Naomi Grace Heffler—1977 to 2003 Our Canadian paddling community suffered a devastating loss when Naomi Heffler, 25, was killed in an avalanche at the Durrand Glacier near Revelstoke, B.C., on January 20, 2003. Naomi grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and gradu- ated in Chemical Engineering in 2002 from the University of Calgary. She had a tremendous passion for the outdoors, with remarkable skills in both backcountry skiing and paddling.
Naomi was a true Canadian paddler in every sense. She paddled rivers from coast to coast, and enjoyed river running as much as freestyling. Naomi was a canoe tripper and guide, exploring rivers from the Churchill in Saskatchewan to the Nahanni in the Northwest Territories. She excelled in all types of paddling, from open canoe to C1 and kayak. Her remark- able skill and grace were inspiring to us all. Naomi came to Ottawa in the spring of 2001under the premise of doing a chemical engineering internship, but it was obvious that she really came here to paddle. We spent the summer together on the Ottawa, the Gatineau and Lachine rapids. Naomi was one of the hottest C1 paddlers out there. She had an infec- tious personality with a wonderful smile and a laugh that would wake up the campground. Naomi's time with us was short and sweet, with an emphasis on sweet.
Naomi is survived by her parents, Howard
and Lyn, and her sister, Laura. Our heart and thoughts are with them and everyone who was touched by her warmth. Naomi was one of those rare people who grabbed life's opportunities and flourished in them. Her living body was lost in the mountains but her spirit will remain in all of us who knew her.
—Naomi’s friends in Ottawa
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www.rapidmag.com
photo Rob Faubert
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