An Interview with Matt Cammaert on “The Dinosaur and the Whales”: Honouring Quinn Cammaert’s Legacy Through Muskoka Memories and Supporting MADD Canada

Children’s books can do far more than entertain. At their best, they spark meaningful conversations, help young readers process big emotions, and connect families through stories that stay with them long after the final page. In this special Hooked on Books interview, Joanne Sallay, President & CEO of Teachers on Call, speaks with first-time author Matt Cammaert about The Dinosaur and the Whales, a deeply personal picture book inspired by a bedtime story he once shared with his children at the family cottage on Lake Rosseau. Written in memory of Matt’s daughter Quinn Cammaert, who was tragically killed in an impaired boating crash in 2021, the book is both a heartfelt tribute to her imagination, spirit, and enduring legacy and a meaningful call to action. With all proceeds supporting MADD Canada, The Dinosaur and the Whales aims to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of impaired boating and impaired driving while offering families a gentle story rooted in love, remembrance, and hope.

Inspired by the striking rock formations near the Cammaert family cottage in Muskoka, The Dinosaur and the Whales is deeply rooted in the places, traditions, and moments that shaped Quinn’s childhood. What began as a simple bedtime story has become a lasting tribute to her imagination and spirit, one that reflects the love of a family determined to honour her memory with purpose. Keep reading for a heartfelt conversation with Matt Cammaert, an extraordinarily resilient father, thoughtful storyteller, and remarkable human being, about grief, healing, legacy, and how one family’s profound loss became a message of love, remembrance, and advocacy that will resonate far beyond Muskoka. Get your copy of The Dinosaur and the Whales.

About the Debut Author: Matthew Cammaert

Matt Cammaert is a Toronto-based executive, father, and first-time author. His debut children’s book, The Dinosaur and the Whales, was self-published as a tribute to the enduring spirit and memory of his daughter, Quinn, and grew out of a bedtime story he once shared with his children. A Lake Rosseau cottager, Matt wrote the book in the wake of Quinn’s tragic death in a 2021 impaired boating tragedy, with the goal of honouring her legacy, raising awareness about impaired boating, and directing proceeds from the book to MADD Canada. Read more about Matt’s story in his Toronto Star interview.

About the Illustrator: Huan Tran

Huan Tran is a Toronto-based illustrator, designer, and animator who works under the name Leaking Faucet Studio. Known for his whimsical, expressive style, Huan has worked across illustration, design, and animation for a wide range of creative projects. He holds an Illustration degree with honours from OCAD University (100 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 3K1) as well as a BA in Computer Science from Western University (1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7). In The Dinosaur and the Whales, Huan brings warmth, imagination, and visual heart to a story rooted in love, memory, and adventure.

An Interview with Matt Cammaert on The Dinosaur and the Whales, Loss, Legacy, and Giving Back

Teachers on Call President & CEO Joanne Sallay understands the power of children’s books to spark meaningful conversations, preserve family stories, and help young readers navigate big emotions. In this special Hooked on Books interview, she sat down with first-time author Matt Cammaert to discuss The Dinosaur and the Whales, a deeply personal picture book inspired by a bedtime story he once shared with his children at the family cottage on Lake Rosseau. Written in memory of Matt’s daughter Quinn, who was tragically killed in an impaired boating crash in 2021, the book is both a heartfelt tribute to her life and a meaningful call to action, with all proceeds supporting MADD Canada. Keep reading for their thoughtful conversation about grief, storytelling, self-publishing, and the importance of using one family’s story to honour Quinn’s legacy while raising awareness about impaired boating and impaired driving.

The Dinosaur and the Whales is much more than a debut children's book. It is a deeply personal tribute to your daughter, Quinn, and a story rooted in your family's memories. As a business leader rather than a professional writer, what inspired you to bring this cherished bedtime story to readers and embark on the journey of becoming a children's author? 

I wasn't motivated to become an author. In fact, I still struggle with that label. I'm quite certain my old OAC English teacher would agree.

