WILD BEAR LODGE
Our Mission
The Wilderness Tourism Association of British Columbia (WTA) is non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure a sustainable future for BC’s wilderness tourism industry through leadership, advocacy, stewardship, education and marketing support. We believe that wilderness tourism is a viable and sustainable economic enterprise, and that BC’s wilderness tourism community must have a strong voice in determining how the lands and waters upon which they depend are planned and developed. The WTA is dedicated to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and we are committed to fostering responsible tourism in our province.
Our members represent a wide range of iconic, world-class wilderness tourism experiences across BC — from multi-day expeditions and wildlife tours to remote ranches and luxury resorts. The WTA community is a powerful network of eco-tourism leaders, each with a unique story and connection to the land.
FREE REIN GUEST RANCH
Our History
1980s • The Wilderness Tourism Association of BC grew out of a need for an organization focused on land use issues faced by nature-based tourism operators. Beginning with roots in what was once the Wilderness Tourism Council, a group representing approximately 850 nature-based businesses during the 1980s, the organization eventually blossomed into the Council for Tourism Associations (COTA) in 1993.
1999 • After a Tourism Land Use Symposium in Vancouver, industry stakeholders aspired to provide wilderness-based tourism operators with a stronger voice in dealing with issues specific to their sector of the industry (particularly forestry and land tenure challenges). Alongside support and cooperation from COTA, the Wilderness Tourism Association evolved.
Our Work
Advocacy • We consult with government and non-government organizations, as well as other industry sectors to address prevalent issues and stay informed on policies, trends and research. The WTA helps wilderness tourism operators with land tenure and forestry, other land use conflicts, marine use planning, park accessibility, taxation, and the preservation of fish, wildlife and habitats.
Marketing • The WTA works to promote wilderness-based tourism experiences across BC to domestic and international travellers. Our members are featured through our website and blog, newsletters, social channels, and paid ad campaigns.
To learn more about our values and operational structure, read the WTA’s Code of Conduct , Constitution and Bylaws , and our Strategic Plan.
KNIGHT INLET LODGE
Our Values
In the spirit of stewardship, we’re calling on all travellers to take the #ExploreWildBC Pledge to adopt practices that will ensure a sustainable and regenerative future for the people, places and wildlife that make BC unique.
KINGFISHER WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
Meet the Board of Directors
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![Headshot of Katherine MacRae at Commercial Bear Viewing Association]()
Katherine MacRae
President (She/Her)
Katherine has over 30 years of experience in the tourism industry and a Master of Arts in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University. Katherine is a well-known advocate for wildlife in BC and was instrumental in closing the grizzly bear hunt in December 2017. She works with government officials and tourism industry members to ensure a viable and regenerative tourism industry. Katherine is also the Executive Director for the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC.
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![Headshot of Breanne Quesnel from Spirit of the West Adventures]()
Breanne Quesnel
Past President President (She/Her)
Breanne has been in the tourism sector for 25+ years, as a whitewater canoe guide, sea kayak guide, and as owner of Spirit of the West Adventures — a kayak touring company. She has been involved in land & marine use planning, forestry issues, land tenure & security, indigenous relations, industry advocacy, marketing and logistics. Breanne has been a Board Member since 2008. She holds an Honour Bachelors of Outdoor Recreation Parks and Tourism, a Bachelor of Arts Geography and a Bachelor of Education.
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![Headshot of Nik Coutinho from Prince of Whales]()
Nik Coutinho
Vice President (He/Him)
Nik is a professional guide and wildlife photographer based in Victoria, BC. Currently, he works in Marketing, Sales, and as Systems Manager and Guide for Prince of Whales, a whale watching and marine tour company. Nik has been instrumental in the WTA as Board Member, Secretary, and Marketing Advisor. Some of his favourite moments have been viewing bears in the forest and watching whales on the water, and he loves introducing people to these powerful experiences.
