St. Paul’s own Madeline Leblanc to represent Canada at the World StandUp Paddleboard Championships!

Congratulations to Maddi Leblanc, the ever-smiling Community Animator for GreenHouse! Maddi has been selected as one of six members of the Canadian team heading to China for World StandUp Paddleboard (SUP) Championships Nov. 23 to Dec. 2.

Maddi is part of the Environment, Resource & Sustainability program (ERS) at the University of Waterloo, which allows her to study a wide range of subjects, from science to politics. Her time at UW has done more than just prepare her for a career path in outdoor education; it has taught her how she can give back to her community.

After losing two friends to cancer, the Environment student was determined to involve her community of Welland in commemorating their lives. Maddi then created a cancer research fundraiser named, On Board. On Board is an annual Stand Up Paddle Board 5km ride down the Welland Canal in Welland Ontario that raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society’.

On Board is important to Welland and other communities because it brings people together to not only remember Julia and Lynn, but to continue teaching the life values that they lived for. On Board has taught me that you can achieve anything if you put your mind and dedication towards that. I have learned to take that attitude and put it towards my school work as well, and it has helped me be successful.

Maddi has practiced her sport competitively for the past three years, but the World Championships in China will certainly present her with the toughest competition she has ever faced. An additional challenge will be that the races will take plan on open ocean.

"This is like the Olympics of SUP. Everybody from around the world is going to be there. You're pretty much competing against the best of the best."

Good Luck Maddi! St. Paul's could not be more proud!