Our Story and Our People
Spirit of the West Adventures began in 1997 with an amazing passion for kayaking, killer whales and the British Columbia coast, and it has been the catalyst for many people's outdoor activity ever since. Based right here on the coast, we show you around with the pride of knowing it's our home. Take a few moments to meet the team behind the adventures.
Meet the owners
In 2006, longtime kayak guides Breanne Quesnel and Rick Snowdon joined as owners and continued Spirit of the West’s commitment to providing fun, safe and ecologically sound kayaking experiences in BC. While they have always been wilderness adventurers, being able to combine playtime with work infuses a client’s experience with a special kind of pleasure. After globetrotting for a few months most years, they always come back to their home on Quadra Island, BC, a testament to their love for the BC coast and the amazing opportunity for sea kayaking. As seagoing folk, Breanne and Rick love to live and breathe British Columbia coastal air. In 2014 Breanne and Rick welcomed their son Eamon to the paddling family. On New Year’s Eve 2015, Eamon’s little brother Rowan arrived.
Breanne, Rick, Eamon & Rowan
Breanne grew up in Ontario in a family who loved the outdoors. Much of her childhood was spent hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing and enjoying the fresh air. In 2002 Breanne completed an Honours Bachelor Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and a Bachelor of Arts – Geography at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She also completed her Bachelor of Education in Sydney, Australia. Over the years, Breanne has worn many hats including that of whitewater canoe guide, tree planter, environmental educator, elementary and secondary school teacher, sea kayak guide and most recently as educational program co-ordinator, guide and operations manager with Spirit of the West. The allure of the British Columbia coast drew her west several years ago, and now she spends most of the year on Quadra Island and her winters traveling. Breanne is a perfect candidate to set you up with a complete outdoor kayaking experience.
Rick spent his early years paddling in Ontario before heading to sea in tall ships for much of his high school years. He completed degrees in Outdoor Recreation and Biology at Lakehead University, as well as time studying oceanography in Woods Hole in 2000, interspersed with summers working search and rescue for the Canadian Coast Guard. Having sailed on the Great Lakes, California coast, North Atlantic and South Pacific, Rick took up sea kayaking in 1998. As a freelance writer, guide and photographer Rick has travelled around Canada and around the world, and has worked, volunteered and paddled in several countries including Vanuatu, Mexico, Australia, Ecuador, Grenada, Greenland, Antarctica, Chile and the Bahamas. He is past board member of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC and current board member of the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association.
And the whole amazing crew
Our staff and kayak guides are simply exceptional and match the culture and spirit of our organization. They all have an amazing passion for kayaking British Columbia and for the killer whales in the BC waters that make it such a great experience.
Terms like self-reliance, adaptability, responsibility, confidence, and sense of humour all come to mind when describing their qualities. Considering that guides must perform in the multiple roles of wilderness guide, gourmet chef, role model and educator, it’s no surprise that they come from a wide variety of professions and backgrounds to each bring a unique and valued perspective to the way our business runs.
Our guides are extremely skilled (and certified by the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC) in kayaking, backcountry travel, responsible environmental practices, and high levels of first aid and safety procedures, continually upgrading their training and striving to improve knowledge and skills. And all our staff are adventurers in their own right – traveling and wilderness tripping doesn’t pause for us when the season’s over! Personal and training trips around the British Columbia coast and around the world keep us on top of our game. At the end of the day, what we ensure is that every trip is as safe and memorable as can be, and that you will not be disappointed kayaking the British Columbia coast.
Alana Columna | Kayak Guide
Alana grew up in Hamiliton, Ontario, but took up a love for the natural environment when her family moved to Vancouver Island. Growing up in a Dominican household, she was introduced to adventure sports later in life, but she was hooked the moment she sent her first outdoor climb. Soon after, Alana graduated with a certificate in Adventure Tourism from Thompson Rivers University. Today, you can find Alana living out her days surfing in Tofino, climbing, hiking, kayaking, and teaching others how to snowboard.
Ali Funwin | Kayak Guide
Born and raised in British Columbia, Ali has a lifelong passion for adventure and outdoor exploring. She is a recent graduate of the North Island College Adventure Guiding program and lifelong student of the flora and fauna. When she's not on the water, Ali can be found in the woods foraging for mushrooms or in the kitchen workshopping new recipes. Ali looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge for everything our North Island coast has to offer.
