Interpretive Guides Association: Our People

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OUR PEOPLE

The Interpretive Guides Association is supported by over 300 active members, a volunteer board of directors, a part-time executive director, program coordinator and financial assistant.

We welcome anyone who would like to share their ideas, passion and zest for interpretation to contact us or get involved in the association.

Kristi Beetch, President

You may have seen her on "Canada A.M." or "CTV Travels", hiking snow-covered ridge tops with the shows' hosts, or read about her in the Calgary Herald "Snow Profiles On Women". Kristi deferred her law school ambitions to become a ski bum in Colorado, only to meet a Canadian who wooed her to the Great White North where Banff has been her home since 1989.

She is an accredited Hiking Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and an accredited Professional Interpreter with the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association. Kristi guides for White Mountain Adventures and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and is a Road Warrior with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

Tracey Gage, Executive Director

Tracey has degrees in Wildlife Biology and Geography from Guelph University and has her teaching degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. She has worked as a researcher an educator and a guide since 1990 and has been in the Canadian Rockies since 1997. Since her move to the Rockies, she has worked as a backcountry guide, interpretive guide, manager of an interpretive guiding program and an operations manager in the destination management field. Her strengths lie in training and coaching guides in the theory, knowledge and spontaneity of the interpretation field. Tracey loves the mountains and what the Bow Valley has to offer to locals and guests alike. She is an accredited Professional Interpreter and has gone through the ACMG hiking guide training.

Tracey has been actively involved with the Interpretive Guides Association since 2004 and is excited to continue supporting and representing guides in the Mountain National Parks.

Dave Verhulst, Past Executive Director

Dave worked as the Executive Director of the Interpretive Guides Association from 2004 through 2010. He has a Masters degree in Recreation Management from Acadia University, and degrees in history and outdoor recreation from Lakehead University. An avid paddler, hiker and interpreter, Dave has worked as a guide since 1998, is an accredited Professional Interpreter with the Interpretive Guides Association, a CANSI accredited Nordic Ski Instructor and ORCA accredited canoeist. Starting as a paddling guide in Ontario, Dave moved to Alberta in 1999 and since that move, has worked as a Nordic ski instructor in Lake Louise a paddling guide in Jasper, park interpreter at Dinosaur Provincial Park, roving interpreter and hiking guide in Banff and he continues to guide for several local companies in the Rockies.

Dave believes passionately in the ability of interpretation to connect people to Place and works to ensure professional interpretive guides are supported and represented in the local guiding community.

Kirsten Schmitten, Vice President

Kirsten's career started back in the 1980's, writing and performing interpretive theatre in Kananaskis Country. After obtaining her degree in Environmental Studies and Physical Geography she co-managed the interpretive programs for British Columbia's East Kootenay parks.
Since 1992, she has owned All Things Wild in Jasper National Park. Her company is involved in interpretive guiding and presentations, writing, and staff training. Kirsten has worked with tour companies, Parks Canada, Jasper's Heritage Tourism Association and many of the local hotels and schools. She is accredited through the Interpretive Guides Association as a Professional Interpreter.

Dave Holder, Director at Large

Dave began his mountain instruction career while serving with the Royal Engineers (British Army) where he was trained as a Mountain Expedition Leader, Biathlon coach, Orienteering coach, climbing supervisor and Rock leader. Leading groups around the world to Britain,Iceland, Norway, Africa, Belize and the USA his journeys led him to Canada where he met his wife Brenda. Marraige, retirement from the military, and Immigraton quickly followed.

He currently works with his wife's company, Mahikan Trails. He is accredited by the ACMG as a Backpacking Guide and the Interpretive Guides Association as a Professional Interpreter. His other Canadian qualifications include: Nordic ski instructor with CANSI, Cave rescue training with BC cave rescue, survival Instructor with Mors Kochanski (author of Northern Bushcraft), Interpretation Canada Training Program, Canoe Instructor and First Aid Instructor.

Laurie Schwartz, Treasurer

Laurie was born on the prairies, but has the soul of a mountain girl. She arrived in the Bow Valley back in 2003 to co-create Parks Canada's Mountain World Heritage Interpretive Theatre (Mountain WIT). The project makes good use of both Laurie's BFA in Theatre (University of Alberta) and her passion for the mountain parks.

She became an accredited PI guide in 2003, then spent two winters as a guide with Discover Banff Tours. Having experience in the public and private sectors helps Laurie to bring a balanced perspective to her involvement on the IGA board. She especially enjoys helping aspiring interpreters discover their authentic voice.

Sarah Fox, Community Liaison

Sarah has a degree in Natural Resources Conservation and a teaching degree. Her professional experience includes teaching, park management, environmental assessments, guiding and managing operations. Improving the visitor experience through excellence in interpretation of natural and cultural history in the mountain parks is both a personal and professional mandate of Sarah's. She welcomes this opportunity to contribute my knowledge of interpretive guiding and its role in the community to the Association and looks forward to providing guidance and direction that will help guides and the guiding community to provide exceptional experiences to park visitors.

Catherine Hawkins, Director of Communications

Catherine has been living, enjoying and working in the Bow Valley since 2004. During this time she has held a number of interpretive positions ranging from an interpretive supervisor in Lake Louise to an environmental educator in Kananaskis. Currently she works as the Education and Interpretation Coordinator at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Catherine always enjoys putting her degree in Environmental Studies and Geography to good use when working as a natural history interpreter but particularly enjoys integrating environmental themes into the art and cultural programs she develops at the Whyte museum. She is an accredited Professional interpreter with the Interpretive Guides Association.