What I do believe in, however, is the power of storytelling. As a business leader, I've learned that people are rarely moved by technical details, features, or facts alone. The best ideas, the best brands, and the best leaders create emotion through stories. Stories make people feel something, and when people feel something, they remember it and, more importantly, they act.

I also wasn't motivated to share something so deeply personal with a wider audience, at least not without a purpose.

The statistics surrounding impaired driving in Canada are staggering. In 2021 alone, there were more than 78,000 impaired driving charges laid, roughly 215 every day. That same year, 457 Canadians lost their lives because of impaired driving, and fatalities increased by another 14 percent in 2022 to 521 deaths. More than 20,000 victims end up in trauma wards, and one in four collision related deaths involve impairment. On our waterways, alcohol is a factor in approximately 40 percent of boating fatalities.

These numbers are shocking, but I don't believe statistics change behaviour. We hear them, we shake our heads, and then we move on. Statistics are impersonal. They are easy to forget because they belong to someone else.

Stories are different.

The Dinosaur and the Whales is ultimately a story about love, friendship, adventure, and loss. It is also a story born from our family's experience and from losing Quinn to impaired boating. If this book causes someone to pause before getting behind the wheel or taking the helm of a boat after drinking, if it sparks a conversation between a parent and child, or if it helps someone better understand the devastation that impaired driving leaves behind, then it has accomplished something a statistic alone never could.

I didn't write this book to become an author. I wrote it to honour Quinn, to keep a piece of her alive, and, hopefully, to change even one person's perception of impaired driving. If that happens, then this little bedtime story will have done something extraordinary. 

Muskoka's natural beauty plays an important role in The Dinosaur and the Whales. Inspired by real rock formations near your family cottage on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, can you tell us more about the original bedtime story and how this special place helped shape the book?

The three rocks featured in the book are real. They sit directly in front of our family cottage on Lake Rosseau and have been part of our lives for as long as I can remember. The two long, surfaced rocks looked unmistakably like the backs of whales, so for years we simply called them the whale rocks. The third rock was less obvious.

One summer, Quinn and I were sitting on the dock talking about the rocks when she looked out and said, "That one looks like the head of a dinosaur." She was right. Once she said it, you couldn't unsee it. We started making up a silly story about how the dinosaur was the protector of the bay, standing watch over the whales and everything around it. Before long, we had created an entire world around those three rocks.

Months later, Quinn was having trouble falling asleep and she said, "DD, make up a story about the dinosaur and the whales." She called me DD from the time she could talk because "Daddy" somehow came out as "DD," and it stuck.

From that moment on, the story became part of our bedtime routine for several years. Every night it evolved a little more. New adventures were added, personalities developed, and the friendship between the dinosaur and the whales grew. My favourite part was always the beginning. Whenever I made the sound, "GRRRUUUMMMPH," I would shake the bed as though the whales were coming to life beneath the water. Quinn would always let out her big belly laugh and snuggle in close to me, and later Henry would do the same.

That is why Muskoka plays such an important role in The Dinosaur and the Whales. It isn't simply the setting of the story. It is where the story was born. The rocks, the dock, the bay, and my daughter's imagination became the foundation for a bedtime story that eventually became a book. Every page is rooted in a real place and in some of my most treasured memories with Quinn and Henry. 

As a debut author, what was the self-publishing process like from concept to finished book? Can you share how you found an illustrator, brought the story to life visually, and any advice you would offer aspiring authors considering the self-publishing route? 

The journey to publishing The Dinosaur and the Whales began in the most unlikely place: the front seat of my car.

For the first year after we lost Quinn, Henry and I spent an extraordinary amount of time driving together. We weren't living at home. I had enrolled him in a new school an hour outside the city, and every day we drove to the hospital and rehabilitation centre to visit my wife, Jennifer, who had been severely injured in the same crash that took Quinn's life.

On one of those drives, Henry started talking about the silly bedtime story I used to tell him and Quinn. I had not thought about The Dinosaur and the Whales in years. They had both outgrown it, and after losing Quinn, it had become one of those memories that was simply too painful to revisit. But over several car rides, Henry and I slowly pieced it back together, just as I used to tell it. Then one day, almost jokingly, he said, "Dad, you should write a book about it."

