I Am An Adventure Guide

Hometown: Toronto
Current residence: Canmore, Alta.
Employment: Scheduling and operations, and day rock instructor at Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore.

  I am happy to be using and developing the skills I was taught in the Adventure Studies program. There is no better way to become friends with somebody than sharing a wet and smelly tent for a week on wilderness travel.

I attribute many of my lifelong university friends to the department.

Industry certifications:
ACMG TRCI
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
CASI Level 1
Rocky Mountain Medicine, Advanced Adventure Medic

Notable employment:
Instructor, Outward Bound Canada, Toronto
Gear Shop Supervisor and Climbing Gym Instructor, University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, Calgary

Hometown: Lennoxville, Que.
Current residence: Calgary
Current employment: Paddle sports instructor and snowcat operator

It was through TRU that I was introduced to backcountry touring, which has become my go-to winter pursuit. I got my start in kayak instructing through TRU, which continues to develop into a lifetime passion and career for me. My job with Aquabatics—a defining position for me—was a direct result of alumni job postings and the endorsement of my TRU instructors at the time.

I also credit TRU with playing a pivotal role in morphing me into someone with true respect for the mountains, rivers and learning. The teachers I had at TRU have since become important role models for me, which further developed my character.

One of the biggest bonuses of TRU was the friends I made while there. Over the years, I have continued to link up with many of them, both for personal pursuits and for professional connections.

Industry certifications:
Canoe Kayak Canada Instructor 3/ Leader 3 - Whitewater
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
Rescue Canada, Swiftwater Rescue Technician III
WMA, WFR (80 hour)

Notable employment
Paddle Sports Instructor, Aquabatics, Calgary
Snowcat Operator, Winsport (Canada Olympic Park), Calgary
Treeplanter, Folklore, Prince George, BC
Land Survey Assistant, Universal Geomatics, Calgary

Hometown: Regina
Current residence: Canmore, Alta.
Employment: Services Director, The Alpine Club of Canada

The adventure program gave me the training and connections I needed to find a job I love in the adventure industry.

I may not be in the field daily, but I have found a stable office-based job that allows me to stay connected with the adventure industry. The skills I learned in field courses at TRU have made me a very proficient recreationist who can speak knowledgeably with both guides and clients about self-propelled mountain sports and the terrain in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

My position at The Alpine Club of Canada offers a relaxed, workplace culture that understands the need for powder days and climbing vacations, allowing me to pursue mountain sports recreationally on my own and with my colleagues.

Notable employment:
Front Desk Agent, Mike Wiegele Heliskiing, Blue River, BC

Hometown: Ottawa
Current residence: Whistler, BC
Employment: ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide

I come from a small town farming community in Ontario. My parents are not mountain people. I came to British Columbia to live the dream of becoming a professional skier, and Thompson Rivers changed what I view as success in the tourism industry.

I am no longer tied to an identity as an athlete. Now I see success as a function of all I am capable of doing: guiding, competitive freeride skiing, administrative duties and expeditionary pursuits. I can reach success from many avenues.

Industry certifications:
ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide
Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Skills Training Instructor
CAA Operations Level 2
Active Member of the CAA
CSIA Level 1
OFA Level 3

Industry courses:
CAA Introduction to Weather
CAA Avalanche Search and Rescue Response
SAR Management Course

Notable employment
Avalanche Skills Program Coordinator, Extremely Canadian, Whistler, BC
Apprentice Ski Guide at Tyax Lodge Heliskiing, Whitecap Alpine, Extremely Canadian, White Wilderness Heliskiing

Hometown: Canmore, Alta.
Current residence: Squamish, BC
Employment: Heli-Hiking Guide, Tail Guide and AST 1 Instructor

I was an avid mountain recreationist, and I knew I wanted to guide, but had no idea what that entailed and where to begin. Throughout the two years at TRU, I learned what it meant to guide people safely through the mountains.

My time at TRU gave me an incredible base of knowledge and a huge number of mentors and important contacts that I know I can turn to.

The program set me up perfectly to put in the work toward obtaining Mountain Guide Certification through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.

