Keynote Speaking
What Clients Are Saying
A Speaker Who Captivates Every Audience
“Leaves you absolutely hanging on to every word.”
Brendan Noonan
GM – Coca-Cola
A Story That Inspires Purposeful Leadership
“The inspiring stories from the McCready’s and their dog sled teams will fill your heart with a desire and passion to lead with purpose and responsibility greater than yourself, clearly defining what is required to be a loyal servant leader.”
Thomas Carrique
Commissioner – Ontario Provincial Police
A Fresh Voice That Leaves a Lasting Impact
“We have had many polished, great speakers over the years, but none with such a passionate fresh voice and gifted storyteller. This was certainly the case with Tanya. She will remain in my files as a must-see keynote speaker!”
Janice Fendley, CMP
Corporate Event Manager – Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
Leadership Lessons That Inspire Teams
“You provided many valuable lessons on how effective leaders inspire teams to perform, adapt and innovate – as useful in a mine or corporate office as during a grueling 1000-mile race!”
Chris Hodgson
President – Ontario Mining Association
Authenticity That Connects With People
“Tanya is one of the most down to earth, humble, and authentic speakers I have ever heard!”
Julie Menzies
Program Manager – National Research and Education Network (CANARIE)
A Message Every Boardroom Needs
“Boardrooms everywhere will benefit from your presentation.”
Susan O'Dowd
Vice President, Human Resources – LifeLabs
Keynote Topic
B
Bold Leadership
Tanya shows that true leadership is a posture, not a position—drawing lessons from 25 years of living in the wilderness and leading a team of sled dogs through the toughest conditions.
T
True Teamwork
Through stories from 1,000-mile races across Alaska and the Yukon, Tanya reveals how trust and connection—not control—are the real foundation of high-performing teams.
R
Real Resilience
A real story of quitting a job, moving into the wilderness, and building a family business from scratch with a pack of huskies—an inspiring lesson for teams navigating change and challenge.
Trusted By
Meet Tanya
It started with two people and a handful of Siberian Huskies. Hank and Tanya had a dream — to race these dogs, to really know what they were capable of. Winterdance grew up around that dream, one dog, one winter, one trail at a time.
Along the way came six 1,000-mile races, plus more shorter ones than either of them can probably count anymore. The trails took them from the lakes of Minnesota all the way to Alaska, up into Labrador, and out to Churchill — cold, remote places most people only read about.
Those years on the trail, the mistakes, the good days and the brutal ones, are where these books come from.
BOOKS
IDITAROD DREAMER
A Rookie Team's Journey
Join Hank DeBruin, his family, and their 20 purebred Siberian Huskies on a year-long journey toward Alaska’s Iditarod — “The Last Great Race on Earth.” After more than a decade chasing this dream, Hank takes you from training runs in the wilds of Maine, Haliburton, and Minnesota to the frozen Yukon River and the towering Alaska Range.
Meet lead dogs Max, Lily, Sapphire, Strider, and Maverick — and feel the trust between musher and team that carries them through -50°F cold, blinding blizzards, and sleepless nights. This is a story of grit, partnership, and the wild beauty of the North.
Journey of 1000 Miles
A Musher and His Huskies' Journey on the Yukon Quest's Century-Old Yukon Trails
When disappointment forces Hank DeBruin to chase a new goal, he and his team set out for one of the toughest races on earth: the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest. Journey of a Thousand Miles is a standalone true story — no need to read Iditarod Dreamer first — of grit, teamwork, and survival across the brutal Yukon and Alaskan wilderness.
Jump on the runners as Hank, lead dogs Lily, Strider, Maverick, and the rest of the team push through towering mountain ranges, blinding blizzards, and -60°C cold. This is their shot to complete their first 1,000-mile race — and prove, once and for all, that they have what it takes to reach the finish line.
Let's create something amazing together
Looking for authentic sled dogs, stunning locations and a team that understands production? We’d love to hear about your project.