Outfitters making waves in North.

• Author: Louiseize, Kelly
• Position: Special Report: Aboriginal Business - Kiing Adventures

It takes a clear vision of what a business can be and the know-how to carry out that vision, which is what makes Lionel Bobiwash and Helen Bobiwash-Toulouse's outfitter's business unique.

Now in its second year of full operation, Kiing Adventures is turning out to be a success story in the North.

Lionel Bobiwash has always been an outdoorsman and Helen Bobiwash-Toulouse a certified management accountant by profession. They understood the risks and the direction needed to make Kiing Adventures a success.

Lionel knew from a young age that he wanted to work as a guide, hosting hiking, paddling and fishing excursions around Sagamok Anishnawbek territory, located about 10 minutes south of Massey. Bobiwash-Toulouse cautioned her husband on the practicality of guiding, knowing guides work only two or three months out of the year. She spent 13 years in financing, helping Aboriginal businesses while working for Aboriginal Business Canada and later for Waubetek Business Development Corp.

Over the years, she noticed an increasing number of people were interested in experiencing outdoor adventures. She gained more insight into the feasibility of an outdoor adventure operation, and to pave the way for launching the business, her husband went back to school, enrolling in the sustainable outdoor recreation management program at Cambrian College in Sudbury. They opened the business while he was still in school. On his time off he would participate in guide trips, but slow the business down when he had to return to school. Eventually, equipment, boats and...