthly exclusive updates on the progress of the documentary.

Pledge 50$ or more

Previous rewards plus we will send you high resolution versions of our 20 best pictures from the trip. The pictures will also have a short description of where and when these pictures were taken during the trip. You will also be allowed to request a digital copy of any picture on our website/blog.

Pledge 75$ or more

Rewards from previous pledge plus the opportunity to pre-screen a longer version of the documentary (approximately 45min) in the comfort of your own home.

Pledge 100$ or more

All previous rewards as well as the opportunity to meet with the Paddling Home crew via a skype interview to ask your questions about the trip or movie (this would also allow to thank you in person). You also get the rights to use the pictures for commercial use.

Pledge 150$ or more

All previous rewards plus a pair of tickets to a screening of the Banff Mountain film festival world tour in the town of your choice.

Pledge 250$ or more

All previous rewards as well as your names in the credits of the movie and the opportunity to own a digital copy of both the short and long version of the movie once it’s released.

Pledge 500$ or more

All previous rewards plus a limited edition book of pictures, anecdotes and stories about our trip delivered to your door.

Here are some of the pictures you could choose from