I am sure I dismissed the idea immediately, but the thought never left me.

It took another three years before I could put a single word on paper. During that time, I was writing the story in my head. I tried several times to sit down and write it, but each attempt became overwhelming. The moment I started typing, I found myself back in those memories with Quinn, and it was simply too much.

Eventually, I made a promise to myself that I would finish it. In April 2025, I finally began. It was brutally hard.

My first drafts made sense to me, but they were long, meandering, and overly sentimental. Friends were kind enough to review them, but what I really needed was someone willing to challenge me. I eventually found a children's book editor who became exactly that person. She asked difficult questions, forced me to remove things that were unnecessary, tighten the writing, and become much more intentional with every word. There is no question that she helped make the book what it is today while preserving the soul of the story I had told Quinn and Henry for years.

I also made a conscious decision to self publish. Rightly or wrongly, I convinced myself that I needed to protect the integrity of the story. Because it was so personal, I wasn't prepared to compromise on its heart or its meaning. Self publishing allowed me to maintain creative control and ensure the story remained exactly what it was intended to be: a tribute to Quinn, our family, and the memories that inspired it.

Finding the illustrator was one of the easiest decisions in the entire process. I spent more than twenty years working in advertising and had the privilege of collaborating with some extraordinarily talented creative people. Huan Tran was one of them. We had worked together on various projects over the years, and when I began researching illustrators, his name immediately came to mind.

Huan also understood our family's story. He wasn't simply illustrating a manuscript; he was helping bring our memories to life. From his earliest sketches to the final renderings, his work was incredibly thoughtful, gentle, and emotionally intuitive. There was very little feedback to give because he instinctively understood the feeling I was trying to create. He has a remarkable ability to translate words and emotion into imagery.

As for advice to aspiring authors, I have two.

First, if you have a story you want to tell, start writing and do not give up. The first draft will not be perfect. Neither will the second. But stories matter, and you never know where yours may lead.

Second, have a plan for distribution. Writing a book and publishing a book are two very different challenges. I initially thought I would sell directly, but the realities quickly became clear: ecommerce, a website, payment systems, printing, inventory, shipping, and customer acquisition are all significant undertakings, especially without an existing audience.

I ultimately chose Amazon, even though it takes a meaningful portion of every sale. In exchange, I gained something incredibly valuable: built in distribution, printing, commerce, and global reach. As a business leader, I understand the importance of distribution and scale. As a first-time author, that infrastructure allowed me to focus less on logistics and more on sharing a story that meant something to my family.

Readers will notice that the book's dedication extends beyond Quinn and Henry to include Patrick and Brooke. Can you tell us a little about who they are and why it was important to recognize them in the book's dedication?

Patrick and Brooke are our nephew and niece, and it was important to us that they be included in the dedication because, in many ways, this story belongs to them too.

The three rocks that inspired The Dinosaur and the Whales are woven into the fabric of our family's summers. They are where Patrick and Brooke learned to swim, just as Quinn and Henry did before them. I can still picture Quinn and Henry in the water, patiently encouraging them to jump off Sister Whale Rock wearing their life jackets and water wings. 

Patrick and Brooke are also now roughly the same age that Quinn and Henry were when I first began telling this bedtime story. There is something comforting about that, to me. 

Including Patrick and Brooke in the dedication was our way of acknowledging that this book is not only a tribute to Quinn and Henry, but also a celebration of shared family memories, and the traditions that connect generations. The rocks, the bay, and the story belong to all of us, and I hope that one day Henry, Patrick and Brooke will tell the story of the dinosaur and the whales to children of their own.

Many readers may not realize that the book is just one of several ways Quinn's legacy is being honoured. Can you tell us about some of the charitable initiatives, awards, and community programs created in her memory, and what it has been like to see them grow over the years?

This is very difficult to put into words.

More than anything, we don't want people to forget Quinn. Not in five years. Not in fifty.

