COASTAL BLISS ADVENTURES - Key Persons

Gary Ward formed a passion for experiential education and wilderness experiences from leading wilderness trips for high school students in the 1990s. Taking students on multi-day traverses in some of the most pristine wilderness areas of southern BC, he ultimately shifted to guiding adults. Having led trips in BC, Scotland, Italy, Greece and Egypt, Gary has continued to develop his skills in hiking, sea kayak and canoe guiding and developing wilderness experiences. Since returning to BC in 2005, he has been guiding people into the "real world" around Vancouver Island and he Sunshine Coast. Gary is a certified sea kayak guide, a certified ACMG Assistant Hiking Guide, trained in Advanced Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue. He completed his MBA in 2016 from the University of Victoria.

Georgia Newsome has worked as a guide for backpacking, kayaking, and canoeing for various adventure companies, over the past 30 years. She worked as lead guide with Sea to Sky Expeditions for 13 years and continues to work closely with its owner and other guides. Growing up in the New Forest, in England, Georgia developed a love for nature and the outdoors. First visiting Canada in 1989 she immediately knew she had found her home. She moved to British Columbia, where the Canadian wilderness spoke loudly to her passion for adventure and activity as well as nourishing her with its natural beauty. Georgia's initial profession as a physical education teacher laid the foundation for the desire to share her passion for the outdoors with others. It set her on a path of knowledge and skill development to enable her to provide the best for the guests in her care. In 2009, she founded Coastal Bliss Adventures Ltd. with partner, Gary Ward, focusing on multi - day adventures.