Born in Arkisserniaq, a northern Greenland community, in 1960 Aaju has lived up and down the west coast of her native country as a result of her father's teaching and preaching career. At age eleven, Aaju left Greenland to attend school in Denmark where she learned to read German, French, English, Latin and speak Danish in addition to Greenlandic. At age eighteen, she returned home to Greenland. In 1981, Aaju moved to Iqaluit, in Nunavut, Canada where she has taken up residence. Here, Aaju picked up English and Inuktitut, which has helped her succeed in her work as an interpreter, and she has done volunteer work with various women's and interpretation organizations. Her interests led her to the Arctic College where she took Inuit studies. She has travelled Greenland, Europe and Canada performing modern drum dance, traditional singing and displaying sealskin fashions. Currently Aaju has a homebased sealskin garment business, translates, volunteers for the music society, collects traditional law from elders for the Department of Justice, raises her five children and just recently graduated from Akitsiraq Law School and was called to the bar. These days Aaju is advocating for Inuit rights to seal and sealskin products as well as the Inuit right to be involved in issues related to Arctic waters.

Join Aaju on the following adventures:
Alianait Arts Festival
Alianait Arts Festival
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out

Eight days aboard Canada’s largest icebreaker measuring satellite signals cemented Allister’s love of Arctic travel. Another similar trip involved a “very cool” 1370 km drive from Whitehorse to Inuvik and then along the MacKenzie Ice Road to Tuktoyaktuk. After 34-years in radio-communications, Allister turned his background and experience towards Search & Rescue (SAR). Allister volunteers with Cranbrook Ground SAR and Air SAR. He is a certified civilian spotter, military spotter and navigator. As Air SAR Training Officer he teaches courses in spotting, navigation, radio-communications, radio direction-finding and GPS. In 2011 he participated in 6 searches looking for hunters, an elderly diabetic, an early-onset Alzheimer subject and an abducted 3-year old boy. Allister will offer navigation workshops and insight on Arctic shipping technology.

Join Allister on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out

Named for the Queen of trees that dominates her province of birth, British Columbia, Cedar has been in the family business since the tender age of ten, where she made her big debut sealing envelopes. In 1994, Cedar had her first organized travel experience on Adventure Canada’s Project Arctic Coast where she fell in love with travel and the ocean. This monumental experience altered the direction her life would take - gone were the dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete – in were visions of distant shorelines, wild animals and exotic cultures. Her curiosity for people and their traditions led Cedar to study history at the University of Toronto. With over eighteen years in the expedition shipping business, Cedar has extensive experience in developing, marketing and delivering intimate group experiences. Managing a small office, she has a hand in all areas of the business, but gets great satisfaction cultivating new itineraries and interesting shore excursions. However her favourite element of the travel business remains program delivery where she can get out and explore the world’s wild places and get to know her many amazing clients. Cedar delights in travelling Canada and the world and thoroughly enjoys helping others reach their travel dreams.

Join Cedar on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2013
Newfoundland Circumnavigation 2012

Danny is a writer, photographer and educator with over 10 years of experience with Parks Canada in the fields of environmental education and park planning. Danny has travelled the world, and leads a number of Adventure Canada’s natural history and photography trips. When not seeking adventures in exotic places, Danny is a faculty member in the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, near Vancouver.

Join Danny on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Out of the Northwest Passage 2013

Dave grew up on the edge of a vast forest in North Vancouver. His teenage working life consisted mostly of outdoor education and wilderness travel with the YMCA, which lead him to a career as a backcountry guide and water based adventure specialist. With a flair for the unusual and a high degree of risk tolerance, he decided to start a business with Matthew Swan in 1987. The transition from a carefree guide loving his time in the outdoors to an office based environment, while perhaps the natural evolution of the maturing species, did not go well. Seven years later he took a fork in the trail to seek new adventures. Today Dave splits his time between training guides for Thompson Rivers University’s Adventure Guide Program and his business RippleRock Consulting.

Join Dave on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Heart of the Arctic 2013

Past President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Denis is a geomorphologist who has worked with the Geological Survey of Canada and on the Polar Continental Shelf Project. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America and a recipient of the Scottish Geographical Medal for contributions to the field.