Alex Wiebe | Kayak Guide
Alex is a tea-lover who thrives on sunshine, hugs, and a good adventure. Her love of the outdoors started at a young age while camping and climbing with her family. As a competitive swimmer and lifeguard, it is no surprise that she led canoe trips and summer camps while in university. While studying biology and international development, she combined her fascination with the natural world with her desire to promote wellbeing in the community around her while doing research at the Experimental Lakes Area and leading an outreach team on a medical ship in Papua New Guinea.
Aricel DesChamp | Kayak Guide
Aricel has spent the last 6 years traveling and adventuring - from spending a year living and working in New Zealand to working above the Arctic Circle in Norway. She is an outdoor enthusiast, steward of the sea, and someone who enjoys interacting with diverse groups of people! Aricel loves helping curate unforgettable memories for her guests. Her goal is to leave a positive impact on those who join her out on the water.
Audrey Brassel | Kayak Guide
Audrey was born and raised in the Southwest of France, where from an early age she escaped to the woods and spent hours looking at books about nature and animals. For many years she worked and travelled all over the world, until her love of nature finally took over, bringing her to the West coast of Canada. She now lives and plays on the East coast of Vancouver Island and spends winters organizing her explorations of BC by kayak. Always eager to learn more, she loves sharing her passion and curiosity for all the small and colourful creatures of the intertidal, camping on the coast, living simply and, above all, good food!
Beka Brown | General Manager + Team Support
Growing up on Quadra Island, Beka was lucky to have the quintessential Island childhood exploring the beaches and forests. After leaving to spend some years in the the mountains, she decided to return home so her children could experience the same island magic. Beka has 25 years of Tourism and Hospitality experience and loves being surrounded by this passionate team of people at Spirit of the West.
Beverly Marshall | Kayak Guide
Bev loves to share the experience of being in the wilderness with others. As a guide, she’s worked all over coastal BC, from Haida Gwaii to the Salish Sea. Whether it's slowing down to take in the scenery or waking up with a destination in mind, Bev brings infectious energy, humour, and care to each tour. In between adventures, she recharges her batteries by reading, practicing yoga and swimming at the lake.
Cait Woolner | Kayak Guide
Originally from Ontario, Cait traveled westward to the coast 5 years ago. The lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest lured her in, and she’s never looked back. You can often find her strolling through the woods, guide in hand, looking for new and familiar friends. In classrooms she studied brains and human biology, but more often now turns to the natural world as her teacher. The outdoors has always been a place of learning and growth for her, and as a guide
Cass Sica | Kayak Guide
Cass is a guide, outdoor educator, and teacher who loves to explore and play outside. He has a passion for ecology and helping people find their connection to the natural world. When he is not engaged with youth programming he can be found paddling, climbing and hiking across the coast.
Courtney den Elzen | Basecamp Operations
Courtney’s greatest joy is geeking out over the wonders of our West Coast seas and coastal rainforests—and sharing that magic with others. Originally from Toronto, with stints in Cleveland and Boston, she made the leap from a career in sustainable neighbourhood planning to dive headfirst into the wild environments she’s always loved. When she’s not guiding nature tours on sailboats and powerboats or hanging out with us at Spirit of the West, you’ll find Courtney swimming, paddling, and sailing on the ocean, reading a great book, going on bike adventures, or hauling home a fresh stack of books from the public library.
Daniel Nammour | Kayak Guide
Daniel started guiding on the Rio Grande on the border of Texas and Mexico, spent some time wrangling horses in Kananaskis country in Alberta, and worked the Colorado, San Juan and Green Rivers of Utah’s canyon country before he finally reached the BC coast. Here he has found more wilderness than he could explore in a lifetime. When not doing so, he enjoys growing good food and eating well cooked meals with good company, preferably by the water and under the stars.
Elizabeth Hodgins | Reservations & Guest Experience Specialist + Chef
Born and raised in small-town south eastern Ontario on a family-run farm, Elizabeth has always had a love for animals and rural life. Her enthusiasm to see the world and desire for new experiences has taken her on many adventures, including the path that led her to the beautiful coast she now calls home. With a passion for all things edible, Elizabeth has over a decade of experience in food and hospitality, including completing Niagara College's Pastry Arts program in 2015. When not singing in the kitchen, Liz loves to be amongst the flowers in her garden, hiking the trails, playing guitar, or exploring with friends.
Ethan Milne | Quadra Base Crew
Ethan has lived on the Island for the better part of the last decade. He is unable to stay away from what this place has to offer: from the flora, the fauna, and all the awesome people in between! He’s especially thrilled to be working on a team that is inspired to work in an area as diverse as this. Ethan feels blessed to have the opportunity to call this place home and to learn from others who have spent a great amount of time exploring and growing here.
