Our Community
Our centre is a small, family-run business created with a goal of rediscovering ourselves, empowering one another, and healing our relationship with the earth. You’re about to experience something very different from a hotel stay: we hope your visit feels like staying with a friend — one who lives in harmony with nature, cooks with passion, and wants to introduce you to a world of transformational, creative, restorative, and explorative community experiences.
At the heart of every retreat at Northern Edge are the inspiring connections we have with passionate people who work together to co-create the kind of experiences we want to participate in ourselves. The Edge community includes not only our core team, but also our family, facilitators, and our growing leadership community…
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Coordination, Promotion & Leadership team
Martha Lucier
Co-Founder, Retreat Facilitator, Way of the Circle Centre Founder
Martha has always felt a deep connection with nature and has long been an initiator of circles, connecting people to themselves, each other, and the earth. Her personal calling is to help herself and others heal personal, ancestral, & collective trauma. Sound healing, qigong, yoga, and circle work are all tools that she uses to restore connection, find peace, and inspire us to live our lives fully in the present moment.
Martha’s vision has shaped the Edge as a place of healing, belonging, and meaningful connection with self, community, and the natural world.
Todd Lucier
Co-Founder, Experience Designer, Land & Facilities Care
Todd designs retreats and experiences that inform, inspire, and invite people to live with passion and purpose. In recent years, his focus has shifted toward the care and development of our land and facilities—fixing and problem-solving all the things that come with stewarding an off-the-grid, solar-powered centre. Todd has spent decades teaching, mentoring, and consulting in community-based and regenerative tourism across Canada. He feels most alive in his rubber boots, working on the land or out on the water.
Tim Lucier
Operations & Program Director,
Retreat Facilitator
Tim grew up with “The Edge” and has been part of its story and evolution from the beginning. As Operations & Program Director, he serves as a steward of the systems, team, and organization that keep our programs and centre running smoothly.
As a facilitator and leader, Tim invites guests to live simply, dream boldly, and explore with curiosity. He draws on a broad range of training and experience — from hand balancing and aerial yoga to paddling, cross-country skiing, minimalism, and habit development.
Gregor Waters
Steward, Gardener, Kitchen Guru, Designer, Builder
Truly a modern Renaissance man, Gregor’s passion spills over from lovingly crafted public spaces including stonework, building design, construction, and into the kitchen where his passion for local food products & partnerships meets his inspiration of cuisine from around the world.
Corrissa Middlebrook
Program Coordinator, Retreat Facilitator
Passionate about the outdoors, Corrissa is a seasoned adventurer with outdoor rec and camp leadership roots. In addition to facilitating retreats at Northern Edge, Corrissa puts her steady presence to work behind the scenes to coordinate retreats and communications for incoming groups and visitors.
If you’ve got questions about your upcoming visit, there’s a good chance you’ll be chatting!
Wendy Martin
Edge Community Connector, Retreat Facilitator
Wendy is known for her poetic presence and calming voice that gently guide people inward toward what matters most. Her work blends yoga, somatic and creative practices—including sound, writing, natural dye, and pottery—offering grounded, intuitive experiences that support nervous system ease.
As Edge Community Connector, Wendy helps tend the threads of relationship across the Edge community, including facilitators, the core team, Way of the Circle communities, and local connections. With warmth and care, she weaves together movement, creativity, and connection, supporting spaces of embodied presence and belonging.
stewardship & hospitality team
Ella Sheridan
Mealtime & Hospitality Steward
A longtime resident of Kawawaymog Lake, Ella brings a gentle, joyful presence to her work, helping create a welcoming experience for guests. Along with her husband Kieran, she is a friendly neighbour with deep family roots at the Edge. In addition to supporting housekeeping and the kitchen, Ella is an artist and designer who occasionally lends her creative talents to Edge projects.
Jessie Burnett
Food Service & Facility Steward
Jessie brings a warm, grounded presence to mealtimes and daily life at the Edge. She loves working in the kitchen with Gregor and now fully leads the preparation of breakfast, helping guests start each day feeling nourished and cared for. Alongside Martha, Jessie also plays a key role in tending the gardens, and helps ensure the many day-to-day details of the Edge are held with attention and heart.
Zac Shillolo
Facility & Hospitality Steward
Zac is a true “Zac-of-all-trades,” supporting facilities and mealtimes with energy, positivity, and a genuine willingness to help wherever needed. From maintenance projects to serving and dishwashing, he brings care and enthusiasm to his work. Zac also enjoys capturing moments of the guest experience with his camera and gives back to the local community by offering skateboard lessons to youth in South River.
