Rob Pettigrew
Who is this guy, anyways? I don’t blame you for wondering - I certainly would if I was thinking about spending the better part of a week with myself. Even given a spectacular setting such as Gwaii Haanas, the success of your trip will come down to not only the competence of your guide but also your compatibility with him or her. So…here’s a bit of information.
Born last day of '49. Grew up in Vancouver. Post Secondary at University of B.C. and Simon Fraser University ending up with B.C. Teachers Certification. Moved full time to the Charlottes in 1978 with wife Shirley and six month old daughter Sophia (second daughter Ariel to follow soon after). Finished teaching practicum in Masset and decided for various reasons to move on to the open spaces. Brief stints followed as ships crew on a Fisheries and Oceans Patrol vessel, commercial fishing and hand logging before settling into what's turned out to be a career as a charter boat captain. Along the way I've been certified as a ships Master to 60 gross tons, wilderness first aid attendant and Gwaii Haanas Guide (among other less relevant things).
Between spring commercial prawn fishery and fall salmon management contracts with the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans, I'm able to indulge in a few enjoyable tours a year into Gwaii Haanas National Park during late June, July and early August. Definitely the most interesting and fun part of my year, these trips utilize my background in education as well my accumulated knowledge of the sea.
Since 1980 I've worked for Fisheries and Oceans from mid-August through to the end of October providing information required for the management of salmon stocks on the Charlottes. In the spring I work with J.O. Thomas and Associates collecting prawn spawn abundance information for the management of the commercial prawn fishery on the islands. I also get to work with salmon in the context of a local group (Hecate Strait Streamkeepers) dedicated to restoring fish habitat on the Charlottes to it's former productive level. Other interests include natural history, kayaking, local and world politics, environmental, justice and peace issues, etc.
Karel Doruyter
 Karel built his first sail boat, a 45’ cutter, in the late 60’s. After sailing her around the lower mainland of BC he sold the boat and moved to Australia in the early 70’s. There he built another sailboat to sail back to Canada.
During this time he developed an interest in boat building and design, taking a number of courses toward that end. After returning to Canada he settled on Hornby Island, BC, in 1980 where he built small family sail boats as well as doing boat repairs and maintenance. Two more boats for his own use followed, a 39’ cutter and lastly a 42’ bridge deck catamaran. Exploring as well as painting the BC coast line is his passion. This culminated when he moved to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) in 1989 to work with the elders, paint and do sailing charters. Karel lived in Queen Charlotte City for the next six years.
At present Karel lives in Victoria with his wife and son, working as a marine consultant, painting, writing and managing high latitude expeditions. He has a daughter and two grand children on Gabriola Island.
To view a portfolio of his recent work please go to Karel's portfolio.
James Nickerson
 Born and raised on Haida Gwaii, James spent his childhood fishing, hunting and exploring off the beaten path. Growing up in a commercial fishing family, he quickly learned the tricks of the trade. The eldest of four children, James helped his parents with their fisheries patrol contracts, walking hundreds of creeks on both the east and west coasts to count salmon as they returned to spawn. These were also the very early years of ecotourism operations on the Islands, and James met boatloads of exciting and interesting people in the area now known as Gwaii Haanas.
After graduating from Queen Charlotte Secondary School, he traveled to Victoria and enrolled in the first of many marine certification programs. In the years following, James received his Watchkeeping Mate and 60 ton Masters tickets, and was certified in Wilderness First Aid and Ground Search and Rescue. He also returned to Haida Gwaii, dividing his time between commercial fishing, guiding ecotours, and carpentry. He also enjoys sailing, cycling and gardening whenever he has a spare moment.
James currently lives in Tlell, Haida Gwaii, with his girlfriend Catherine Rigg and their fabulous dog Finnegan. During the off-season he runs a small general contracting business and is completing his Journeyman Carpenter apprenticeship. He also speaks 12 languages but no one understands any of them.
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