Our culture often measures a life by accomplishments: career, wealth, travel, achievements, or athletic success. Quinn was only 13 when she was taken from us. She had just graduated from Grade 8 and was six weeks away from turning 14 and beginning Grade 9. She never had the chance to build a career, travel the world, or achieve many of the milestones by which society tends to measure a life.

We will never know what she could have achieved, but we do know that the person she was is what mattered most. She was endearing, compassionate, imaginative, athletic, and a bright light to everyone around her. She had an incredible ability to make people feel seen, included, and loved. Those qualities are her legacy, and we cannot allow them to be lost.

One of the ways we keep her memory alive is through several awards established in her name, each designed to honour the characteristics that made Quinn so special and to inspire those same qualities in others.

Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club:

1072 Shamrock Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0

The Quinn Cammaert Sunshine Award - given to a child who demonstrates compassion, inclusiveness, respect for their peers and adults, "and someone who brightens up the room simply by being in it".

The recipient of this award has their name engraved on the trophy we commissioned as well as a custom take home trophy. Picture attached - Henry (our son) receiving the award in 2024, with two past recipients. They will now also receive a copy of The Dinosaur and the Whales.

Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club:

141 Wilson Ave, Toronto, ON M5M 3A3

The Quinn Cammaert Annual Junior Club Championships. The U18 Boy and Girl champs have their names engraved on a trophy we commissioned, as well as receive a take home trophy. This is an annual tennis tournament at the Cricket Club in her name. She was an avid and competitive tennis player who had dreams of playing in the US. The recipient of this award has their name engraved on the trophy as well as a custom take home trophy. They will now also receive a copy of The Dinosaur and the Whales.

Children’s Garden School (CGS):

670 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4G 2K4

CGS is where Quinn attended early start to Grade 3. From Marie Bates, the principal of CGS:

"The Quinn Cammaert Courage Award is presented each year to a CGS student who best exemplifies the bravery and courage of our beloved and sadly missed alumna , Quinn. During her time at CGS, Quinn displayed many wonderful qualities, but it was her courage in overcoming obstacles that truly set her apart. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”The recipient of this award has their name engraved on a plaque, receives a take home plaque, and a copy of The Dinosaur and the Whales.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (BSCS):

24 Bedford Park Ave, Toronto, ON M4N 2K6

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (BSCS), Kindergarten to Grade 8, where Quinn graduated from: "Quinn Cammaert Character and Catholic Leadership Award.” The recipient of this esteemed award is given to a student who on a daily basis has shown compassion and respect to all students, teachers and parents. The individual is active in school life and consistently demonstrates kindness to everyone around him or her. The recipient of this award has their name engraved on a plaque and receives a take home plaque, along with a copy of The Dinosaur and the Whales.

These awards are far more than trophies, plaques, or annual ceremonies. They are reminders that a beautiful life is much more than what we achieve. They ensure that new generations of children and young adults continue to hear Quinn's name and, more importantly, learn about the qualities she embodied.

In that way, her kindness, courage, imagination, and light continue to ripple outward, touching people she never had the opportunity to meet. To us, that is one of the most meaningful ways we can honour her memory and ensure that she is never forgotten.

While The Dinosaur and the Whales is ultimately a story about friendship, imagination, and love, it also touches on themes of grief, remembrance, and healing that may be sensitive for some young readers. What age group is the book best suited for, and what advice would you offer parents, caregivers, and educators who wish to use the story as a starting point for conversations about loss, resilience, and remembering loved ones?

I wrote The Dinosaur and the Whales primarily for children between the ages of about 4 and 9, but I have learned through this process that the story seems to resonate far beyond that range. Young children are drawn to the adventure, the friendship between the dinosaur and the whales, and the imagination of the story. Older children and adults often connect with the deeper themes of love, remembrance, and what it means to carry someone with us after loss.

The book intentionally approaches grief gently. It does not explain loss in a clinical or heavy way, nor does it tell children how they should feel. Instead, it creates space for conversations. Children are remarkably perceptive, and many will pick up on the themes immediately, while others will simply enjoy the story. Both responses are perfectly okay. My brother recently read the story to a class of grade 2's (his wife's/my sister-in-law's class). It sparked some meaningful conversation, like, "Where is Quinn now?" and "How is Henry and does he still swim off of the whale?"

