About Us

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel with my family. We went on a few different vacations and a large majority of them still hold a vivid imprint in my memory. All of the trips varied in many different ways and although I didn’t realize it at the time, it was an amazing opportunity to see and experience different countries and cultures at such a young age...

As I grew older I found myself working more and travelling less. Working was my number one priority for many years and I was saving for something, but I had no idea what. I got quite wrapped uin working, paying the bills and spending the rest on clothes, accessories and luxuries I didn’t really need. But that was the way I perceived what was the norm, it was what I thought everyone my age did, worked for the weekend. You work, you spend, and you save, but the saving part always is the last priority on the list. I wanted to get out of this routine I had fallen into, I began slowing down the spending and saving for a trip. I didn’t know where I wanted to go and I definitely had no idea it would turn my life into this.

After I had decided on a location, I continued to save as much money as possible and before I knew it was time to buy my plane ticket. Since nobody would join me on my adventure, I took a shot in the dark and chose Australia. I would arrange a working Visa so if I ran out of money I could always fall back on that, and as most people have learned the hard way, this is all to common as a young traveller. I was about to pack uand head to a country that has the same jobs, luxuries, culture and opportunities as at home.

It came down to the final week and I was planning to purchase my ticket the following day. Luckily I was fortunate enough to have had a conversation with a good friend of mine who had been travelling throughout Thailand for the last 6 months. He saved and planned as I did but he wasn’t searching for the same old backpacker highway that exists in Australia and Europe, he was searching for a true adventure. We probably talked that evening for over 3 hours on MSN Messenger as he described everything he had seen and done during his travels, and it got me excited.

It didn’t take much convincing, but two days later I purchased a flight headed strait across the Pacific Ocean scheduled to land in the heart of South East Asia. As I got off the plane I felt the humidity slam right in the face and the diversity of smells are something I will never forget, both good and bad. I took a look to my left and there they were waiting for me, a grouof friends that I didn’t realize at the time would become my close friends for the rest of my life. We were about to take part in an adventure that remains so fresh in my memory it was like it happened yesterday. Even though we had TJ and Sara blazing the trail with their recent experiences we were all still travel virgins. Their experience and language helped us in so many different ways; bargaining, secret spots, local restaurants and night markets, and knowing when and where we were about to get scammed. It helped cut down on things that would put a negative spin on the trip, and it’s very possible Asia would have left a sour taste in my mouth and in my opinions. We would get uevery morning and the toughest decision of our day was what to order for breakfast and whether to head to the next location or not. We saw quite a bit in the two months we were there but we could have seen a lot more if we knew what we were doing. Sometimes we would spend weeks in a town just because we were too lazy or scared to pack. Looking back we wasted valuable time that could have been spent exploring and venturing off on our own.

Before I knew it I found myself getting off a plane back in Canada and my eyes welled uat the thought that I was about to head back into a world where money and social status determines who you are on the social ladder. I found myself looking at everything in a whole new light and I began asking myself how I could have improved my trito South East Asia. If I went back and did it all over again I could do it right, no wasted time, no stress, and no scams. Just travelling, exploring and trekking beyond the already developing backpacker traps.

Next thing I knew I was sitting in a meeting at business school and everyone in the room wanted to work at the bank and have their own little cubicle in the corner of floor 22. I replied to this situation in front of me by asking if anyone had done any travelling, and I got the standard reply; Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Hawaii, Florida, Cuba, Dominican Republic etc. They had been on all-inclusive holidays that went directly from the airport to the resort and a week later returned back to the airport with a tan. If they were given the opportunity to live free beyond the resort and its' manufactured environment, it would have been a completely different trip. I was fortunate enough to have a few friends as my guides, who showed me a world beyond my own manufactured walls. I got to travel to new places and see hidden gems that others wouldn’t even know existed. All of these people around the table are stuck in the same mindset that I was once stuck in. You earn money to pay bills and spend it on clothes, accessories and luxuries you don’t really need. I went back to thinking about my travels, and realizing that if you really researched and explored, you could create a flawless trip.