Evelyn Underhill | Kayak Guide
Raised in the prairies, Evelyn moved to British Columbia 5 years ago to obtain a diploma in Adventure Studies and promptly decided to call the coast home. She believes life is best spent exploring beautiful places and sharing hearty food in good company. Because of this, working as a sea kayak guide felt like a match made in heaven for Evelyn! If she’s not in a kayak, you’ll probably find her scoping out the sunniest nap spots, poking through the woods for mushrooms, or skiing down powdery slopes.
Gareth Wasylynko | Kayak Guide
An adventurous and generally silly individual, Gareth's guiding experiences have taken him from Desolation Sound to Nova Scotia and then, back to BC waters with Spirit of the West. When on land, Gareth enjoys conversation, showcasing his unorthodox dance moves and exploring places on foot. Via kayak, he loves exploring islands big and small, communities and the wilderness, and strives to share this curiosity with others.
Gigi Howarth | Basecamp Operations + Kayak Guide
Gigi originally hails from Manchester, England, and has spent the last 7 years traveling through Europe, Asia, and Australia before moving to Canada in spring 2023. She is an avid hiker, kayaker, and snowboarder. She left her career to opt for seasonal work that aligns with her passion for the outdoors, with the last year in Canada spent kayaking all around Vancouver and in the colder months, snowboarding in Northern BC.
Gigi McLaren | Kayak Guide
Gigi was born and raised on Vancouver Island, and has a lifelong adoration of the great outdoors. She grew up spending her time exploring mountains, lakes, and oceans throughout coastal British Columbia. She completed Capilano University's Outdoor Recreation program and now splits her time between sea kayaking in the summer and snow sports in the winter. She is always thrilled to share her love and passion for nature with those around her.
Heather Buchanan | Reservations & Guest Experience Specialist
Heather is an outdoor adventure graduate from Algonquin College. Born and raised in Ontario, she spent her summers canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. Last winter she was a member of the Calabogie Peaks ski patrol team and developed a passion for skiing. Heather enjoys helping others and sharing her love of wild spaces. She is excited for her first season with Spirit of the West. When she is not in the office, she can be found hiking, caving, or kayaking.
Jared Rorvik | Basecamp Operations + Kayak Guide
Jared’s passion for the outdoors started early. Growing up on Vancouver Island he was shown the beauty of the west coast through family trips, climbing, kayaking, and camping. These experiences made him want to enrol in the West Coast Adventure College which has allowed him to work seasonally ever since. This program clearly confirmed being outdoors is where Jared thrives and has allowed him to spread his love for nature to many people.
Jenna Horembala | Kayak Guide
Born in North Van, Jenna was introduced to the backcountry and coastal life at a young age by her parents. Spending summers Sea Kayaking in the Southern Gulf Islands and doing Canoe trips planted a deep passion. She went to Thompson Rivers University for the Adventure Guide Diploma program. Currently, when not in a kayak you can find her ski touring or somewhere in the mountains.
Jon Badger | Kayak Guide
Born and raised on the West Coast, Jon has always felt most at home near the water. This love for the ocean only grew when attending Westcoast Adventure College in Sooke and starting his career in backcountry guiding. He has spent the last several years paddling the BC coast as a kayak guide and instructor, and his goal on every trip is to show guests the beauty and tranquility of this corner of the world.
Katie May | Food Team
Katie’s love of adventure and commitment to compassion and care for humanity have taken many forms throughout the years. She has nurtured relationships with locals to assist ethical mountain treks in Nepal, worked as a tree planter, a care aid & nurse. Connection to nature has always been a passion for Katie, and something that is very important to her to pass on the her two children through gardening and exploration of the beautiful place we are so lucky to live, play & work in We Wai Kai territory. She joins our team in a commitment to reconnect to herself and with excitement to work with others who prioritize that nature connection.
Kelli Ebbs | Chef
Kelli was raised on Vancouver Island and moved north to Haida Gwaii at the age of 20. Kelli's love and passion for growing, foraging, preparing, and sharing coastal foods developed over the years and has been woven throughout her 30 year professional and personal connection to the local food system wherever she lived. In Haida Gwaii, Kelli created an island-based nutrition program at K'aayxada Adventure Camp, which welcomes the island's youth for a variety of stewardship programs. She also built and operated her restaurant, The Trout House on North Beach, which nurtured, what she feels is, the vitally important connection between fresh, clean and delicious land and sea foods with our universal "table". In 2024, Kelli dove back into the sweet island life, this time on Salt Spring Island, after living for several years in Muskoka, Ontario where she managed a community-owned Food Co-operative, restaurant and catering service. Kelli is excited to be spending the summer on beautiful Swanson Island, and can't wait to meet and serve all of the guests who will be paddling through.
