Backroads

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 this breath-taking classroom, I worked with a team of classmates and phenomenal faculty, perfecting mountaineering skills and survival techniques. I learned my most profound lessons in personal resourcefulness on a cold Canadian night alone in the woods with only the clothes on my back, a tin of sardines and a journal. Upon graduation, I took a job as a flight attendant with an airline. Waking in different time zones each day (albeit, nestled in a fluffy down comforter), finding space for each passenger s kitchen sink in the overhead compartment and existing on airplane food alone tested a whole new set of survival skills. Having attempted survival as both aircrew and mountaineer, I would have to recommend you try the mountain option! The airline job, however, allowed me to indulge my love of travel (and of tiny sized servings of pre-packaged pretzels).

When a friend politely told me that I would be (and I quote), "a complete moron not to be a Backroads leader," I saw the pieces coming together. Outdoor adventure combined with travel to new and exciting destinations! It sounded like a perfect fit. I hopped on a flight to San Francisco (there ARE advantages to being flight crew...) and dove right in. A week into my training, I found myself biking along with (or rather panting to keep up with) company owner Tom Hale. As he turned to me, addressed me by name and asked me about my hometown, it hit me; this is a company that really cares about the people who work "out there". Happy trails and I hope to see you all "out there"!

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.

I had been involved professionally in the adventure travel industry for about five years, moving around from company to company gaining experience to compliment my Bachelor s Degree in Eco-Tourism.

It only took five minutes on the Backroads website for me to realize I knew exactly where I wanted to be. Through the interview process I found this company was particularly professional, emphasized flexibility and a strong personality. After I was hired, it became quite obvious that Backroads was very different from any other travel company that I had been involved with. I continue to be amazed by how many resources, and opportunities are available to Trip Leaders. Backroads has given me the rare opportunity for job stability in the travel industry. I have found working with this company to be more of a lifestyle choice than mere employment - it has given me the opportunity to work with some incredibly diverse and driven people. Every trip I lead allows me to individually connect and bring together many different people from a variety of backgrounds.

Personal fulfillment and enjoyment is very important to me in the workplace. I now balance my time between leading trips, and working in our Canmore office in Logistics and Transportation. When recommending this job (or lifestyle) to others I have been known to recycle the phrase "Dream Job".

Working here has brought a whole new "warp speed" dimension to the expression "time flies when you're having fun"! Sometimes I wish I had found this job a lot sooner, but having been in other companies just makes me appreciate what a true gem Backroads really is.

Never have I experienced a place that offers such support in my job, a place that promotes open and honest communication, a place that listens to your thoughts and ideas (and will even implement them!), a place that is continually changing and evolving, a place to call home. Not only do you get to work with unique individuals, but you also get to travel with enthusiastic, experienced, educated and accomplished guests. It doesn t matter if you lead the same trip 10 times, it will never be the same twice because of the different group dynamics that those individuals bring, what you end up learning from them and because of all the new things that you discover every time you go through an area. If you enjoy discovering this great world of ours in an active and unique fashion, I look forward to sipping a cup of "grand crème" (awesome French coffee) with you, staring at the majestic Alps, wondering if this is all real?

It was this very same year that I met someone who would open the doors to the world of Backroads. I was overwhelmed by the job description but I was determined to start another chapter in life. The job appeared to be so diverse and challenging. I was thrilled to find out that my path in life would take me down the road to be a Trip Leader. My life s journey has been a collection of tremendous souls and magical experiences. I help facilitate the vacation of a life time. I reflect on these experiences and realize that this job exceeds anything that I have ever done. It is a heartfelt moment at the end of a week when a guest has the time of their life.

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!