2011 Staff Bios


Patrick Trudel
- I am otherwise known as Thatcher here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my twelfth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : It’s been way too long.. I don’t remember.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm wishing I was.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is jellied moose nose.
- I look my best when I'm wearing Aikens gear, only available at the Aikens Lake Gift Shop.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to be able to stop my dog Enzo from tarring up garbages.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is guiding my wife to her first Master Angler. (That 49’’ pike was pretty cool too...)

Janelle Trudel
- I am otherwise known as Jans here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my sixth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I was told by Kik that this was THE place to work. He was right!
- When I'm not at Aikens, I’m still working for Aikens but without the killer sunsets.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is paper.
- I look my best when I'm wearing the Aikens Lake mint-colored cardigan.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose the ability to control my dreams.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens was catching my first trophy walleye! (After six years of intense fishing!)

Christian Dupont
- I am otherwise known as Kik here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my seventh season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I got hired for a five week logging contract. Those five weeks turned into five months, which now turned into seven years.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm at school.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is an eraser with glue and sparkles on top.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a mustache.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to be able to fly.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is "stealing" DG's trophy lake trout. (inside joke)

Eric Toupin-Selinger
- I am otherwise known as Petit Point here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my forth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I graduated from High school and the following day was flying in a Twin-Otter heading to Aikens.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm dreaming of Aikens.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a Winnipeg Jets Jersey.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose wings, to fly anywhere.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is Pat Trudel’s trophy pike at Frosties.

Griffin Hewitt
- I am otherwise known as Griff here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my fifth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : Pit sent me an e-mail.
- When I’m not at Aikens, I’m trying to go to school and traveling.
- The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I’m wearing my Birthday Suit.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose flying.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is the three-trophy-pike-day.

Dave Smith
- I am otherwise known as Fatty here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my sixth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I grew up hearing about it form my family and was lucky enough to get a job.
- When I’m not at Aikens, I’m not doing much, working in Winnipeg and watching a lot of (Jets) hockey!
- The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten is a cow’s tongue.
- I look my best when I’m wearing a suit.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose being able to fly.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is catching my first trophy lake trout.

Jessé Marcel Larivière
- I am otherwise known as Jesepy or Gus here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my third season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I love pickerel, perch, jacks and burbots. Amen.
- When I’m not at Aikens, I’m driving the old zamboni, round and round.
- The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I’m wearing nothing but my beautiful Shimano combo. You got to love the Clarus and Symetre.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose smelling where the big ones are and just slaying them. Ooooh weee, bless their hearts!
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is catching a trophy pike with the one and only Doc Farber.

Elliot Rhodes
- I am otherwise known as Rodeo Rhodes or Skully here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : Witness protection (shhhh...).
- When I'm not at Aikens, I’m depressed.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I'm wearing tanning oil.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose jumping really high, not flying though... that’s too much.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is taking my parents fishing here for the first time.

Eric Turenne
- I am otherwise known as E2 here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : Once upon a time, Pit was born. Once upon another time, I was born. Turns out we were cousins. He offered me a job. It then turns out after a rigorous interview process, I got that job. Now I'm here. The end.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm livin' the other life, with school and whatnot.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten are probably crickets.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a tuxedo. A full-blown tux. Who doesn't look their best in one of those?
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose flight.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is hooking myself in the back of the head and then catching a trophy walleye on that same lure.

Alex Laser
- I’m otherwise known as Laser here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I canoed in from Bisset and sang Pit a love song... the rest is history.
- When I’m not at Aikens I’m going to school in Winnipeg.
- The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten is horse.
- I look my best when I’m wearing my Lund rain-suit
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to be bear-proof.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is my biggest laker!

Jean-Bocar Diallo
- I am otherwise known as JB or J-Beast here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : My sister worked here for four years and I used to come up for the Friends and Family Weekend. I loved it and asked Pit if I could ever get a job here. He told me to send him my resume and here I am!
- When I’m not at Aikens, I’m usually at school, playing volleyball, skateboarding or eating.
- The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten are chicken feet at dim sum.
- I look my best when I’m wearing no clothes.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose flying.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is catching a lake trout in Bonaventure with nothing but my hands, line and a jig.

Mathieu Napoléon LaBossière
- I am otherwise known as Chummer here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : One day I was innocently walking along the corridors of the CUSB when the Aikens ambush squad conveniently positioned at a kiosk snatched me from the city life to be brought into the bush. Crazy.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm elsewhere... studying a little bit, but mostly still having a good time! Chances are I’m playing a little piano somewhere in there too.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is a starfruit. It looks like a translucid star, tastes like raw potato, imported fresh in it's plastic wrap from China. Don't try it.
- I look my best when I'm wearing my Armani suit. I wish.. My ceinture fléchée and my voyageur toque!
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose the power to acquire any talent instantaneously.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is the time I missed the biggest lake trout because I thought it was a snag. It pulled me that hard! Of course we were in over 40 feet of water... stupid me!