Kelly Blanchard | Kayak Guide
Kelly was born and raised in the Netherlands, where she completed a Master's in Education and worked as a teacher, school counsellor, and vice-principal until she immigrated to Canada in 2019. She now lives in the Comox Valley where she enjoys spending most of her free time outside hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing, gardening, sailing, kayaking, or swimming. After moving to Canada, Kelly obtained her Master’s in Counselling and runs a small private practice as a clinical counsellor, ecotherapist, and educator. She strongly believes that helping people (re)connect to the healing properties of the natural world improves well-being on a personal level and contributes to an overall more caring, connected world for all humans and living beings.
Kenna Koronko | Guest Relations & Digital Media Systems Lead
Growing up in the concrete jungle of Coquitlam BC, Kenna was raised to love city life. In 2010, her family decided to take a break from city living and bought a cabin in the Similkameen Valley where they now reside. This was where her sense of adventure developed into a passion for sharing the outdoors with people from all backgrounds. Upon her graduation from the Bachelor of Adventure Tourism Management program at Capilano University, she followed that passion straight to Spirit of the West. When out of the office, Kenna can be found with a camera in her hand, her head in a book, or planning her next big adventure.
Kevin McRae | Kayak Guide
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Kevin is an overnight guide and instructor who has spent his life growing alongside the temperate rainforests in his backyard and the Pacific Ocean in his front yard. Intent on keeping these colossal environments at the heart of everything he pursues, Kevin has chosen a path that allows him to continue growing with his homeland while having the privilege of sparking that same inspiration and gratitude in others. When he is not out on an adventure he can be found with his guitar in one hand and a good book in the other!
Makinsey Shmanka | Kayak Guide
Mak began guiding on Lake Superior after graduating from the Travel Tourism and Eco Adventure program at Confederation College in her home town of Thunder Bay, Ontario. After two seasons on fresh water she found a new home on the west coast and has been with the Spirit of the West team since 2019. She is passionate about enjoying time on the water and making guests feel safe in dynamic environments.
Malcolm Mcqueen | Kayak Guide
Over the past four years Malcolm has been traveling and working all over the southern coast of British Columbia. From the mid-sized peaks to the tiniest of creeks, he’s passionate about everything outdoors!
Martin Blanchard | Kayak Guide + Operations Manager
Marty was born and raised in New Brunswick where he fell in love with the ocean at a very young age. While spending 7 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Vehicle Technician in Ontario, he fell in love with whitewater kayaking on the mighty Ottawa river. He now lives on Vancouver Island where he completed his Adventure Guiding Certificate at North Island College. Martin can be found exploring his new love for mountains in his island backyard, running some whitewater rivers or kayak surfing the waves in Tofino.
Matthew Whitehorn | Boat Captain
From Ontario, Matthew moved to British Columbia 7 years ago, chasing his dream to live aboard a sailboat and work as a BC Mariner. Matthew lives for exploring the ocean: from sailing an electric ketch from Nanaimo to Mexico just to prove a point, to working on tugboats in the worst of sea states, to whale watching and boat tourism. Matthew strives to explore every inch of coastline that he can and has a passion for marine wildlife and providing amazing experiences on the water. Matthew has a particular soft spot for the Broughtons.
Michael Herman | Kayak Guide
Michael is most comfortable living in a tent and exploring wild spaces for the first time. As a young boy, he gladly traded his comfortable bed each summer to sleep under the stars in his backyard while dreaming of living the life of an explorer. Following his love of nature, Michael worked in fish and wildlife management for the Ontario government and taught outdoor education for the Toronto district school board for many years. But it was his introduction to experiential education and wilderness therapy that led him passionately into teaching personal growth and development to teenagers through guided canoe and sea kayak trips with programs such as, Project D.A.R.E. (a wilderness therapy program for young offenders), Outward Bound Wilderness School and Trails Youth Initiatives. Michael has sea kayaked in the Great Lakes, Great Slave Lake, Nova Scotia, South Carolina and Georgia, and is ecstatic to be paddling the Pacific west coast this summer. Michael is a kid at heart and loves games of all sorts, telling bad jokes and paddling in big waves.
