The Interpretive Guides Association is supported by over 2000 active members, a volunteer governing board of directors, and staff, including an Executive Director, Communications and Engagement Lead, Member Services Coordinator and Bookkeeper.
Laura Dowling, President
Laura is originally from Ireland where her background was in teaching and fitness.
The opportunity arose in 2012 to take a career break and she decided to spend a couple of years in New Zealand before arriving in Canada and more specifically Canmore in 2014. Finding the perfect spot to adventure and work meant Canmore was home. In 2020, Laura and her husband Darrell launched Canadian Rockies Experience, a private tour guiding company. Based in Canmore, Canadian Rockies Experience delivers private sightseeing, hiking, snowshoe and ice walk tours from Kananaskis to Jasper and everything in between. Laura is a IGA professional Interpreter and 4-Season hiking guide. She loves to spend her free time camping in the backcountry, hiking and cross country skiing.
Dave Holder, Vice President
Dave began his mountain instruction career while serving with the Royal Engineers (British Army) where he was trained as a Mountain Expedition Leader. He led groups around the world in Britain, Iceland, Norway, Europe, Africa, Belize and the USA. His journeys led him to Canada where he met his wife Brenda.
Marriage, retirement from the military, and immigration quickly followed. He works with his wife's company, Mahikan Trails, and teaches for a college in Holland. He is qualified with the ACMG as a Hiking Guide with winter accreditation, the Interpretive Guides Association as a Master Interpreter, and the Wilderness Guide Association as a level three Boreal guide. His other Canadian qualifications include Nordic ski instructor with CANSI and an Instructor with the Outdoor Council of Canada. Survival Instructor trained by Mors Kochanski (author of Northern Bushcraft), Interpretation Canada Training Program, and Wilderness First Aid Instructor.
Much of his time now is taken up as a survival consultant for various TV shows, including the Alone show on the History channel.
Scott Berry, Director at Large
Scott Berry grew up in Calgary, where his love of the outdoors started early and never stopped. After a first career as a Petroleum Landman and Geologist, he co-founded one of Canada’s top investor relations firms, later branching into tech with Infovest and building strong ties with the TSX, NASDAQ, and AMEX. By 2005, he’d sold his companies and shifted gears—running a youth leadership charity, creating Alberta’s largest Makerspace, and working in social services. In 2018, Scott followed his heart back to nature, becoming a certified wilderness guide. He spent four years as Senior Guide for the Banff Springs Hotel and now runs his own company, Original Path Guiding, where he often introduces guests to the art of Forest Bathing. Scott has worn many hats—life coach, board chair, Scout leader, and volunteer—but his favourite role is exploring the outdoors with his partner, Heather.
Heather Chrystie, Tourism Liaison
Chad Widmer, Treasurer/Community Liaison
Chad was born and raised in Alberta. A notoriously restless gadabout, he settled down to become an Outdoor Educator in Calgary and has been doing so for the last 13 years with Foundations for the Future Charter Academy, a public school focusing on character and leadership.
He considers himself a husband who married up and a father of two high-energy brats that keep him young. He loves his family and friends for giving him perspective, his work with students and the community for giving him purpose, and the great outdoors for giving him balance.
Joanie McGuffin, Director of Communications/Secretary
Joanie is the Executive Director of the binational Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, supporting conservation, land-based learning, and the stewardship of three nature preserves. Growing up in Ontario, summers spent in forests and on lakes shaped her lifelong love of canoeing and the natural world. Now living near Lake Superior with her partner Gary, she brings insights from their long-distance journeys and years of storytelling through books, presentations, and educational programs. Joanie is passionate about connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with the wonders of nature. She is committed to true reconciliation through community connections and supporting Indigenous-led conservation and water care. Her non-profit leadership strengthens her work in collaboration, governance, and mission delivery. She values the IGA’s mission for building excellence in interpretation - a powerful tool to help people listen and learn in a time of extraordinary change.
Keith Diakiw, Indigenous Liaison
Keith Diakiw is a professional Métis geologist and GEO (Geo Experience Officer) of Talking Rock Tours, which is a natural and cultural educational tour company showcasing the geological wonders of Alberta through an indigenous lens. Mr. Diakiw attended both the University of Lethbridge and University of Alberta where he successfully earned three Bachelor degrees: a Bachelor of Science CO-OP in Physical Geography, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Archaeology, and a Bachelor of Science Specialization in Geology.
