tour leader Ella SchmidtAlthough now retired, Ella Schmidt previously worked for both Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Waterloo Region and Habitat for Humanity Canada. Ella participated in HFH Global Village excursions to Mongolia, Nepal, and Mexico.  While living in Malaysia for two plus years, Ella volunteered with HFH Malaysia on several special projects for their Board of Directors. Ella also served as the Vice-President of the International Women’s Association of Penang, Malaysia. An avid traveler, Ella has journeyed throughout Southeast Asia including to Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Malaysia. She has also been to Dominican Republic, Scotland, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland. Ella hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and only has a few kilometres left to finish the 900-kilometre long Bruce Trail in Ontario. 2019 is Ella’s 30th anniversary as a member of Girl Guides of Canada. Through Guiding, Ella was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding volunteer leadership. Ella lives in Waterloo, Ontario with her husband of 47 years.  Together they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.