Morgan Edison | Kayak Guide
Morgan grew up on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley and has been lucky enough to always have had the mountains and the ocean in her backyard. However, Morgan’s love for the ocean really came to life when she moved to the remote archipelago of Haida Gwaii, where she worked as a social worker and began exploring remote beaches via kayak. Eventually, Morgan decided to turn this passion for adventure into her next career as she made the leap and traded in her profession for travel and adventure and began guiding overseas in New Zealand. Today, you can find her tramping in the mountains, diving, surfing or paddling across the coast and beyond!
Rebecca Merner | Kayak Guide
Rebecca was raised a West Coast gal on Vancouver Island but she is a nomad at heart. Through sailing and kayaking she fostered her love for the ocean. Schooled at the West Coast Adventure College in Sooke, BC, Rebecca loves to share the wonders of the beautiful coast she calls home.
Robin Perron | Kayak Guide
Robin was raised in Blanc-Sablon; the most eastern town in the province of Quebec. Growing up at the very end of the St. Lawrence Gulf, Robin was always very interested in marine biology and the diversity of his environment. He was introduced to kayak camping and expeditions by his family when he was a child, but he really fell in love with it when he completed an Adventure Tourism program in Gaspesie, Quebec. Since then, Robin has been guiding in Quebec, paddling with beluga whales, completing a number of solo expeditions, and travelling as much as possible to paddle. Over the years, Robin has only fallen deeper in love with the ocean and the sport of sea kayaking.
Robyn Forsyth | Reservations Team, Social Media + Kayak Guide
Robyn was born and raised on BC's stunning southwest coast. With a family background full of global travel and outdoor pursuits, she has always felt drawn toward wild natural spaces and expanding her horizons. After coming home from living abroad in Australia and New Zealand, she discovered the Outdoor Recreation Management program at Capilano University and felt the instinctive next step was to seek out a career in the outdoor and adventure tourism industry. One of the greatest parts about guiding for her is the chance to allow others to create meaningful and lasting connections to the landscapes we are privileged to recreate in. In the summers, Robyn can be found kayaking, hiking, and backpacking while her winters are filled with snowboarding, splitboarding, camping, and the occasional icy dip.
Rosie Thorson | Kayak Guide
Rosie grew up in Cochrane, Alberta and started travelling right after graduating highschool. After working a tree planter and tail guiding for a heliski company, she completed her diploma in Adventure Studies at Thompson Rivers University. She loves anything and everything to do with the outdoors, specifically snowboarding, surfing and multi-day sea kayaking trips. She is also very passionate about yoga and mindfulness, and has completed her teacher training. Being able to share the joy, knowledge and feelings of connectedness through her passion for the ocean and natural environment is what makes her “spark”.
Sierra Legroulx | Kayak Guide
Sierra grew up on the coast of BC with the mountains and sea in her backyard. She has a deep love for the wilderness and sharing it with others. Sierra pursued an education in science and teaching. While she loves to teach, she found a greater passion in teaching beyond the four walls of the standard classroom and expanded her practice to guide amongst the beauty of the outdoors. When Sierra isn’t in her kayak, you can find her exploring more of the Earth’s goodness via surfing, climbing, and hiking.
Sun Smith | Garden
Sun has worked in the catering and hospitality industry for over 20 years, including her own boutique B&B which garnered her several hospitality awards including the coveted Visit Britain Rose award for service excellence. After many years living on the Caribbean island of Montserrat and then in the UK, Sun's love of the West Coast has brought her back to her roots on Quadra Island. She shares our passion for great food with an emphasis on healthy, local and sustainable farm to table produce. She can often be found up to her elbows in compost in her organic garden or out foraging for wild edibles in the beautiful forests of Quadra.
Teesh Hargreaves | Kayak Guide
Teesh has been around the ocean her entire life, growing up in the Whitsundays of Queensland, Australia, and then living on Australia's second-largest sand island for three years before calling Canada home. Before becoming a graduate of North Island College's Adventure Guiding program, Teesh embraced a nomadic lifestyle, taking on seasonal roles at various ski resorts, a remote lodge in the NWT wilderness, a fishing lodge on Haida Gwaii, and as a whitewater raft guide for two seasons. In her spare time, you'll often find her behind the lens of her camera, hunting rocks or creating art. She is driven by her deep love for nature, thirst for adventure and genuine desire to connect with people.
Wade Bilton | Kayak Guide
Wade was born and raised south of the equator in Brisbane Australia. Fuelled by new adventures, she moved to Canada in 2018 to explore the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Here she fell in love with the diverse BC landscape from snow-covered peaks to coastal inlets. She graduated from the Adventure Tourism and Business Operations course at College of the Rockies in Golden, BC and moved to the coast to pursue her guiding aspirations. She is passionate about connecting others with nature and creating long lasting memories.
