“500 Days in the Wild” Filmmaker Joins Haida Gwaii Expedition as Artist-In-Residence

Dianne Whelan returns to the shores where her epic journey began—this time, you can join her.

After completing a 24,000-kilometre journey across Canada along the Trans Canada Trail—by foot, paddle, and bicycle—filmmaker Dianne Whelan is bringing her story back to Haida Gwaii, the place that inspired it.

Her award-winning film, 500 Days in the Wild, now streaming on Paramount+ Canada, chronicles that cross-country expedition.

In July 2027, she will host guests aboard Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Adventures’ classic sailing schooner, as Artist-in-Residence on a small-ship expedition through the remote waters of the Pacific Coast.

Rather than retracing the route by land, this journey unfolds at sea—following ancient coastal pathways through islands, inlets, and ecosystems rarely reached any other way.

We asked Dianne about her connection to this place, the perspective gained from traveling through nature, and why sharing these experiences with others feels so meaningful.

After tackling the Trans Canada Trail, what draws you back to the edges of Canada?

For me, being in nature always feels like going home. When we are in cities, we are in places we created. When we spend time in nature, we return to the place that created us.

It is easy, when life is busy, to lose a sense of the big picture. I sometimes call this the perspective of the mouse—when all you can see is what is right in front of you. But after a week away on the water or in the woods, something shifts. Suddenly it becomes easier to see the bigger picture again—what I call the perspective of the eagle.

That reconnection to self always draws me back to the edges of Canada.

What does Haida Gwaii represent to you?

Haida Gwaii holds a special place in my heart because it is where my journey along the Trans Canada Trail both began and ended.

Before embarking on the 24,000-kilometre journey across Canada’s land and water trails, I was invited to a film festival there. While visiting, I asked Elders Diane Chamberlain and Vern Williams how I could honour the ancestors of the lands I would travel through. Vern gave me his eagle feather.

In giving a stranger something he loved, that feather became a powerful symbol of kindness and forgiveness. Six years later, when I completed the journey, I returned to Haida Gwaii to return the feather and gift it to his granddaughter, Lillian Hope. That gift taught me that what we carry in our hearts shapes the journey we take.

Why explore this region by sea rather than land?

The water routes are actually the most ancient travel routes in Canada. Sailing around Haida Gwaii allows us to reach places people simply cannot walk or drive to—remote inlets, islands, and coastal ecosystems that remain truly wild.

It also offers perspective. Humans make up just 0.01 percent of life on Earth. When we travel to places like this, we reconnect with the other 99 percent of life—the web of life we are all part of.

How does small-ship travel change the experience?

Small-ship travel creates a kind of connection that is hard to find anywhere else. I have gone on paddling and hiking expeditions with small groups where, after seven days, I felt closer to those people than to others I have known for years.

There is an intimacy and authenticity in these shared experiences that I know no other way of finding.

What excites you most about hosting your community in this setting?

I know I will leave the expedition with new friends. At the end of our lives, when we look back, it is the shared sunrises and sunsets we remember most.

But I also know my life will be changed by the people I meet. Every time I meet someone, there is something I will learn from them—and something they will learn from me.

What do you hope guests take away from this journey?

Amazing memories—and belief in their own dreams and aspirations. For anyone interested in photography, writing, filmmaking, or pursuing a long adventure of their own, I will be there to share my experience and support them in any way I can.

Why does this voyage feel meaningful to you?

For me, this journey is all about connection.

Connection to self. Connection to the people I will share the journey with. And connection to the web of life.

The Journey Continues

In July 2027, guests aboard Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Adventures’ classic sailing schooner, will explore the wild shores of Haida Gwaii alongside filmmaker Dianne Whelan as Artist-in-Residence. Traveling by sea through remote islands, ancient forests, and rich marine ecosystems, the voyage offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Canada’s most remarkable landscapes in the company of a storyteller whose journey across the country has inspired audiences everywhere.

For those who moved by 500 Days in the Wild—this is your chance to be a part of it.

Maple Leaf Adventures has been guiding small groups through Haida Gwaii for decades, with a deep respect for the culture, wildlife and ecosystems that define the region. Spaces are limited, so reach out to our friendly reservations team to secure your spot.

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