Qiic Qiica (Keats)

Deborah brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience working in some of the most stunning and diverse ecosystems across BC, the U.S., and beyond, to the lodge team. As an environmental consultant, she’s contributed her expertise to energy, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors. She's worked as  marine educator at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and has taught courses on bird identification. Outside of work, she’s an avid outdoors enthusiast who loves diving, hiking, skiing, birding, snorkelling, and kayaking. Now, Deb brings all these passions to her role at the lodge, where she works hand in hand with her family and the rest of the lodge team to make every experience truly remarkable.

Scott is a lifelong biologist most happy when wearing gumboots and being with people in the outdoors. Before pivoting to Pacific Sounds Lodge, Scott worked as a marine ecologist in the conservation sector for 15 years in the capacity of Senior Research Scientist. He is an educator, author, activist, naturalist, and fisheries researcher whose career has focused on marine conservation. Scott holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and has taught several university and college level courses on the marine and coastal ecology of British Columbia. He is also the co-author of the book 'Basking Sharks: The Slaughter of BC's Gentle Giants.' In the off-season Scott teaches courses with North Island College’s Adventure Guiding program.

Qiic Qiica (Keats) is the primary cultural ambassador and storyteller for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. He is a seasoned guide at the Huu-ay-aht ancient village and fortress National Historic Site of Kiixin, leading visiting groups through old-growth rainforest, educating them about the Huu-ay-aht’s knowledge and history, as well as Indigenous culture in the region throughout their hike. He’s also a regular visitor and guide at Pacific Sounds Lodge.

Keats has been given five previous names. His first given Huu-ay-aht name was “Ootsuu-a” named after the location where Pacific Sounds Lodge is now situated. In his free time Keats loves to walk in the forests around Bamfield with his two dogs. He also loves good food!

Jeanne grew up in a large family in Winnipeg, Manitoba and from an early age was in the kitchen helping prepare meals. She trained in England with the legendary Roux brothers in Michelin 3-star establishments. After three years, with a solid foundation of Modern French cooking, she returned to Canada. Jeanne cooked in a big hotel scene in Vancouver,  then the Napa Valley to embrace the farm to table movement, and learn more about the relationship between wine and food. She and her husband next opened their own restaurants in Belfast, Northern Ireland; the first Michelin restaurant in Northern Ireland within two years of opening.  She spent 26 years there, owning and operating it and other restaurants, a chain of cafes and a bakery. She returned to Canada in 2015 and completed a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition in Victoria. She loves West Coast living with its close relationship to the outdoors.  

Alessandra is an interdisciplinary professional with a holistic care-centric approach to life rooted in empathy and compassion. She is foremost a creator, a spiritual seeker, adventurer and a protector of this planet. Since 2016, Alessandra has found her heart pulled to the pulse of Bamfield. She has a MSc in Fisheries Science and works for the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and the Bamfield Community School Association.  At the lodge, Alessandra sings melodic harmonies with Abi in their duet. Through their performances, they cultivate a welcoming environment for everyone to share a communal gathering into grace. Alessandra can frequently be found on the boardwalk with her two feline companions Billy & Bea.

Clay has lived in Bamfield since 2021, and works as a biologist studying how to restore kelp forest habitats. He is passionate about biodiversity, conservation, wild foods, and enjoying time with friends and loved ones on the lands and waters of this territory. He’s also recently enjoyed learning how to do amateur astronomy, capitalizing on this area’s exceptional dark skies, and learning about the wonders of the universe that we can see from here on Earth.

Aneri Garg is a marine ecologist, artist, and ocean justice advocate residing in the territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations on Vancouver Island's West coast, known colonially as Bamfield, BC. At Pacific Sounds Lodge, Aneri offers a diverse range of experiences to enrich your stay. For Aneri, studying the ocean is just as much an interest in the biology itself, but also the creative solutions people are working on to address the multiple threats facing our non-human kin in the ocean. Through this work she is interested in centering the rights of the people most impacted through conservation processes, and in creating equitable ocean work spaces for the benefit of both natural and social ecosystems. She came to Bamfield to explore climate-ocean storytelling, and has stayed to explore other opportunities for coastal community-building.

Simon is currently attending university working toward a degree in mechanical engineering. While at the lodge Simon does a bit of everything from guiding to kitchen support to maintenance. He has a passion for free-diving, cold plunging, and photography and shares this passion with our guests.  His most memorable lodge moment was privately guiding an amateur photographer looking for bears when a cougar emerged out of the forest.

Zach began his career in travel as a writer & editor for a travel magazine and spent the better part of the past decade working for a travel and tourism consultancy in Toronto. Throughout his career he has also worked to connect travel organizations with sustainability leaders from across the globe and has supported and developed sustainability programs and initiatives for a number of international travel companies. This work has included advocating to bring an end to the exploitation of elephants for tourism; efforts to ban the breeding, display, and trade in cetaceans for entertainment in Canada; and helping to develop a not-for-profit, artisan-run Indigenous arts program that works to sustain Indigenous craft while providing cross-cultural exchanges.