Later that week TJ and I sat down and began designing and developing what is now known as Beach Travellers. A company that is host to several locations around the globe, all of which still remain off the backpacker superhighway and with the helof all of our travellers, we continue to drive further and further off the beaten path. I am proud to be part of a team that continues to blaze the trail for travellers from across Canada. I personally have enjoyed watching it develointo what we envisioned from day one, and we never expected to discover and develotrips quite like the ones we have today. It is a lifestyle that pulls you in many different directions and keeps you smiling on a daily basis. You meet so many new amazing people and you get to see them change right in front of your eyes. They continually contribute to our mission of creating the most unique & free travelling lifestyle imaginable…

As a kid on the west coast of British Columbia, I remember staring out at the Pacific Ocean wondering where in the world I would one day end up. I remember my parents going away quite a few times and bringing back Asian gifts and pictures of a world that I only knew about by reading their huge collection of National Geographic magazines. I worked a job during high school to save enough money to follow in my families’ footsteps and go travel to the unknown. After graduating, I left on an excursion that has forever changed my life and formed what I have now become.

Influenced by a well-travelled family and an ever-growing curiosity, I left the town where I was raised, and jumped on a plane to the unknown wonders of South East Asia. My intentions were to seek an adventure that would open my eyes and anxious mind to what every young aspiring traveller looks for: freedom and a hell of an adventure.

To me, travelling is about exploring new cultures and enjoying the sensory overload that comes with it. I feel that the most important thing for people when travelling is to take themselves out of their comfort zone to be able to gain an alternate perspective on their lives. I think it’s something that always has a positive outcome and has brought joy and light in countless peoples lives.

We always wanted to create an experience that could expose travellers to the true beauty and culture of these exotic places, helping them gain a new perspective on the world, all within the time constraints of modern society. The globe is slowly getting covered and routes have materialized into what I now believe is the ultimate travelling experience. From here on, we are set on making each experience the best it can possibly be, and maintaining these standards for all future trips, regardless of where they may be.

My passion for travel and adventure started when I was just 6 years old, while on a family trito Disney World. There I met Cinderella and Prince Charming on the steps of the Walt Disney Castle in Orland Florida, and in that moment realized that travelling and exploring can make dreams come true.
 
Since then I have spent as much time as possible persuing my passion and have road tripped across much of Canada and the US, soaked uthe sun & culture of the many Caribbean isles, sought out my family and heritage in all corners of Britan & backpacked my way through Western Europe. I spent four months on the road last summer making my way across Southern Africa and South East Asia where I experienced so may incredible things including working on a farm in Northern Namibia, camping with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari in Botswana, exploring the waterways of Okavango Delta, white water rafting down the mighty Zambezi River, hiking uTable Mountain and watching the sun melt into the Atlantic Ocean, skydiving in Mossel Bay, South Africa over the Indian Ocean, and taking in the energy and excitement of a few live FIFA World Cu2010 matches. I got lost in streets of Bangkok, snorkelled the coral reefs of Kho Lipe, and spent countless hours reading on the beaches of Kho Pha Nang. I rode and bathed elephants in Kanchanaburi, took in the awe of sunrise over the majestic Angkor Wat, became conscious of the misery of the Killing Fields and Khmer Rouge, and learned the art of riding a moto in Saigon. I wiggeling through the Chu Chi tunnels of the Viet Cong, boated along the waterways of the Mekong Delta, and had clothes tailored while soaking uthe history and beauty of Hoi An. I got drenched in jungle rainstorms in Viang Vien, gave morning alms to saffron robed monks in Luang Prabang, soaked in the natural beauty of life along Mekong River during a 2 day slow boat ride. I hung out with out with hippies and aged travellers in Chiang Rai and learned the art of Thai Massage in Chiang Mai.
 
I plan to continue exploring every nook and cranny of the world, and inspire and helothers to make their travel dreams come true.
 
I am a spunky, outspoken, environmentally minded, adventurous vegan. I love the yopgreat outdoors, meeting new people, and trying new things. I am forever burried in the pages of a good book, grooving to tunes on my ipod and taking conscious steps to to open my mind, spirit and pursue further education. I aman Honours Graduate of the Travel and Toursim Busnness Management Program from Canadian Tourism College, and hold a General Arts & Scince diploma from Sheridan College.

I always say you should find what you enjoy in life and fill your life with it. For me, it's travel. The first time I crossed an ocean was in '98, and since then I've been hooked. All my favourite experiences, my most vivid memories, the best stories, the most interesting people I've met - they're all from travelling. So why not make a career of it? I started guiding tours (something I still love to do whenever I can) as a summer job while I was in university. From there I got into sales, marketing, business development, and now here I am, working for Beach Travellers and loving life.
 