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![Headshot of Ross Campbell from Mothership Adventures]()
Ross Campbell
WTA Treasurer (He/Him)
Ross has extensive experience traveling and guiding guests through BC’s waters and airspace. He spent 17 years as a helicopter pilot before purchasing Mothership Adventures. Ross now captains the MV COLUMBIA III, a luxury charter yacht offering eco adventures specializing in remote mothership kayaking. Mothership Adventures is part of the Small Ship Tour Operators Association (SSTOA) and Ross has been an integral member of the 2020 and 2021 BC Marine Debris Removal Initiative.
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![Headshot of Brianna Sloan from Nimmo Bay Resort]()
Brianna Sloan
(She/Her)
Brianna has been working in the tourism industry for well over a decade, holding various hospitality positions before shifting to management and marketing related roles. She currently represents Nimmo Bay Resort, a world-renowned luxury wilderness retreat, as Marketing Manager. She brings forth a diverse experience to the industry with a combination of hands-on experience and education from Thompson Rivers University, the University of Victoria, and Somerville Academy.
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![Headshot of Ross Tennant of Northwest Explorations]()
Ross Tennant
(He/Him)
Ross is an owner and partner in NW Yacht Group, a full service adventure yacht company operating in the US (NW Explorations) and Canada (Cooper Boating). Ross was raised in BC where he and his family spent time exploring the coast on a small sailboat and now have the opportunity to introduce guests from around the world to this spectacular area. Through his work, the NW Yacht Group his company helps deliver once in a lifetime trips from Seattle all the way to Alaska on 36’ – 70’ boats.
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![Headshot of Jamie Boulding from Strathcona Park Lodge]()
Jamie Boulding
(He/Him)
Jamie has a lifetime of experience in the tourism industry and is a respected outdoor educator and paddler. At the age of nine, he began working for his family’s business, Strathcona Park Lodge, a wilderness lodge and outdoor education center. Jamie taught canoeing at age 15, lead groups by age 17, and moved to managing the Lodge in 1993. Alongside his wife, Christine, Jamie is active in steering the vision and values of the Lodge, which revolve around a minimal footprint with a maximum impact for guests and staff.
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![Headshot of Landon Kimmel of Western Educational Adventures]()
Landon Kimmel
(He/Him)
Landon has been the the owner and operator of Western Educational Adventures since 2017. He is an avid skier, snowshoer, hiker, biker and paddler. Landon has spent lots of time skiing in the Rockies and Selkirk Range and he is currently the Head Coach for the Nancy Green Ski Program at Mount Washington. He feels incredibly lucky to have also guided and instructed in many remote BC corners like Haida Gwaii and the Broughtons. Landon considers himself still ‘a big kid at heart’ who enjoys passing on his outdoor skills to others.
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![Headshot of Erin Boyle from Bluewater Adventures]()
Erin Boyle
Secretary (She/Her)
Erin has a passion for travel, a love for the outdoors, and a fondness for BC’s west coast. In 2009, she began working in with Bluewater Adventures, a multi-day eco-tour operator providing wildlife and cultural experiences aboard sailing yachts from coastal British Columbia to Southeast Alaska. Erin’s career in hospitality paired with her degree in Marketing allow her to provide travellers with quintessential coastal experiences as Bluewater’s Sales and Marketing Manager.
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![Headshot of Marg Leehane of Great Bear Lodge]()
Marg Leehane
(She/Her)
Marg has always had a deep love for nature and travel. She completed a Masters in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University, and now owns and operates one of BC’s most well-known bear viewing lodges, Great Bear Lodge, located in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. Marg is a member of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association (CBVA), a non-profit organization that supports sustainable bear viewing and aids in the protection of wild bears and their ecosystems.
Meet Our ED
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Jeneen Sutherland
WTA Executive Director (She/Her)
Jeneen’s role as Executive Director of the WTA merges her two passions of ‘tourism’ and ‘sustainable community development.’ She is a travel industry veteran, having worked in many different areas of tourism from operations and budgeting to marketing and itinerary planning. Prior to the WTA, she was Executive Director of the Magnificent 7 Luxury Wilderness Lodges of Canada. Jeneen has experience lobbying for land use initiatives and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through her work in fostering active transportation in North Vancouver.
Interested in working for one of our members?
Email your resume and cover letter to ed@wilderness-tourism.bc.ca