Tracy Dumouchelle
Housekeeping Coordinator
Tracy appreciates working in nature and contributing to positive guest experiences. She’s a rockstar who helps refresh our spaces through the week and helps out in the kitchen on weekends. “Tracy D” knows the words to just about every 80’s song, and can be heard singing along while working in the Edge kitchen.
Marilyn Dixon
Housekeeping Team
For over 20 years Marilyn’s been instrumental in keeping our spaces refreshed and ready for incoming guests every week, and she has helped us to set a very high standard of naturally clean spaces.
Marilyn has retired twice, but so enjoys her time at the Edge that she keeps coming back!
Katie Lucier
Seasonal Steward
The granddaughter of Edge co-founders Martha and Todd, Katie joins the team as a seasonal steward, following in her big brother’s footsteps. During the summer months and occasional weekends, she supports housekeeping and hospitality with care and enthusiasm. A passionate baker, Katie introduced the well-loved cookie jar to our Points North snack spread.
The Lucier Family
Co-founders of Northern Edge Todd and Martha currently live on-site at the Edge and we are very excited to welcome you to our home. The rest of the family– Emily (Alistair), Natalie, Tim (Andrew) and the grandkids: Aiden, Katie, Everest, James, Rowan, Elowyn– can be found at the Edge quite often.
Any combination of our family may be here during your visit – if you see any of the Lucier family members during your stay, don’t be shy – say hello! They’re a friendly bunch who are accustomed to living amongst retreat visitors.
Retreat Facilitators
Retreats at the Edge are co-facilitated by leaders with a grounded connection to the Edge and unique passions & gifts that they use to co-create and support group retreat experiences. The Edge Facilitators who host experiences with us the most often include:
Amanda Brownlee
Amanda brings a strong sense of wonder, adventure, and fiery energy to her facilitation. A yogi at heart, she is qualified to teach SUP, aerial, hatha, ashtanga, yin, and chair yoga, and holds her SUP certification, feeling confident bringing groups out onto the water.
Amanda loves nature in all elements and seasons and is happy leading groups on hikes, skis, cold plunges, forest bathing experiences, skating on the ice, and other outdoor adventures. She is a Reiki Master and enjoys sharing reiki experiences, guided meditations, and practices that incorporate sound and song. A lifelong learner, Amanda is always seeking new knowledge, skills, and ways of being.
Sarah Connolly
From a young age, Sarah was captivated by the connection between nature and personal growth, leading her to dedicate herself to fostering resilience in individuals, families, and communities. With over 20 years of experience facilitating adventure and wilderness-based programs, Sarah seamlessly blends outdoor adventures with moments of peaceful reflection, guiding others on journeys of self-discovery and social change.
Sarah recently completed her Aerial Yoga teacher training and a Yin, Mindfulness and Restorative Yoga teacher training and she looks forward to adding these elements to upcoming retreats. Beyond her outdoor pursuits, she finds joy in yoga, pottery, and discovering creative ways to bring people together and foster a sense of community.
Amanda Cooley
A devoted yoga educator for over 16 years, Amanda’s journey has taken her across continents, deepening her practice and sharing her wisdom. Specializing in movement as medicine, Amanda empowers her students to explore their bodies and minds, fostering self-discovery and empowerment. Whether leading workshops or pioneering SUP Yoga in her hometown of North Bay, Amanda’s passion for yoga shines through.
Now focused on retreats and specialized events, Amanda continues to nurture her community both on and off the mat, embodying the transformative power of yoga wherever she goes.
Lucy Emmott
Lucy is a child of the woods who joyfully invites others into her experience of peaceful acceptance and excited curiosity with the natural world nearby.
A local champion for living sustainably, Lucy has a passion for nature – and a gift for creating excitement in the little things that we don’t usually come to notice. In just 5 metres of exploring a forest with Lucy, our guests can see and experience a really deep level of connection with the world around them.
Louise Hamelin
Louise is a seeker of balance, a lover of water, and a guide for those yearning to reconnect with themselves and the natural world. Drawn to the meeting place of breath, movement, and stillness, her work is deeply inspired by the rhythms of nature and the magic of community.
A yoga teacher and SUP instructor, Louise has been teaching since 2012, when she discovered the transformative practice of SUP yoga. She leads classes both on and off the water with an emphasis on breath, alignment, inner awareness, balance, and strength, creating inclusive spaces where participants feel supported to explore, play, and step gently beyond their comfort zones. Through mindful movement, presence, and a sense of adventure, Louise invites reflection, connection, and the joy of dreaming big.
