Meet the guides

 

Brett's paddling experience started on Adams Lake in the interior of British Columbia . His passion grew for paddling and lead him to Vancouver Island where he now guides during the summer in waters off the West coast and on the inside passage. Along with his Level 2 with the SKGABC, Brett also is a swift water rescue technician and a flat-water canoe instructor. During the winter months Brett lives outside of Revelstoke where he tail guides for Great Northern Snow-cat Skiing. If I could speak only a few things, here they are; Try not to sit still; change things up if it doesn't feel right—change is good. Keep looking at the bright side, because most situations have one. And finally: enjoy the moment you are in, wherever it may be and whatever it may hold.

 

Mich Johnson From bike touring in Alaska to hiking in the Andes, Michelle has a passion for the outdoor lifestyle. Kayaking on the ocean is just all part of the adventure. Hailing originally from the Kootenays in the BC interior, Michelle grew up lake padding early on. In the last 5 years, since she discovered ocean paddling and kayaking, she has been hooked. She is a Certified Level One Kayak Guide with SKGABC, and looks forward to playing on the water with you. Hey and after a hard day of paddling you might ask her to help you work out the tight knots, cause she is also a Certified Massage Practitioner.

 

Sonia Nicholl This is my forth year working as a sea kayak guide and my first year working with Quadra Island Kayaks and I love it!  Quadra is an awesome place to guide tours! When I'm not on the water I'm usually rock climbing at the crags, longboarding around Campbell River, or snowboarding up at Mount Cain in the wintertime. I hope to see you on the water sometime soon, soaking up the sun and hanging with the seals! Sonia.

 

Neil Maffin came to Quadra Island from New York City 14 years ago as part of the cast of a Hollywood movie and during a break in the summer's shooting schedule rented his first kayak and struck out solo for a week in the wilds of the Discovery Islands. The pristine magnificence of these waters and islands changed his life ( as well as meeting his future wife Noelle ) and Quadra has been his home ever since. Ever the adventurer, Neil started guiding for Quadra Island Kayaks in 2002, spends part of each year homesteading on remote and wild Nootka Island, and continues to dabble in acting, having performed on Broadway and guest-starring on numerous TV shows. His biggest adventure yet is now getting started as he and Noelle just became the very blown away parents of two beautiful babies, the twins Sylvan and Madrona.

 

Emma Cote Emma grew up in Northern Ontario and spent much of her youth learning about the outdoors through Girl Guides of Canada and through personal canoe trips with her family. Emma then started spending her summers working for a white water rafting and kayaking company in Hearst, Ontario and thus her ever increasingly co-dependent relationship with the outdoors was born, but all throughout her Journalism Diploma, English degree and her stint guiding on Lake Superior, the ocean beckoned. It wasn’t until the summer of 2011 that Emma finally made her way to the West coast, and after getting a taste of her first fresh oyster aboard the “Whole Lotta Rosie” (Troy’s Oyster Farming vessel) she was hooked. Now Emma is ecstatic to call Quadra home and to join the team here at QIK.

 

Christine Walsh Originally an east coaster (often heard saying "Stay where your at and I'll come where you're to), made her way west three years ago. She began her paddling adventures in New Zealand inspiring her to continue education in Adventure Tourism in Newfoundland. After receiving her diploma out east the wild west called and she found her way to Quadra Island. Christine routinely has the "love giggles" and thoroughly enjoys the colourful characters that cross her path. Ask Christine about inter-tidal zones and marine biology and you will be surely entertained and delighted.

 

Jon MacRae grew up on both coasts, spending time in Nova Scotia and the B.C coast.  He recently joined the crew here at QIK after completing his Outdoor Recreation and Tourism diplomas in Australia.  He specialized in sea kayaking and is thrilled to utilize his skills here on Quadra Island.  If you get Jon out on the water ask him about his encounter with a Great White Shark, or how he conquered China.