Join Denis on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out

Heidi is an Urban Inuk with family roots in Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador). She is one of the founders of the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre which empowers Inuit families in Ottawa with many programs and services. Heidi was nominated as one of the National Aboriginal Role Models in 2010-2011 which has enabled her to motivate and inspire Aboriginal youth across Canada. One of the many things that Heidi enjoys is providing interactive presentations to all walks of life about the Inuit Culture, including throat singing, history, current events, drumming and Inuit Games. Along with her husband, Heidi is currently raising six children.

Join Heidi on the following adventures:
Arctic Explorer 2013
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out

Jason grew up in the communities of Nain and Makkovik in Northern Labrador. He was an active youth, participating and contributing in local and regional Inuit youth groups, language and culture preservation committees and sports teams. During the summer months he traveled the coast of Labrador extensively while hunting and assisting his father with tours and charters. Coming from a family of politicians, Jason went on to study Political Science at Memorial University, traveling between his home and the booming metropolises of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St. John’s, NL. After his time in university he went on to study carpentry and tourism. It was at this time he became involved with Adventure Canada as a guide in training. Now living in Mississauga, he hopes to add enjoyment to your travels both from the office and onboard.

Join Jason on the following adventures:
Arctic Explorer 2013
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Epic High Arctic 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2013
Into the Northwest Passage 2013
Newfoundland Circumnavigation 2013
Out of the Northwest Passage 2012

Originally from Nunatsiavut, Jenna has always been a strong advocate for Inuit Youth. She has represented her community and region in language and culture preservation committees. Jenna spent three seasons working for our sister company, Cruise North Expeditions. She has also worked in the tourism department for the Torngat Mountains National Park. Jenna is currently in her final year at Lakehead University’s Outdoor Recreation and Tourism/Natural Science Program

Join Jenna on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2013
Into the Northwest Passage 2012

Captain Grankvist signed on his first ship when he was only 16 years old, already then convinced that the “big blue” was his future. Sailing the Seven Seas for years, he was working his way from Deckhand to Chief Officer. At the age of 32, he became Master with licence for unlimited trade, and was happy to command his first ship. A few years later, he started his work onboard expedition cruise ships worldwide. He is very devoted to wildlife and loves to explore remote and unique areas in both arctic and tropical waters. Among all the exciting places he has visited around the globe, he fancies the frosty Polar regions the most. Ice navigation is one of his specialities, and he has captained several expedition ships safely on fantastic voyages in Arctic and Antarctic waters over the course of thirty years. His experience from places like Svalbard, Canadian Arctic, Greenland and Antarctica, has made him to one of a few, highly skilled Ice Masters in the world. In 2003 he bought his own expedition ship together with a colleague and started the ship management company Master Mariner AB. He is a well respected and competent Senior Captain/Operations Manager and is seen as a mentor and a treasured friend among past and present fellow officers. Kenth has been working with Adventure Canada since 2005.

Join Kenth on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Epic High Arctic 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2012
Into the Northwest Passage 2012
Newfoundland Circumnavigation 2012
Out of the Northwest Passage 2012

Lena grew up in Makkovik, NL. She spent her summers during childhood fishing in Island Harbour with her father’s family, the McNeill clan, who also fished with Bob Bartlett’s family. Lena is an archaeologist, the first Labrador Inuk to obtain this title. She also held the position of Chief Archaeologist for the Nunatsiavut Government. Through her knowledge and experience working in coastal Labrador, she has strengthened her interest in her own culture, which includes preserving her Inuit language. Lena is also a descendent of the Hebron and Nutak relocations that took place is 1957-59. She shares her culture through storytelling, crafts, singing, Inuit drum dancing and throat singing. Lena still enjoys hunting and fishing when she can and is the mother to two rambunctious boys and her little sister.

