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I am originally from Montreal, Quebec and moved to Northern Ontario at the age of 14 when my father was transferred while working for the railroad. I had always been an outdoor enthusiast participating in cross country skiing, kayaking, sports, and camping, but it was not until I moved to such a remote community that my roots became firmly planted. I met my husband when I was 16 and immediately was introduced to an outdoor lifestyle. My husband is the eleventh generation of trappers dating back to the Voyageurs of the Hudson Bay Fur Trade, and I was honored to learn from a family that holds such passion and respect for nature. After 14 years of marriage and three amazing children, you can well imagine the endless hunting, fishing, and trapping stories I could share, but the photo above was an exceptional day. It was early spring, the ice had just left the lakes, and the crisp northern air put color in our cheeks. As always, I was enjoying the outdoors while fishing with my husband and children. Five people casting from a canoe is an art that we have now painstakingly perfected. As a mom, I take more pleasure in watching my children reel in the big ones, but on this particular day, I felt it would be a good learning experience for them to watch for a change. (okay so it was a little selfish, but I think we mom's deserve it once in awhile) When my then nine year old son reeled in a keeper, I was quick to cast close to the T-brush that embedded the shoreline. My small willow leaf spinner glistened under the frigid water as a huge speckled trout took a swipe of the dangling worm at the end of the flashing lure. The rest of the day was amazing as we caught these unusually big specs. The journey home that day was as memorable as the fishing itself, as the truck was filled with stories of the excitement that nature had provided. The whole family was eager to taste the red trout meat on our tongues. As a family, we cleaned the fish and used our outdoor propane cooker to fry them. With a thin coating of garlic butter fish crisp and a sprinkle of garlic powder and lemon pepper, our spirits were lifted a little closer to heaven. I am proud that my family embraces its heritage. I am proud that my 13 year old daughter still wants to spend a weekend camping with the family, that my 11 year old son jumps at the door with the excitement of a Labrador Retriever when we are leaving for a long day on the trap line, and that my 5 year old daughter can identify species of Northern animals that her class mates didn't even know existed. The Ontario Fur Managers Federation gives out bumper stickers that read "Kids who hunt, fish, and trap don't mug little old ladies" and I truly believe that the values my family has gained from the outdoors, will help them make wise choices in everyday life. A woman’s place is no longer in the kitchen, it is with her family teaching and nurturing the passions of nature.