Our Team
Francis Boyes
Francis is Smoothwater's owner, ORCKA-certified paddling instructor, canoe-pyramid stacker, tie-down master, and BBQ expert. From cutting his teeth at Camp Hurontario, to guiding for Camp Kipawa, the Yamnuska Centre, and finally Smoothwater, Francis has spent most of his life canoe-tripping.
Francis is a veritable tree-whisperer – many of the trees on the Smoothwater property were planted by him in the mid 1990s. Come wind storms or insect invasions, he pays close attention to their health and champions their longevity. He is also a longtime advocate for forests on a larger scale, through his role as a founding director of Friends of Temagami and as a 15-year member of the local MNRF citizen’s committee for forest management planning.
During the fall/winter, Francis teaches recreation and leisure management at Fleming College.
Johanna (Roz) Kilbridge
Johanna wasn’t born in a canoe, but she may as well have been! From growing up at the Temagami Canoe Company, to summer jobs at local camps, parks, and the Canadian Canoe Museum, she has been steeped in canoe culture her whole life. Smoothwater is a perfect fit, combining for her love of paddling and affinity for people.
Many visitors to the Canoe Company ended up at her family’s home across the street, sharing a pot of Earl Grey or a beer on the dock. Visitors camped in their front yard, crashed on their couch, swapped stories, and became longtime friends. It is this doors-wide-open hospitality that Johanna brings to Smoothwater, welcoming folks with warmth, curiosity, and a particular talent for cooking.
Taught to cook, bake, and forage by her Oma - a Swiss émigrée turned lumber camp cook - Johanna strives to create meals that are perfectly balanced in flavour and style.
John Kilbridge
John is Johanna's father. As a child from Chicago, John's first plunge into nature was a Western roadtrip, wherein he was struck by the immensity of the starry night skies. Astronomy became a passion.
John came to Temagami as a young camper, and he quickly fell in love with Northern Ontario and canoeing. After a detour to law school in Texas, he returned here to apprentice with curmudgeonly canoe builder (and story teller extraordinaire) Bill Smith. John eventually took over the Temagami Canoe Company and raised his family there. When not at the canoe shop, John can often be found at Smoothwater, outfitting trips and dispensing backcountry wisdom.
John is a born naturalist, curious about the world around him and keen to observe and learn. His experience in the outdoors has made him a walking treasure-trove of traditional skills, knowledge, and anecdotes.
Smoothwater Mascots
Juno is a fluffy collie who acts property manager, patrolling the boundaries of Smoothwater and making sure everything is as it should be. Her ongoing project is a hole in the ground under the deck, which she nestles in to cool down on hot summer days. She's friendly and gentle.
Griffin is Juno's right-hand-man, curious and energetic. You’ll hear Griffin before you see him, but not by much! His welcome-bark is the first sound visitors hear when they arrive at the lodge, shortly he appears beside their car to herd them down the final stretch of our driveway. Not as keen on paddling as Juno, Griffin much prefers a good scratch and forest walk.
Alfie is a big, handsome tabby who loves attention and is a lot like a dog. When he’s not sleeping, he prefers to spend time with his humans or Juno. He even goes with them for walks down the lane. Alfie enjoys meeting new people and welcomes any cuddles they offer.