Join Lena on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2013

Lynda was born in Nunavut, her mother’s family originates from Pangnirtung, and her father is of Scottish descent. Upon graduating from Trent University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Native Studies and Psychology, she moved to the nation’s capital. In Ottawa, home to the largest southern Inuit community, Lynda and her husband Rob Nicholson, raise their three young children. Lynda loves her work with the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre and is very involved with her community. She volunteers her time, primarily focussing on Inuit women and children and affordable housing. She is the President of Inuit Non-Profit Housing Incorporation, and has been serving on this board for 6 years. She participated in the 2008 Governor General Leadership Conference. Lynda is a traditional throat singer and drummer, and shares her cultural knowledge through demonstrations, information sessions and workshops. She performs locally, nationally and internationally.

Join Lynda on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Into the Northwest Passage 2013

When onboard Matthew James is vital part of the expedition team, often working in the capacity of Assistant Expedition Leader. Matthew James first travelled to the arctic when he was 2 years old - an experience that ignited his love for the north. Matthew has returned many times to continue learning about the magnificent environment and unique culture. Matthew James is inspired by his loving family and friends to journey into this extraordinary part of the world. Matthew James is looking forward to chauffeuring you around in Zodiacs and monitoring for polar bears while ashore.

Join Matthew on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Epic High Arctic 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2013
Heart of the Arctic 2013
Into the Northwest Passage 2013
Newfoundland Circumnavigation 2012
Newfoundland Circumnavigation 2013

With an eye on the future, Matthew Swan’s parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1959 and, to their son’s good fortune, they decided to bring Matthew with them. Matthew has recognized opportunities that present themselves ever since that big move. He graduated with a degree in English from the University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, a degree he started in Windsor, Ontario but opted for the opportunity to travel and learn simultaneously. Matthew returned to Canada and worked as a print and photojournalist in Ontario and British Columbia. He encountered the outdoor training and adventure field while undertaking an outdoor instructor’s apprenticeship program at Strathcona Park Lodge on Vancouver Island. Returning east, Matthew shifted focus and worked in the emerging white water rafting industry on the Ottawa River. Strathcona and the Ottawa were the catalysts for Adventure Canada, created in 1987 with his brother Bill and friend David Freeze. Matthew considers himself to have one of the best jobs in Canada. Researching and delivering travel programs has taken him to some of the most beautiful parts of the country, an experience he describes as having an “elemental effect” on his view of Canada. He developed many programs in the Arctic that continue to be the company’s most successful destination. Matthew and his three children, Cedar, Alana and Matthew James and grand-daughter Leah, live in a remote, wilderness part of Mississauga, but very near the airport.

Join Matthew on the following adventures:
Arctic Explorer 2013
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Epic High Arctic 2012
Greenland and Wild Labrador 2012
More Dublin Please
Out of the Northwest Passage 2012

Paul Prior cannot recall a time when he was not birding, and his passion has always been for migrant songbirds. Paul’s passion for birds has taken him to passerine monitoring/banding stations in Israel, Costa Rica, northern Ontario and northern British Columbia, as well as guiding trips to the Caribbean (Cuba, Hispaniola and Trinidad and Tobago), Central America and the Canadian east coast. In the latter part of the 90s his attention was steered more to work with Ontario’s endangered breeding species, specifically with Bald Eagles, Loggerhead Shrikes and Prothonotary Warblers; and then in 2001 he began working as the fauna biologist with Toronto and Region Conservation. As with many naturalists, Paul has been working on improving his natural history knowledge across all fields, delving into invertebrates and amphibians in particular - he's a great believer in the idea that if you're interested in natural history you can never run out of new and exciting things to see and discover.

Join Paul on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Out of the Northwest Passage 2013

As a long-time Arctic marine mammal researcher, Pierre has focused on the population biology of belugas and narwhals of the Canadian Arctic, developing recommendations for the sustainable use and conservation of their populations. He is known in Nunavut as "Pieri, angutikutaq qilalugalerei" ('the tall man who knows about belugas and narwhals'). He is the author of a Nunavut school book on Marine Mammals of Nunavut and several French language books on whales and mammals of eastern Canada and the Arctic. Pierre likes to spend a lot of time on the ships' decks or out in a boat to spot marine mammals and birds. Join him there.

Join Pierre on the following adventures:
Arctic Safari 2012
Arctic Safari 2013 - Sold Out
Out of the Northwest Passage 2012
Out of the Northwest Passage 2013