Whales, Fjords and French Canada: Saguenay and the St. Lawrence

Conny Fricke was born in Germany, where she completed her secretarial studies in four different languages. She soon discovered the joys of exploring the world with her family and has lived in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada before finally settling in Québec in 2010, near the St. Lawrence River. Conny loves sharing her passion for the St. Lawrence River and cultural richness of Québec. She enjoys the outdoors and staying active by kayaking, sailing, biking, skiing and spending time with friends and family.

Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.

François Vidal was born in Québec City, where he spent years studying theatre and travel. He frequently combines his education with his love for Québec City and its rich history, performing in numerous educational theatrical productions. François has been an educational interpreter in Québec City since 2009 and is well-known for his personification of historical figures including a recent production in which he portrayed General Montcalm from the French-Indian War. François displays a keen interest in the architecture, culture and lifestyle in Québec City.

Benny Beattie was born in Montreal, Québec. He holds a BA and MA from Concordia University, a teaching diploma from McGill University, and a License from the University of Montreal. Benny lived in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1960-1964 where he studied, traveled, and worked in a refugee camp in Lager Wagna, Austria. He taught history and French at Lindsay Place High School in Pointe Claire, Québec, from 1965 to 1997. He has written two books, “Tadoussac – The Sands of Summer” and “A Visitors Guide to Tadoussac.”