Chad Robinson
- I am otherwise known as “That guy who can’t speak french” here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I was on Kijiji.com for several hours trying to buy/barter for vintage Molson Canadian Don Cherry Bubba-can kegs when I decided I needed a job. Aikens Lake was the most recent job posting.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm trying to buy/barter for vintage Molson Canadian Don Cherry Bubba-can kegs, going for walks, playing Playstation 3, watching hockey or UFC.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is veal pancreas (veal sweetbreads).
- I look my best when I'm wearing my Aikens chef jacket.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose time travel.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is going fishing with Pit and not catching a thing.

Danica Ritchot
- I am otherwise known as Daniqwa here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : One day while I was taking a stroll, all I could hear was "HI-YAH, HI-YAH!" (karate noise). So I followed it all the way up to Aikens and here I am.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm I'm at school being a big nerd.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is cheese.
- I look my best when I'm wearing yoga pants and flip flops.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to have sick dance moves like Janelle.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is watching Brad fail five times in a row to bring in a fish off the dock.

Réanne Chamberland
- I am otherwise known as Ray-J here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : My mom's company does the ground transportation for the lodge and my parents have known Pit and Julie for a long time. I knew that working at Aikens would be an amazing way to spend my summers so I applied...and here I am!
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm at school, working, playing violin, going on zamboni rides...
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is alligator.
- I look my best when I'm wearing my Festival du Voyageur costume...over one-piece long-johns.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose teleportation.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is : Two years ago, I was fishing on the dock when this guy from Saint-Malo came to talk to me and tried to impress me with his fishing skills...and the rest is history.

Josée Deezar
- I am otherwise known as Hosee here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my second season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I heard from a friend of a friend that the “Taco Nights” here are unreal.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm going to school.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten are pickled beets.
- I look my best when I'm wearing sweats and a hoodie.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to control the weather (so I could create perfect tanning conditions for our afternoon breaks).
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens (so far) is catching my first burbot at Chris's Corner after a few nights of failed attempts.

Brittany Byron
- I am otherwise known as Wild Child here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : Pit and Pat were recruiting at CUSB and I had seen the poster and knew that Aikens was my kind of place. After reading the brochure in French class I was 110% sure. Later that week, I watched Martin, along with his breakfast, get knocked down the stairs by Kody while I walked in for my interview, and the rest was golden!
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm at university taking sciences in hopes of continuing on to vet school... While I'm not studying, I also enjoy riding horses and Taekwondo.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is a lemon.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a pair of Wranglers and a cowboy hat.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to be able to fly.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is trolling Pistol Pass with Jesse and Mars.

Marcel "Dock Goon" Bédard
- I am otherwise known as Dock Goon here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my fifth season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I was hired as a guide, but I liked playing in grease more than playing with a fishing rod. Ever since then, I've been dockside.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm driving a zamboni.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is a live goldfish from a wedding centerpiece.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a clean pair of birch bark underwear.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose something that would let me catch a trophy on this lake.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is going to be when I land a trophy.

Alex Deezar
- I am otherwise known as Deez here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I woke up here.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I’m whoever you want me to be, just call me.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a mustache.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose Trophy-Vision.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is watching Brad fail to set the hook 9 times out of 10.

Brad Schneider
- I am otherwise known as Schneids here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : My good pal from high school named Alex Laser worked here last summer and told me to apply this year. Thankfully all went well and I got the job!
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm going to school at the University of Manitoba, hoping to receive my Bachelor's degree in Phys. Ed in the future.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is beaver.
- I look my best when I'm wearing my cheetah print man-thong.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose.... The power to read people's minds.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is catching a 35" pike off the dock.

Tyler Koshowski
- I am otherwise known as Tyler here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : I came as a guest and I decided I would like to work here, so I applied.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm breeding thoroughbred racehorses, cave diving and studying biotechnology on the side.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is a wasabi roll, which is a sushi roll with only wasabi in the middle.
- I look my best when I'm wearing a full snorkeling attire.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose the ability to read minds.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is catching consecutive 25, 26 and 27 inch walleye (and not 28).

Joël Claude Ritchot
- I am otherwise known as Joe here at Aikens.
- 2011 is my first season at the lodge.
- This is the story about how I ended up at Aikens : Jean broke his foot.
- When I'm not at Aikens, I'm waiting for next season.
- The strangest thing I've ever eaten is compost with the birds.
- I look my best when I'm wearing nothing.
- If I could have one superpower, I would choose to be tanned.
- My most memorable fishing moment at Aikens is.. what’s fishing?