Dianne Whelan, 59, is an award-winning Canadian documentary filmmaker and author. In 2015, with little hiking experience, she set off from St John’s, Newfoundland, to walk, bike and canoe the Trans Canada Trail, which stretches some 14,900 miles across the country as the longest trail network in the world. For most of her six-year journey, she travelled solo, filming for her latest independent documentary, 500 Days in the Wild.

Dianne Whelan is an award-winning Canadian documentary filmmaker and an accomplished photographer, artist, storyteller, author and public speaker.

Dianne is the first person ever to complete a five-year, 24,000 km ecological and reconciliation pilgrimage on the world’s longest trail. In August of 2021, she completed the land and water trails of the Trans Canada Trail spanning from coast to coast to coast. Traversing on land and water, using only her own strength in snowshoes, cross-country skis, a bike, a canoe, and, of course, walking.

500 Days in the Wild is the journey for her latest documentary film and upcoming book. Other work from Dianne, is her feature length documentary and book, 40 Days at Base Camp, shot on Mount Everest.

According to vimff.org