SKILS works with best in Canadian paddle sports.  Each of our team is personally committed to paddling.  This committment is backed up by years of personal and professional experience.  But even thats not enough for us - all our team also actively work to support paddling through a variety of activities that include writing articles and books, sitting on Boards of Directors, volunteering time with youth programs and local clubs, and running paddling programs. 

Michael Pardy Michael is the past president of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC. He is also a Lead Guide, Guide Trainer, and Examiner with the SKGABC. He is a Senior Instructor Trainer with Paddle Canada. Guiding and instructing paddlesports for over 24 years, Michael also has extensive retail and business experience in paddle sports. He coauthored the 2002 Handbook of Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue, published by Ragged Mountain Press, and writes a column for Wavelength Magazine.
Andrew Woodford Andrew has worked as a leader in the outdoor community since 1993. He has been involved in a number of businesses and was a founding member and Director of Operations for Power to Be, an adaptive recreation business on Vancouver Island. He was also the founding member/Instructor of Kindred Spirit White Water. He is an Intermediate Instructor Trainer with Paddle Canada, a Certified Lead Guide with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of B.C. as well as a Level 2 Swift Water Rescue Technician. In addition he has worked in the head offices of Seaward Kayaks and holds many certifications outside of the paddling world.
Piper Harris Piper has been paddling since the earliest moments of his life. A member of the SKGABC executive for several years, has contributed to the Guides Education Modules (GEM's) as well as the Steering Committee. Piper is a certified Lead guide, Guide Trainer and Examiner with the SKGABC, and is a star 4 paddler with the British Canoe Union, level 1 swift water rescue technician, and level 2 instructor with Paddle Canada. Guiding and instructing since 1993 Piper has worked most of the BC coast from the Queen Charlottes to Victoria, as well as extensive experience in Baja Mexico. Piper also worked as the production scheduler of Current Designs, also acting as product tester and design consultant. Piper's love of the ocean has him living near the water, making his living on the water, and owning a 40' boat (Bring Out Another Thousand$) named Leona.  Piper also works for the Canadian Coast Guard.
Doug Alderson A leader at the national level, Doug has been a contributing member of Paddle Canada since the inception of the national sea kayaking program. He currently serves as the western Canadian representative on the Sea Kayak Program Development Committee. As a Senior Instructor Trainer Doug is responsible for training paddlers and certifying instructors at all levels from sea to sea to sea. Doug is also a BCU certified senior Instructor and the author of four books. Sea Kayak Strokes: A Guide to Efficient Paddling Skills, Rocky Mountain Books. Victoria May 2007. Sea Kayak Around Vancouver Island, Heritage House & Rocky Mountain Guidebooks. Victoria BC. Mar 2004, Sea Kayaker Magazine's Handbook of Safety & Rescue, Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, Camden Maine. Mar 2003, and Sea Kayaker's Savvy Paddler, Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, Camden Maine. Mar 2001. For more information on these titles please email Doug at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Doug also provides services for sea kayak repairs and renovations.
JF Marleau JF has taught kayaking and guiding expeditions across Canada since 1998. He is a certified Full Guide Level 4 , Guide Trainer and Examiner, as well as vice-president, of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (SKGABC). He is a certified Level 3 Instructor and has a Level 4 Skills certificate with Paddle Canada. When JF is not kayaking, he runs SKILS, works as a Human Resource Management Consultant and develops innovative products to enhance the outdoor recreational experience. JF also owns and operates PRIA (Pacific Rim Informative Adventures). JF holds many diplomas, including a Master's degree in Industrial Relations and a Bachelor of Art degree in Political Science from Laval University. Among his many attributes JF is also the author of the book: "Kayaking the Broken Group Islands. The Essential Guidebook". If you have never met JF before, it is easy to pick him out of the crowd as his strong French accent cannot hide him for long.
Meaghan Hennessy Meaghan’s water pursuits began at a young age in the swimming pool as a synchronized swimmer (yes that’s right, water ballet!) She discovered an aptitude for coaching when she left the competitive scene and began teaching young swimmers. Meaghan was introduced to sea kayaking in 1995 but really dove into the paddling world in 1999 while working as a white water rafting guide on the Ottawa River. Meaghan jumped on board with Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking in its early stages and was among the first women to achieve a Level Four Sea Kayaking Skills award. She is now on the verge of completing her Level Three Instructor and Level Two Instructor Trainer certification. In her spare time away from kayaking, Meaghan’s love of the ocean, the atmosphere and water compelled her to recently complete a Masters of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.
Beth-Anne Masselink Beth-Anne has been a sea kayak guide and instructor since 1997. She is a positive spirit who has considerable sea guiding experience across the world. She has guided sea kayak tours in Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Canada and Antarctica. In addition to her paddling skills, Beth-Anne also has extensive retail experience in paddle sports.
Ben Garrett Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Ben is a passionate leader and instructor in paddle sports. He trained as a sea and surf kayaking instructor and guide, but Ben also paddles surfski, K1 and flatwater canoe. In his spare time he is back in a boat, exploring new coastlines or paddling in a local tidal race, looking for bigger waves. Ben has taught or led trips in BC, across Canada and Antarctica, with a passion for good times in the outdoors. In the off season, Ben works for a pioneering paddle sports retailer in Victoria, BC, helping paddlers find the right gear to "get out there". Prior to his kayaking career, Ben worked on the water in the Queen Charlottes Islands, doing marine salvage and tug boating. His dream trips would either include great friends, fantastic food and a 15 day unsupported kayak trip on the Antarctic Peninsula, or moonlight walks on the beach with kayaks drifting in the distance.
Alex Matthews Alex Matthews is a whitewater paddler, avid kayak-surfer and highly skilled sea kayaker. He has worked as a sea kayak guide in many areas around Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlottes and Baja, Mexico. Alex is also a successful writer, contributing articles to many prominent paddlesports publications, as well as authoring an instructional DVD and several books on sea kayaking - the newest of which is entitled "Sea Kayaking Rough Waters". Having been the marketing manager for Necky kayaks, as well as contributing to the development of a number of kayak designs, Alex has a keen understanding and a clear overview of the paddlesports industry as a whole. His abiding fascination for any liquid environment, and the ocean in particular, fuels his passion for crafts that interact with water as directly as possible. It is no surprise that his sign of the Zodiac is Pisces - the sign of the fish.
Erik Ogaard Erik is forever drawn to the water and is truly in his element when paddling. He is equally passionate about sharing the paddling experience through instruction, guiding, and community involvement. Instructing since 1996, the majority of Erik's experience comes from paddling in unsalted Ontario waters. When on land, you can find him fixing friends boats or painting homes in and around the Toronto area. Erik has a keen interest in fitness and technical paddling skills, as well as open rough-water kayak play.  Current certifications include: WFR, Paddle Canada Level I Instructor Trainer, Paddle Canada Level 3 Instructor, ORCKA Canoe Tripping II Instructor, ORCKA Basic CanoeInstructor Trainer, BCU Four Star and Three Star Sea Kayak Coach.