
Crew
Our fun-loving and hardworking crew are very capable people. They could do anything they want to in life and succeed. They have chosen to be on the coast they love, and chosen a principled life as part of a conservation-based economy. They are highly educated, trained and experienced.
-
Callyn Holder
-
Candace Newman
-
Dan Baker
Mate.
Dan joined the Maple Leaf Adventures team in 2015 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree. This is not your average BSc though. Dan’s consisted of a Major in Geography, a concentration in Earth Systems, a Minor in Human Dimensions of Climate Change, and highlighted field studies in Whale Ecology from the University of Victoria. Wow! What attracted Dan to work at Maple Leaf Adventures is our commitment to supporting a sustainable tourism industry on the BC coast. He believes that eco-tourism is an effective way to build an appreciation of coastal ecosystems and to support conservation values, and we agree. Dan has circumnavigated Vancouver Island and sailed through South-east Alaska. His many memories come from working with youth and showing them the wonders of nature from a sailboat. Dan says, “The most rewarding memories are watching young people connect with their new environment and new community. For some, it is their first trip without their parents or their first time on the ocean. Being in such a new situation kids can easily shed the masks they wear in their normal lives”. Dan believes that this is a similar experience for adults — that being a part of something like this allows for that life changing moment when someone sees the beauty of the pristine wilderness for the first time. When not working with us, Dan is climbing rocks or competing in triathlons.
BSc, Geography Concentration in Earth Systems. Minor in Human Dimensions of Climate Change, University of Victoria Marine Basic First Aid Marine Emergency Duties – A1, A2 Standard First Aid & CPR Small Vessel Operators Proficiency
-
Geoff Dunstan
-
Erik Lindholm
-
Ian Mactavish
Bosun and Mate. A three-dimensional thinker, Ian is a mate on Cascadia and formerly worked in architecture, with a degree in Urban Studies. His love of travel and the sea pulled him toward the mariner’s life several years after he graduated from Columbia University, and he looks forward to exploring the BC and Alaska coast, one of the world’s most renowned marine environments, with you. Ian crew up sailing and cruising small boats on the Chesapeake Bay, and more recently crewed on racing and cruising sailing yachts in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. He completed more than 20 maxi class regattas (on sailboats larger than 70 feet), and has crossed the Atlantic ocean as crew eight times. He also worked for a year at a shipyard in northern Finland — those skills, and his experience as both deck crew and engineer, come in handy on Maple Leaf Adventures’ refit of its third ship, Cascadia. Given his personable demeanour, it may come as no surprise that Ian loves to meet and spend time with interesting, engaged people. He also loves culinary adventures and — to complement his Philly cheesesteak-loving roots — he brews a mean kombucha.
-
Jeff Reynolds
Deckhand and Naturalist. Decades ago, a jellyfish stung Jeff and changed the course of his life. He was a teenager, at summer camp in Halifax, Canada. “I realized I needed to learn more about the underwater world that caused me such pain,” he says. We’re not sure how this knowledge informed his next jellyfish encounters, but he’s now a biologist with a degree focused on marine biology. His impressive experience includes classifying the biodiversity of glass sponge gardens using ROV footage, with world expert Dr. Vera Tunnicliffe, and helping to biologically classify Alaska’s entire shoreline. Studying the ocean has also lead to working on the ocean since 2007 as a sailboat captain, and yacht crew member and keeper. An avid sailing racer, Jeff has successfully accomplished the Victoria-Maui Race in under 15 days and continues to race in and around Victoria when not working for Maple Leaf Adventures. He’s also a kayaker, surfer, scuba diver and adventure traveler. To top off these skills, Jeff is one of our brilliant photographers at Maple Leaf Adventures. You can follow him on Instagram to keep up with his stunning images and escapades. Jeff’s website is jkreyphoto.com if you would like to get a hold of him regarding his photography.
Bachelors Degree in Biology – University of Victoria Small Vessel Operators Proficiency Radio Operators Proficiency- Maritime Commercial Marine Fist Aid Marine Emergency Duties A1 Marine Emergency Duties A2 Marine Emergency Duties A3 Food Safe Bear Aware Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Safety at Sea via the BC Sailing Association
-
Kate Holmes
Deckhand. A coastal explorer who grew up on Quadra Island, Kate was an oceanography field technician and a boat operator for the renowned Hakai Institute, a research facility in the Great Bear Rainforest, before joining Maple Leaf Adventures. Kate has a degree in Geography with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Victoria. Her interest in learning more about the beautiful and diverse coast of BC and Alaska led her to Maple Leaf and its knowledgeable and well-connected crew. In her spare time, Kate enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, horseback riding and cycling. She’s also a sailor and recently had the amazing experience of completing the Van Isle 360 — a race that circumnavigates Vancouver Island each year.