When you get home from a trip, people always ask "how was it?" and expect an answer, as if there's a way to summarize all the places you've seen, the people you've met, and the adventures you've had in just a few words. Here are some experiences that I've never been able to adequately describe: hitchhiking through Laos all the way from China to Cambodia; reconnecting with long lost relatives in the foothills of southern Italy; swimming with a pod of wild dolphins off the coast of New Zealand's South Island; climbing Mount Fuji solo in the off-season and losing the trail in a cloud on my descent; hanging out with lion tamers and their big cats in South Africa; searching for (and finding) a waterfall in a jungle with no signs or marked path to guide us; being charged by a young pygmy hippo; sipping rum & smoking cigars with a Cuban guy who spoke no English and had no shirt but rocked a killer stache and played air guitar like a champ. The list goes on. Every destination has something unique to offer anyone who searches for it.
 
Travel is a teacher, with life's greatest lessons. That's why I love it so much, it's why I do what I do, and I hope everyone has a chance to experience it for themselves.

Being a kid in Alberta was kind-of like living in a suburban bubble where playing hockey was more important than seeing the world. In 2004 I decided to cut and run from another typical summer of landscaping, house parties and camping to head to the land of smiles for 3 months. During that time I saw southern and northern Thailand, and some parts of Malaysia. I was able to meet so many new people with different outlooks on life, and these 3 months changed my life forever. Returning to Canada I had a new perspective on the things that were important to me, and immediately began seeking ways to return to Asia.
Graduating from the UofA with a B.Comm in 2005 was a great accomplishment in my life, however at the time I was not feeling the benefits of that accomplishment. I was working as a corporate controller for a small IT startuthat ended ugoing broke in December of 2005. I travelled down to Calgary to drown my sorrows with some friends, when low and behold, opportunity to return to Thailand – this time as a tour guide – struck. January 12^th, 2006 – I was off! This round in Asia gave me great experience working in the travel industry, and also allowed me to see Cambodia, and some smaller more remote parts of Thailand. At one part we even rented our own car and drove without a mato Malaysia and back on a boarder run.It was doing this time away that I gained my confidence in foreign lands, and also worked to understand the business of a travel industry in such a different environment.
I first got to know Beach Travellers through Graeme and TJ while guiding another grouin Railay Thailand sometime in April 2006. When we returned back to Canada, the two of them would stay at my place in Edmonton whenever they were passing through town, and our friendshiblossomed. When they asked me to become part of their family, and heltake their business to the next level – I was both honored and excited for the opportunity.
I formally started working with Beach Travellers in September of 2008 – and the time has just flown by! Throught my professional career I have done a variety of things from corporate controller, business owner, government auditor and even an industrial software consultant. For a business guy Beach Travellers is a dream job. Blank slate, interesting product, amazing clients, and I can genuinely call every one of my co-workers my friends. Travel is my passion, but business is my gift and I am very excited to see where we are able to take Beach Travellers in the coming years!

Costa Rica is a magical place.  I felt it instantly when I first stepped on Tico soil 6 years ago, and every time I go back, the feeling persists.  It has everything I could ever ask for: friendly people, great food, beautiful nature, nice weather, warm water, and perfect waves. Seeing its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife inspires a sense of wonder and admiration for Mother Nature. And in terms of waves… it doesn''t get any better than CR. The rich coastlines cater to all levels of surfing, and are littered with everything from long, mellow point-breaks to perfect, empty beach-breaks and hollow tubes.  I love sharing my passion for Costa Rica with other travellers, because there are endless discoveries to be made there, and every triis a totally new adventure.
Visiting Costa Rica is a shock to the senses, and the country really makes you feel alive. Not just the amazing surf and scenery, but the overall attitude.  The locals have it right when they say "Pura Vida"… because that''s what it''s all about there: Pure Life.  No worries or hassles, only good times.

We are always looking for new motivated members to join our team. Those travellers, surfers, explorers, visionaries, leaders, organizers etc who are ready to take the next steout into the wild... Simply fill out the application form and we’ll get in touch with you shortly.

Beach Travellers Employment Application Form