Anne-Marie Jamin
Valemount | British Columbia
I grew up in the beautiful, small town of Valemount, British Columbia, where in the middle of the Canadian Rockies I developed an appreciation for adventure and challenge. The fourth of my parent's six children, I have always appreciated the strength of family and community values.
Working two jobs, I put myself through Augustana University College with concentrations in International Development and French. I spent the last year of my program on a Rural Development Exchange in Mexico, where I developed a passion for global issues, sustainable development, and experiencing different cultures through adventurous travel.
I've spent the last few years traveling and/or working throughout Europe, and North and Central America. My most profound and recent experience led me to Guatemala working as the Development Fundraising Coordinator for Primeros Pasos.
I love a good cup of coffee on a rainy day, or any day... and there's nothing like a genuine smile. I also love the spontaneous and anything that challenges my worldview, and makes me appreciate this crazy beautiful world we live in just a little bit more.
Cody McNalley
Provost | Alberta, Canada. Back to top
I grew up in Provost, Alberta. A lot of who I am today is my small town sense of community. However, I always found myself drawn to big city life and dreaming of becoming something bigger.
In 1993, my family moved to Camrose. In 1999, I moved to Banff, Alberta where I lived and worked for 3 years. I got my love for adventure back that I had when I was a child in small town Alberta. The next three years of my life I worked and lived on Southern coast of England. I moved to Montreal, Quebec in 2006 and in the summer of 2007 my girlfriend and I collectively decided to bike across Canada. We strapped everything we owned to our bikes, and both of us took off on a trek from Montreal to Smithers, BC.
The idea of Primeros Pasos and its cause has instant appeal to me and I feel that I have to do something to help. A chance of a lifetime came along with the idea that in order to help I get to employ my love for biking and to help Primeros Pasos. There is nothing I want more then to do something I love in support of a great organization that I feel strongly for.
Genevieve Perreault-Murphy
South shore of Montreal | Quebec, Canada. Back to top
I grew up on the South shore of Montreal and have always had an active lifestyle. I was on sports teams at school, I skied, took swimming classes, and spent days hiking in the woods at my cottage. I now live in Victoria, BC.
My first hero was Terry Fox and from the time I heard about his great accomplishment when I was 10 I dreamed of running across the country myself. As I grew up, however, I decided for biking across instead. Together with my partner Cody McNalley, we made my dream a reality.
I love traveling. At 20, I left Canada with my backpack and traveled across Europe for 3 months. The summer after my Euro trip, I decided to volunteer to save sea turtles in Costa Rica. For a month I stayed with a family in Parismina and helped the crew of the Asocicacion Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina. While living amongst a Spanish speaking community it helped to improve my Spanish and also taught me about Central American culture. It was the beginning of this adventure.
Matthew "Gus" Gusul
South of Bittern Lake | Alberta, Canada. Back to top
I grew up on an acreage South of Bittern Lake, AB. I came to Edmonton after doing my undergraduate degree at Augustana University College in my hometown of Camrose and spending time living and working in rural Mexico.
I have been working throughout the non-profit community using theatre with diverse community groups throughout Western Canada, in the Arctic, and in rural Mexico. I have worked with Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, Canada World Youth, Taking it Global, and Change for Children Association, where I am currently on the Board of Directors. I am the Assistant Director of GeriActors and Friends, an intergenerational theatre company. I am currently a Master of Arts candidate at the University of Alberta in the Drama Department.
Once I was asked whether I would rather read the world's greatest novel or live it. I said I would rather live that story but, for me biking to Guatemala is more than just a chance for an adventure. I am inspired by the people who work for Primeros Pasos. The efforts they put into health care and health education for the people in Guatemala are spectacular contributions to our global community. I am biking because I feel that if given the opportunity, other people will be inspired by our efforts and the efforts of the health providers at Primeros Pasos. I will get to live that story and I am looking forward to sharing it.
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