Industry certifications:
ACMG Assistant Hiking Guide
ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide Candidate
Active Member of the CAA
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
CSIA Level 1 Instructor
WMA WFR (80 hour)

Notable employment:
Tail Guide, Tyax Lodge Heli-skiing
AST 1 Instructor and Tail Guide, Extremely Canadian, Whistler BC
Heli-Hiking Guide, CMH Cariboos, BC
Hiking Guide, Purcell Mountain Lodge, Golden BC
Outdoor Education, St. George’s private school, Vancouver
Outdoor Education, Outward Bound, various locations in BC

Hometown: Orangeville, Ont.
Current residence: Whistler, BC
Employment: Whitewater Canoe Expedition Leader Guide, Assistant Cat-Skiing Guide and Steelhead Salmon Guide

I liked that the courses were focused and direct to the point—there was no time wasted, whether we were in the classroom or outside.

Our time was filled with learning technical skills, building friendships, and opening up a strong network of potential work connections.

TRU gave me a strong foundation of skills so I could excel in the adventure tourism industry.

I cannot forget the friendships made during my two years at TRU, which have evolved into a network of work connections and opportunities, like skiing in Iceland, paddling in Chile or fly-fishing in Kamchatka.

Industry certifications:
CAA, Avalanche Operations Level 2
JIBC, Emergency Medical Responder
Paddle Canada, Lake Canoe Instructor
Paddle Canada, Moving Water Canoe Instructor
Rescue Canada, Swiftwater Rescue Specialist
WMA, WFR (80 hour)

Notable employment:
Assistant Cat-Skiing Guide, Monashee Powder Snowcats, Monashee Provincial Park, BC
Moving Water Canoe Instructor, Thompson Rivers University
Whitewater Canoe Expedition Leader, Canoe North Adventures, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Steelhead Salmon Guide, Damdochax River Lodge, Smithers, BC

Hometown: Charny, Que.
Current residence: Squamish, BC
Employment: Whitewater kayak instructor, aerial cinematographer and producer

I was taught to thrive at TRU, and without all the different classes, my filming would be very limited.

I can film anywhere I want now because I learned how to be proficient outdoors while learning expedition planning, risk management and leadership skills.

Industry certifications:
Canoe Kayak Canada, Kayak Instructor 3/ Leader 3- Whitewater
BCROA, Raft Guide Paddle/Oar endorsement
Skills Active (Aotearoa, New Zealand), National Certificate in Outdoor Recreation (River Guide) (Level 4)
Rescue Canada, Swiftwater Rescue Specialist
Raven Rescue, WFR (80 hours)

Notable employment:
Whitewater Kayak Instructor, Adventure Studies Department, TRU
Aerial Cinematographer, Flow Motion Aerials
Producer, Red Bull Media House

Hometown: Collingwood, Ont.
Current residence: Clearwater, BC
Employment: International Raft Guide and Surf Coach

I came here to meet stoked people who liked adventures. The program exceeded my expectations and changed my life forever.

The more I travel, the more I understand different people and their cultures. It helps me stay humble.

I love being around people that are afraid of whitewater, taking them on a great experience, and showing them that they are capable of doing something they were terrified of not too long ago.

Industry certifications:
CAA, Level 1 Avalanche Operations
Canoe Kayak BC, Kayak Instructor 2/ Leader 2- River
CSIA, Level 1 Ski Instructor
CSIA, Level 1 Snow Park Ski
BC, Class 4 Drivers Licence
BCROA, Raft Guide Paddle/Oar endorsement
ISA, Level 1 Surf Instructor
Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon, Bronze Cross
Rescue Canada, Swiftwater Rescue Specialist, SPRAT
WMA, WFR (80 hour)

Notable employment:
Raft Guide, Interior Whitewater Expeditions, Clearwater, BC
Whitewater Kayak Instructor, TRU
Surf Coach, TRU
Raft Guide Cara Del Indio, Futaleufu, Chile
Surf Coach, One Love, San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
Surf Coach, Surf Emporium, Muzenberg, South Africa