For parents, caregivers, and educators, my advice would be not to treat the book as a lesson about grief, but as an invitation to talk. Children often ask profound questions when they feel safe to do so. They may ask why the dinosaur protects the whales, why places and memories are important, or whether people who are gone can still be remembered. Those questions can open the door to meaningful conversations about love, loss, resilience, and memory.

I also believe it is important for children to understand that remembering someone is not only about sadness. It is also about joy. It is about telling stories, sharing memories, and keeping the qualities we loved about someone alive in our everyday lives. I will admit, in our family, it is still incredibly hard to talk about Quinn without sadness, but we are getting better at it. I hope we can eventually laugh about her, tell stories about her, and celebrate the things that made her special. Right now though, it is still very hard.

If this book helps a child ask a difficult question, gives a family permission to share a cherished memory, or helps someone understand that love continues even after loss, then I think it has done exactly what stories are meant to do. Stories help us make sense of the things that are hardest to explain, and they remind us that even in grief, there can still be wonder, connection, and hope. 

Now that you have published your debut children's book, can readers expect to see more books from you in the future? Are there other bedtime stories, family memories, or creative ideas that you would like to share with readers one day?

Never say never, but I don't have any plans to write another story. My hope is that this book travels far and wide, and raises both awareness and donations for MADD.

In Conclusion: Honouring Quinn Cammaert Through Storytelling and Advocacy

At its heart, The Dinosaur and the Whales is a story about love, memory, and the enduring bonds that remain even after loss. Through his debut picture book, Matt Cammaert has created a moving tribute to Quinn while also using storytelling as a way to raise awareness and inspire change. We are grateful to Matt for sharing his family’s story with such thought and care, and for reminding readers that children’s books can open the door to meaningful conversations about grief, resilience, remembrance, and hope. By connecting Quinn’s legacy to MADD Canada, The Dinosaur and the Whales extends its impact well beyond the page, helping to honour her life while encouraging choices and conversations that may one day save others.

Educators interested in scheduling a classroom visit with Matt to discuss The Dinosaur and the Whales, Quinn’s legacy, and the importance of impaired boating and impaired driving awareness can contact him here.

A Message From MADD Toronto

“MADD Toronto is deeply honoured to be the recipient of the proceeds from The Dinosaur and the Whales. These funds help support our Chapter’s programs and community outreach, allowing us to attend events, educate the public, and raise awareness about the devastating consequences and lasting impacts of impaired driving.

Matt Cammaert’s story of the loss of his beautiful daughter, Quinn, is both deeply moving and profoundly powerful. Through love, honesty, and courage, he reminds us that impaired driving is not an unavoidable tragedy, it is a preventable choice with life-altering consequences.

Quinn Cammaert did not lose her life in an “accident.” Someone made the choice to drive impaired that day, and that choice ended the life of a 13-year-old girl. Her death left an unimaginable void for everyone who knew and loved her as a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, student, and neighbour. Hundreds of lives were forever changed by one person’s decision. Sadly, Quinn’s story is not unique. Every year in Canada, more than 500 people lose their lives because of impaired driving. That is more than 500 families whose lives are changed forever. It is unacceptable.

At MADD, our mission is to eliminate impaired driving. When courageous people like Matt share their personal stories, we know people listen. These stories have the power to change attitudes, influence decisions, and ultimately save lives. The consequences of impaired driving are devastating, but preventing them is simple: you always have a choice.

Please remember Quinn Cammaert. Honour her memory by making the right choice - never drive impaired.”

About MADD Canada

MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national charitable organization dedicated to stopping impaired driving and supporting victims and survivors. Through education, awareness, advocacy, and community-based programs, MADD Canada works to prevent impaired driving tragedies before they happen, while also offering compassionate support to families whose lives have been forever changed. Its work is an important reminder that impaired driving affects not only roads, but also waterways, families, schools, and entire communities.