BA, Geography and Anthropology, University of Victoria SVOP ROCM MEDA2 Marine Basic First Aid Food Safe WHMIS
-
Lance MacPherson
-
Lily Campbell
Deckhand and Naturalist. To say Lily is invested in the future of BC’s coast would be a massive understatement. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology and is currently working on finishing her Masters at the University of Victoria. She works as a Teaching Assistant for Marine Ecology and Coastal Community Ecology at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and has been involved as a Marine Educator and Coordinator with research projects covering Southern Resident Killer Whales, Pacific Salmon, Rockfish, wildlife rehabilitation, and intertidal research. Lily grew up exploring Vancouver Island, and has spent countless hours kayaking, sailing and exploring while conducting marine biology fieldwork. She’s particularly passionate about the role of Pacific Salmon on the BC coast and loves to share her passion with others. As a wildlife photographer, it is one of Lily’s life goals to one day publish a book of salmon photography. When she’s not chasing salmon upriver, you might find Lily kayaking, skiing or knitting.
-
Liz Calhoun
-
Philip Stone
Mate and Photography Instructor. Photography has been a passion and a part of Phil’s life from childhood. What started as a hobby gradually grew to become a key part of his adventures and business. Phil’s photographs appeared in hundreds of magazines and newspapers including: Climbing, Snowboard Canada, Rock & Ice, Explore, National Geographic Traveler, Backcountry, Couloir, The Province, Globe and Mail along with many regional publications. Combining a love of writing with photography Phil has written and published a series of guidebooks, an adventure sports magazine, and community newspaper. Multi-talented, Phil can also be found behind the wheel of Swell, navigating the coastal waters as a Mate.
-
Polly Cox
-
Sarah Powell
Mate. Sarah was born in Victoria and grew up boating and fishing along the Pacific Coast. Every summer was spent cruising the ocean in her family’s boat. As an adult, Sarah had a difficult time giving up her summer jobs on the water, despite completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology. She decided to join the Canadian Coast Guard full time and pursue a career as a mariner, where she sailed every corner of the coast, from Southern Vancouver Island to the Canadian Arctic. Sarah has spent over a decade in the whale watching business, sharing her excitement and passion for the marine environment she calls her home. She loves showing people things they’ve never seen before. “Unexpected encounters are always the highlight of exploring”, Sarah says. From fishing and diving to hiking and skiing, Sarah can usually be found outdoors exploring with her dog Perez.
-
Simon Ager
Deckhand. Though he was born in landlocked Alberta, Canada, Simon has dedicated his life and career to being on the water. With over 1,500 days at sea on global marine conservation campaigns, he has a keenly developed sense of the interconnectedness of BC’s coastal environment. Deeply moved by his experiences studying Pacific salmon populations, Simon is committed to educating and protecting the stunning, yet fragile ecosystem he calls his home. At sea, Simon has a wide range of experiences that allow him to play many roles. Whether he is wearing the hat of a Mate, Able Seaman, Photographer or Ships Manager, he always looks forward to meeting like-minded people who are excited about experiencing the natural beauty of the BC coast. Simon loves a good laugh, Van Gogh, and any flora that will attract the bees! He hopes to one day become a National Geographic Photographer.
-
Terese Ayre
Deckhand. Terese otherwise known as “Tree” to the Maple Leaf Adventures family, is both a tall ship sailor and a graphic designer. Her visual and three dimensional skills make Terese a valued member of the maintenance team every time there is sanding, varnishing, painting and detail work to be done on the ships.
After a career in Vancouver in graphic design, she changed her life and signed up as a trainee on the tall ship Picton Castle, out of Nova Scotia Canada. On this 179-foot barque, she sailed around the world, learning seamanship and sailing skills and exploring new continents. Since her return to Canada, Tree has crewed aboard the schooner Maple Leaf and more recently aboard the tugboat Swell. She lives in Victoria and divides her time between graphic design and crewing with Maple Leaf Adventures. In addition to deck-handing and ship maintenance at Maple Leaf, Terese has designed t-shirts and other materials, and helped in the office in many ways. Terese also dedicates time to volunteering with the Maritime Museum of BC.
Small Vessel Operators Proficiency Radio Operator Card – Maritime Commercial Marine First Aid Marine Emergency Duties A2 Food Safe
-
Zahailey Golden