Becky Mason inherited her paddling skills and deep love for canoes from her father, the legendary canoeist Bill Mason, author and filmmaker of the Path of the Paddle series. She carries on the family tradition by sharing her passion for canoeing through a variety of avenues, including paddling instruction, filmmaking, writing, workshops, demonstrations, and slideshow presentations. In addition to her work in the paddling world, Becky is also a visual artist with over 30 years of exhibition experience in both public and commercial galleries, as well as studio tours.

In her role as an ambassador for the sport, Becky is also a Paddle Canada Instructor-Trainer and a Patron of Paddle Canada.

Becky resides in Chelsea, QC, with her husband, Reid McLachlan, where she continues to teach canoeing on Meech Lake. 2025 will mark the 38th year of her Classic Canoeing paddling school at the lake. Connecting with paddlers from all over is important to Becky, and she and Reid have traveled extensively throughout Canada and the northern U.S., presenting at a wide range of venues. Additionally, they’ve toured Europe and the UK three times, teaching and sharing their love for canoeing, its skills, culture, and heritage.

Becky has directed, produced, written, and starred in two award-winning instructional videos: Basic Classic Solo Canoeing and Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing. In 2009, she played a key role in revising the Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Manual and presented at the launch of the updated program. She remains an active Paddle Canada Instructor-Trainer and takes great joy in mentoring the next generation of paddling talent emerging through the organization.

Whether she’s enjoying a quiet paddle on a local creek, embarking on an extended wilderness adventure, or skating and skiing on the beautiful Gatineau River near her home during winter, Becky is at her happiest when she’s on the water.

Becky’s husband, Reid McLachlan, is an accredited Paddle Canada instructor for both flatwater and moving water. He is a passionate canoeist and also a talented visual artist, specializing in drawing and painting.

Becky and Reid are excited to be part of the 2025 Open Canoe Festival, where they will share their canoeing expertise. For the first time in OCF history, they will offer workshops in the Canadian canoe style on flatwater, alongside tandem canoe workshops and a special conference on Bill Mason’s canoe heritage.