Zach Vanasse

Scott is a lifelong biologist most happy when wearing gumboots and being with people in the outdoors. Before pivoting to Outer Shores Lodge, Scott worked as a marine ecologist at the David Suzuki Foundation 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.' Scott currently teaches courses with North Island College’s Adventure Guiding program and UBC’s Haida Gwaii Institute.

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.  

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 Outer Shores Lodge.

Keats has been given five previous names. His first given Huu-ay-aht name was “Ootsuu-a” named after the location where Outer Shores 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!

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 Outer Shores 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.

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.