Sandra Heidel
With over 20 years of experience in outdoor education and the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, Sandy is a seasoned leader with certifications in SUP and Yoga instruction.
Sandy brings a mix of knowledge, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the outdoors. She’s passionate about teaching survival skills, competing in adventure races, and guiding people on the water, whether it’s in a canoe or on a paddleboard.
Lindsay Morris
It was love at first visit when Lindsay arrived at the Edge in 2018. Lindsay is a yoga, barre, and dance teacher who is dedicated to meeting people wherever they are on their wellness journey. Lindsay aims to help guests feel grounded in their bodies and minds, and foster a sense of empowerment and self-discovery.
Lindsay is happiest outside and loves creating special experiences in nature. One of her favourite things about facilitating at the Edge is nurturing a supportive environment where everyone can realize their inner strength and recognize that they are capable of more than they believe. Lindsay lives in Ottawa and works for the federal government, but she loves having a reason to visit Algonquin.
Alana Nuedling
Alana (HBMus, BEd, Certified Life Coach) knew Northern Edge Algonquin was the place she was meant to be from the moment she set foot here. She brings a deep passion for the arts and collective creativity to her work.
As an orchestra and choir director, Alana has lots of experience helping both small and large groups to experience the transformative power of making and creating together— her contributions with music and rhythm are open to anyone, regardless of background. With gentleness, kindness, and the heart of an educator and life coach, Alana quietly leads, holding space for dreaming, envisioning a way forward, and creating new paths.
Joanna Sadowski
As an advocate for strengthening mind, body, and spirit connections through yoga and wilderness pursuits, Joanna’s adventures have ranged from extended backcountry canoe trips to dogsled and climbing expeditions, and even Scuba trips in the Great Barrier Reef.
Joanna has also been deeply involved in the yoga community for over 20 years, teaching, facilitating, leading retreats, and continually expanding her knowledge through training.
She loves trying new things, sharing her passions, meeting new people, and learning about their unique stories. Spending time in nature is where she feels most at home.
Alex Savatti
With years of experience guiding wilderness trips and leading programs at the Guelph Outdoor School, Alex brings a grounded, intentional presence to his leadership. Whether through backcountry adventures, men’s groups, or transformational workshops, Alex is dedicated to holding space where people can connect more deeply with themselves, each other, and the natural world.
Rooted in a love of community, storytelling, and the outdoors, Alex weaves narrative and insight into every aspect of his facilitation. His approach blends curiosity, humility, and heart, inviting participants into moments of reflection and growth. Alex also manages The Edge’s social media presence, helping to share our stories and connect our wider community.
Courtney Sinclair
Over a decade ago, Courtney came to Northern Edge Algonquin and connected with an inner knowing that set her on a new path. Since then, she has guided transformative experiences as a Paddle Canada SUP Instructor / Trainer, international paddling expedition guide, yoga instructor, and experienced facilitator. Courtney finds deep fulfillment in helping guests move through challenges in nature and discover moments of awe and beauty. Her skill as a facilitator was further enriched through her time as the Edge’s Leadership & Evolutions Coordinator (2020–2025), supporting the growth of both people and programs, and helping the Edge expand our capacity along the way.
Vicki Waters
A valued member of the Edge team for many years, Vicki resides down the road at Stonemote Cottage with her husband Gregor, where they cultivate an array of vegetables and microgreens for the delight of our guests.
As a skilled leader, Vicki has a particular affinity for working with women’s groups. Her expertise and enthusiasm will inspire you to explore the restorative power of movement, the serenity of yoga nidra, the therapeutic benefits of reflexology, a range of artistic expression, and the nutritional wonders of microgreens.
Heart Wisdom Retreats Mentorship Team
In 2012, Martha was guided to create The Way of the Circle, a year-long program rooted in the wisdom of circle and shared leadership. Emerging from years of circle practice and facilitation, this work grew from a desire to move beyond teacher-centric models toward a more inclusive, heart-centered approach. Today, the Way of the Circle lives on through Heart Wisdom retreats at the Edge, where small teams of mentors & leaders from a range of cultural and spiritual backgrounds come together to listen deeply, tend the collective process, and shape each retreat in response to the unique needs and dreams of the group.
Alongside Martha, Way of the Circle retreats are co-led by a rotating group of heart-centered facilitators, which may include:
Jan Beaver
Cobourg, ON
Vicki Waters
South River, ON
Trae Robinson
London, ON
Joanne Hofinger
Ontario
Elaine Leufkens
Toronto, ON
Debbie Hope
West Lorne, ON