During the first year of my time spent at Hudson’s Bay, I was selected to act as the production manager, talent coordinator, writer and content creator for this exciting initiative.
In addition to managing the production side of the project and planning this cross-country trip, I wrote a series of articles that were posted alongside each of the 30 episodes.
Below is a press release I prepared for the launch, as well as a short bio I wrote after interviewing each of the adventurers.
Click HERE for more.
Hudson’s Bay presents: PROJECT ADVENTURE
FOUR ADVENTURERS. TWO MONTHS. ONE EPIC ROAD TRIP.
This summer, Hudson’s Bay is setting out on their biggest adventure ever. Founded in 1670, under the name The Company of Adventurers, Hudson’s Bay has since become an international icon and North America’s most enduring brand. To celebrate our heritage and pay homage to the adventurous spirit of our founders, we’ve hand picked four courageous filmmakers / extreme sports enthusiasts and sent them on an epic journey across Canada as part of a mission we’ve coined Project Adventure.
Our four adventurers have set out to traverse this beautiful country, in a 34 foot long custom striped RV, to gather footage for an exclusive web series. During their two months on the road, they will be stopping at some of the most exciting and inspiring destinations this country has to offer. From skydiving in Banff, to snorkeling with Beluga whales in the Hudson Bay, our team will be filming every step of their breathtaking journey. The tour kicked off June 19th in Vancouver, BC, and is taking our adventurers to 50 Canadian cities and towns, ending in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland on August 11th. Continuing to celebrate its past, present and much-anticipated future, Hudson’s Bay is hitting the open road for a truly Canadian experience, and we would love for you to join us.
Meet The Adventurers
Ryan Banting
Age: 20
Hometown: Minesing, Ontario
Though he comes from a small town, Ryan Banting has a big appetite for adventure. At the tender age of 20, he has an enviably thick beard and a smile that could paralyze an army. But his charm extends well beyond his looks. He lives by the wise words of the late John Lennon: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and his family is his greatest support system. “My family motivates me to do everything well the first time, and to never fall, merely stumble.” Like most passionate athletes, he’s sustained his fair share of injuries. But a broken leg, two simultaneously dislocated shoulders, and a myriad of other battle scars have yet to stop him from skiing, burying himself in the thick of a scrum in a rugby match or “cruising gnarley hills” on his longboard. His jawline is as strong as his will.
Michael Simonetti
Age: 27
Hometown: Long Island, NY
When Michael Simonetti told us that his first adventure involved an impromptu road trip with his father to Missouri in search of wild Mustangs, we knew we wanted him on our team. It comes as no surprise that this free diving, mountain biking, rock climbing adrenaline junkie has been injured “more times than [he] can remember,” especially since he lives by the motto “tuck and roll.” He’s a prime example of a book that shouldn’t be judged by its cover. In other words, you would never guess just by looking at him, that he has an inherent fear of spiders, an addiction to chapstick or that his guilty pleasure is having his girlfriend wax his back. Cat’s out of the bag – this hardbody has a soft side. He loves his dogs, Koko, Rusty and Ché, and he listens to the soothing sounds of Native American flute music on the daily. Project Adventure marks his first trip to our home and native land, and we welcome him with arms wide open.
Brent Marson
Age: 27
Hometown: London, Ontario
Brent Marson is a seasoned outdoorsmen with a physique to match his lifestyle. After training religiously for 6 months, he recently completed a 17km outdoor obstacle course called Tough Mudder, leaving him with an unprecedented sense of accomplishment, and a set of arms the size of British Columbian tree trunks. With a background in broadcast journalism, he is endearingly curious and thinks that every person has a story to tell. “Everything about people, including the good and the bad, is inspiring.” Having already travelled to the West coast of Canada to dip his toes into the Pacific Ocean, he’s looking forward to journeying to the East coast, where he will be subjecting yet another ocean to his feet. “I can’t wait to be able to say I officially went ocean to ocean in Canada.” He loves the thrill of conquering a big wave on his surfboard, and the sting brought on by a mouthful of his favourite candy, Sour Patch Kids. We are thrilled to call him one of our adventurers.
Chris Arthur
Age: 19
Hometown: New York, NY
Our youngest and tallest adventurer is poised beyond his years. Chris Arthur’s unfaltering yet unassuming sense of confidence makes him a tremendous athlete, and it is perhaps what allowed him to admit his guilty pleasure is watching romantic comedies. This dashing, skateboarding equestrian understands how important it is to stop and smell the flowers, and when he finds a spare moment, he enjoys playing guitar, and literally smelling flowers. “Lilacs are the best smell in the world to me, and I never leave the house without at least one guitar pick.” Although he’s in tune with his sensitive side, there isn’t much that scares the likes of this brave and valiant adventurer… except of course, moths. “It is a fear that I cannot explain. They just creep me out big time.” He’s always hoped to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights and we can’t wait to watch the look on his face when he finally sees them during Project Adventure.
