Coast Mountain Staff

Sea kayaking British Columbia Vacations with Canada's Original Wilderness Sea Kayaking Vancouver Island Lodge.

Coast Mountain relies on highly skilled people who understand this area, know the stories, and know the best ways to share our temperate rainforest & marine environments with you. Our kayak guides and co-workers are all friendly and good-humored individuals committed to making your time with us safe and memorable. Two guides accompany each kayaking trip. Coast Mountain Expeditions kayak guides are certified Advanced Wilderness First Aid and also certified by the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC, North America's largest regulatory body for professional kayak guides.

Rory Sutherland
Multi-day guide

Years guiding: 6

Years with Coast Mountain: 6

Rory grew up on the Sunshine Coast, and now calls Vancouver home. He is a keen naturalist and volunteers with the Stanley Park Ecology Society. When not on the water, Rory can be found completing a Masters in social work at UBC.

Rory’s enthusiasm is infectious! He is a lead guide and instructor, and accomplished whitewater paddler who spends every free moment of the guiding season honing his skills in the Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids.

Liz Rhodes
Multi-day guide

Years guiding: 8
Years with Coast Mountain: 8

A Vancouver Island native and lead guide with Coast Mountain, Liz doesn’t settle down for long, playing music in Montreal, surfing in Mexico, and treeplanting in the BC interior.

Lead guide and marine life specialist, Liz is a skilled and enthusiastic interpreter of the unique world below the ocean surface and is likely to have you searching for nudibranchs by trip’s end!

Albert Keller
Multi-day guide

Years guiding: 9
Years with Coast Mountain: 9
Albert grew up at Coast Mountain Lodge, teaching himself paddling skills in the sheltered waters of Evans Bay. Now a lead guide and instructor, Albert spends as much time as possible in a kayak – in summer touring and paddling the Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids, in winter navigating Vancouver Island whitewater rivers.

In addition to kayaking, Albert enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and photography. He recently earned a degree in geography from the University of Victoria.

 Sylvan Howells

 Multi-day guide

Years guiding: 8
Years with Coast Mountain: 8

Sylvan grew up on Quadra Island and holds a vast amount of knowledge regarding the channels, islands, weather, flora and fauna that make up the Discovery Islands. Eight years of guiding has also bestowed Sylvan with good humour and an impressive array of jokes!

Sylvan has spent time traveling in Central America, Thailand, studying sciences at the University of Victoria and most recently in Vancouver where he constructs timber frame houses and pursues as many outdoor activities as possible.

Dustin Chappel

Multi-day guide

Years guiding: 8

Years with Coast Mountain: 1

In addition to extensive guiding experience around Vancouver Island, Dustin has taken personal paddling adventures in Chile and Central America and traveled in South Africa and China.

Dustin spends his summers on the coast, and in winter puts his culinary skills to use at a heli-ski lodge. In addition to kayaking, he loves backpacking, sailing, skiing, and surfing. He holds a degree in Commerce from Mount Royal University.   

Kate Latonas
Day-guide/lodge manager
Years with Coast Mountain: 2
Originally from Calgary, Kate came to the coast to pursue a degree in geography and never left. An avid kayaker and photographer, Kate also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and snowboarding – especially when accompanied by a four-legged friend! Kate can be found guiding marine park daytrips, welcoming guests at Discovery Islands Lodge, and providing scrumptious breakfasts for guests.

Beth Haysom

Day Guide/lodge manager

Years with Coast Mountain: 3

We first met Beth 10 years ago when she came on a Coast Mountain kayak trip. She never forgot it, and recently retired...to pursue kayaking full time! Easily distinguished by her British accent, Beth can be found welcoming guests to Discovery Islands Lodge, and leading trips in the Surge Narrows Marine Park. Her friendly and caring demeanor on the water has earned her the nickname 'Mama Beth'. 

Coast Mountain Expeditions offers sea kayaking Vancouver Island trips in British Columbia, Canada. Our kayak camping eco tours and lodge based nature vacations start from Quadra Island in BC’s Discovery Islands east of Campbell River, B.C. Guided Vancouver Island kayaking BC trips include kayak instruction, wilderness lodge accommodation & kayak camping in spectacular remote island locations. We are one of BC’s original kayak companies – natural island-ocean-mountain wilderness adventures since 1987!