Backroads Leader Profiles

I graduated in 2005 from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Physical Education with a major of Socio-Cultural Aspects of Sport. Since then, I have worked as a freelance writer, fitness consultant, cycle instructor, and in a marketing and community relations department. In the interim my other hobbies like skiing, triathlon, yoga and holistic healing were keeping me busy journeying towards my goals and dreams. A woman I worked with in my marketing job worked for Backroads and raved about the company and the fabulous experience it provided. I applied online and thought to myself, "Now THIS is my dream job."

I left my Marketing Job early last spring. While I was somewhere in between Riga and Warsaw I got an email from Backroads asking me to come to an interview. I flew home in enough time to go to the interview, fall completely in love with the company and move to Canmore to begin my training.

Since then, I have been extremely fortunate to be part of the Backroads family. I wake up in the mornings thrilled that my job involves the great loves of my life.

In my off time I study primates with my wife. I have spent 2 years in Belize conducting research on howler and spider monkeys and I currently live in Madagascar studying lemurs. I have worked in many of the best places around the world, including the Canadian Rockies, P.E.I, Central America, and Africa. Backroads has allowed me to indulge my need for travel and adventure in far off places while still being able to come home and live a "normal life" as a University student and now as a researcher.

In 1997—still in the Rockies—I was introduced to the Trip Leader position by a friend who was leading trips for Backroads. Through her encouragement and description of the job I knew it was something that I would love to do. After my first season leading trips in Canada, I saw my 'Euro' potential due to my French abilities. The following year I headed to France in the spring, returned home for the summer to lead in the Rockies, and then returned to France to lead trips in the fall.

Even with the longer trip leading schedule in Europe I was still able to maintain my winter job doing ski patrol, which worked great for me. In my third year, new opportunities at Backroads began to arise for me, from being a Trip Specialist to participating in the Follow The Leader program.

After my experience in the Rockies, I decided that I wanted to make Backroads more than just a summer job. Speaking Spanish increased the chances of getting work throughout the winter, so I booked a flight to Ecuador to study Spanish. I ended up studying, traveling, and spending four months as a volunteer in the Galapagos Islands, working with the National Parks Services and the Charles Darwin Station. The next winter I got a trip–leading schedule in Costa Rica. Since then I’ve been able to make my job at Backroads a career, and not just a part–time gig. I studied Italian in Venice, which gave me the opportunity to work in Italy. I’ve also led and designed trips in Nova Scotia, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bhutan, South Africa, Botswana, Vietnam, Tibet and China.

Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the "pura vida" lifestyle in Costa Rica. I bought a house outside of San Jose and after many years of living out of a suitcase, Costa Rica is now my home. It is the perfect combination of having a stable life in one region for part of the year, while still being able to travel, lead trips and explore new places. I took on the role of Regional Expert in Costa Rica, and I now take care of our field operations, monitor trip quality in the region, foster relationships with our subcontractors, design new trips and help mentor and train new leaders.

Although I didn’t go into conventional teaching, I believe that the world is my classroom now, and everyday is a new lesson. I guess in the end, you could say I got my B.Happy with Honours!

Before Backroads, I had spent a number of years working in a corporate environment, with a couple of weeks off a year. What drew me to Backroads and has brought me back year after year is the flexibility of the work life, the opportunity to work independently, and the fun of spending time in favorite places like Italy. Don't get me wrong ... there is work to be done and some days are long and hard BUT there are equally many days where I pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.

And, not to be forgotten, as a leader, I get to pass my days riding a bike down country roads or hiking quiet pathways through the woods, enjoying a glass of wine or a personal favorite, cup of gelato (Italian ice cream) ... how do you like my "office" so far? Being a Backroads leader is not for everyone but I thrive because I love being outdoors, I enjoy the challenge of making someone's vacation their dream and I have fun working with a group of people and a company who support, encourage and celebrate this life. What we live, we love!