This summer we are swinging into gear with a number of new initiatives that make kayaking on Vancouver Island greener then ever. Here at Spirit of the West, we get our kicks on brainstorming ways to green our business! Here’s what we’ve brewed up for the summer:

• Aside from being stylish and red, our new lifejackets are made with Gaia PVC-free foam: a friendly alternative to the traditional foam used in lifejackets. PVC is “among the EPA’s 20 most hazardous substances”, a known carcinogen threat and a CFC ozone depleting material. Phew! We can all float a little lighter, knowing that our flotation is healthy for us and for the earth!
• Also stylish, our new t-shirts are made with organic cotton and 50% of the profits go towards supporting education for children in countries where getting to school isn’t just a matter of getting on the bus. Free the Children is a non-profit run by children for children and is leading the way in empowering kids worldwide through innovative projects. Very cool!
• Breanne has been tending the garden and making sure that the tender organic veggies destined for consumption on kayak-trips, don’t end up in the bellies of local deer!
• Speaking of veggies, our latest step as a certified Carbon Neutral Business was to purchase a diesel van which we plan to convert to biodiesel in the fall. Running our van on veggie oil will significantly cut our carbon footprint, taking our commitment to minimizing our impact deeper.

The 1st Annual Fundraiser for the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society (QISES) was a great success! We enjoyed donating a trip for two to Desolation Sound on one of our kayaking British Columbia tours to the live auction. The auction was exciting and the lucky winners will enjoy their trip even more knowing that each stroke they take is in support of Pacific Salmon. Breanne is also saving the salmon through seapersonship: she bid on and won a ½ day of sailing. Look out Heriot Bay!

Spirit of the West is happy to enjoy a pleasing combo of new and returning staff this year. Let’s introduce to one of our fresh faces for the summer:

Danielle:
Danielle is like a summer breeze: refreshing, sweet and comforting. Yes, comforting! You will be comforted by the cookies she lovingly bakes you and sends out on your Vancouver Island kayak tour. You will be comforted knowing that all the details of your menu are taken care of by her seasoned brain (as she manages to keep track of all the food for 58 trips!) You will be comforted knowing that she loves what she does and is happy all the while. Wow! Danielle is truly a treat in all senses of the word! We are happy to have her on the team this year.

Our two new guides Meredith and Robyn are fresh out of a year of studying and ready to spend the summer on the ocean. Meredith has been on the east coast studying anthropology at Dalhousie in Halifax. With several years experience as a guide, Meredith has paddled and sailed all up and down the coast. Robyn has just completed North Island College's Coastal Adventure Tourism Program and is now working towards a degree in coastal zones Resource Management. You will enjoy her upbeat energy and warmth!

Even the faces of our old-faithful returning staff are looking fresh after a winter of traveling, working elsewhere or, in some cases, awaiting kayak season with baited breath.

Meet two of our returning guides: Luke and Steve. Luke seems to know anyone one and everyone on the coast! A full-time Quadra resident, Luke is a friendly giant. Behind Steve’s easy-going nature and innocent smile, is one of Spirit of the West’s most experienced guides, a strong seaperson and a sneaky sense of humour! As a guest on one of Steve’s tours, you can be sure you’ll be taken care of, laughs included. When he’s not paddling, Steve is traveling the world, out for a sail in his home (a 30 foot boat) or composing on the piano.

At the helm of Spirit of the West, our leadership team is looking fine. Breanne’s face is smiling and relaxed because she is so organized and has all details sorted and ready for the summer. The systems are dialed, the hatches are covered, the PFDs are all in a row!
Rick’s face is fresh, if you look beneath the shaggy beard, after a winter of feeding the fire of his own passion for kayaking…scouting out trips in Patagonia and preparing for an upcoming expedition in Greenland!
J.D.’s face is happy because well, J.D. is always happy!