Geologically speaking, he possesses exploration and mining experience in metallurgical coal, thermal coal, conventional oil and gas, offshore oil and gas, and oil sands to date. Mr. Diakiw also joined the Royal Canadian Navy while attending the University of Alberta and became a qualified Naval Warfare Officer in 2005 and still enjoys serving Canada as a naval reservist with H.M.C.S. Nonsuch.
Mr. Diakiw also considers himself an indigipreneur in the business world while he strives to meet the needs of the public with indigenous tourism while inspiring the next generation of indigenous youth along the way. Mr. Diakiw was elected this year as a board member of Indigenous Tourism Alberta on the overall journey of healing and reconciliation with fellow Canadians.
Kevin Gedling, Director at Large
Kevin Gedling has been working in interpretive guiding since 2002, with extensive experience in all mountain parks in both commercial and Parks Canada interpretive and education settings. For the past seventeen years, Kevin has worked in communications, outreach, and engagement roles in both national and provincial parks, always drawing on his heritage interpretation roots to develop innovative approaches to communicating some of the most challenging themes before us. He lives in Hinton, Alberta, with his partner, Tomoko, and their college-age daughter, Rinka. This is Kevin's third time on the IGA board, where he looks forward to supporting interpretation and emerging new professionals. With his strong ties to the Jasper area, he is the ideal person to contact if you're an interpreter in that region. kevingedling@hotmail.com
Eva Adamkova, Director at Large
Eva has always been inspired by the power of storytelling and connection in the outdoors. She began guiding in Europe, leading cycling, hiking, and ski trips, before moving to Canada in 2014 “for one summer” — and staying to complete her first interpretive training. Today, she is the Business Development Manager with Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, where she builds partnerships to create meaningful visitor experiences.
A long-time IGA member and supporter, Eva brings both guiding experience and professional expertise to the Board, championing community, members, and the value of authentic interpretive connections. When not working or volunteering (or knitting), she’s on the trails, crafting experiences for friends, or dreaming up new ways to share the mountain stories she loves.
Join our Board
We welcome anyone who would like to share their ideas, passion and zest for interpretation.
Our board is a governing board (not operational). We're always looking for interested, passionate people who have experience in interpretation, guiding, tourism, marketing, business development, partnership development, and so much more to help us succeed.
The Interpretive Guides Association eligibility committee will process all applications. If a vote is required, the vote will take place during the Annual General Meeting.
Contact us to get involved!
info@interpretiveguides.org
Eligible and Successful Candidates Must:
- Be a voting member of the IGA in good standing (Bylaw 3.0.1)
- Be willing to govern the affairs of the Society in cooperation with fellow Board of Directors (BOD) (Bylaw 5.0)
- Be willing to operate as a volunteer and thus unpaid with exceptions of reasonable expenses (Bylaw 5.2)
- Be willing to and available to meet with BOD and staff a minimum of (but not limited to) 5 times per year (Bylaw 5.13.1)
- Be willing to adhere to and accept the duties of the BOD ((Bylaw 6.0.1)
- Be willing to be part of committees as determined by the BOD (Bylaw 6.1)
- Abide by the IGA Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Available to assist in supporting and promoting the IGA, including (but not limited to) events, meetings with supporting organizations, assisting and supporting the Executive Director in reasonable requests for various tasks.
- Be willing to familiarize themselves with the bylaws of the society
Other:
- Some board experience is an asset, but not essential (training is also provided)
- This is a governance board (policy-only); all operational duties are delegated to the ED and its team.
- Team dynamics are a critical part of this board, so you must be comfortable working in a team environment and interested in relationship development and communications.
- Have a good understanding of outdoor recreation, education, tourism and the interpretive guiding industry.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas is essential: education, guiding, interpretation, safety, human resources, marketing, tourism, business development, partnership development, finance, bookkeeping, negotiations, event planning, communications, minute-taking, and not-for-profit organizations.
- You'll need to make yourself available whenever possible for situations that arise requiring an extra or emergency board meeting.
- All positions require a minimum 2-year commitment, and 4-6 years are ideal. The number of hours varies monthly, ranging from 1 to 2 hours during the busy guiding seasons to up to 10 hours for those who can provide significant assistance.