Meet the Team 2026

JACOB Confurius, FRONT OF HOUSE

Share a memorable travel experience that has shaped your perspective on hospitality

I was spending some time in Montreal 5 or 6 years ago and had been told by a chef I used to cook for to go to a restaurant called Vin Mon Lapin. So I booked in and showed up and when I arrived they told me my table wasn’t quite ready yet, but I’d be able to sit with my friends outside at a picnic table to wait. The Maître D’ brought over some mini cocktails and a few bottles of wine saying she heard I was a somm and thought I might be interested in a few bottles she’d been loving. She was so passionate speaking about them. The way she treated to us at the time felt like a friend having a dinner party and sharing things she loved with her guests. It really just made me feel so warm and welcome and I’ve tried to convey the same feeling to everyone that comes as a guest wherever I’m working!

Do you have a hidden talent or surprising hobby?

A hidden hobby of mine is writing sci-fi, and a hidden talent of mine would be singing a very select few songs during karaoke.

What’s a book, podcast, or film that genuinely changed how you think about something?

There are a few cookbooks I picked up during my time cooking in Stratford, Ontario, that really sent me down my path in wine. The Joe Beef cookbooks spoke beautifully about hospitality, food, and wine, specifically “I love burgundy so much I could pour it in my eyes”. That made me so intrigued, and I knew I had to try it. And then the cookbook called La Buvette really got me excited about how much I simply did not know about wine and that this is a never-ending student type of job!

Colleen, Flex

Yo nugwa’am Kugwisilogwa gyayu klan laxa Namgis.
Hi my English name is Colleen and I reside in Alert Bay.

If you could teleport to any place in the world right now, where would you go?

If I could teleport anywhere right now, I would choose to go back in time and sit with my grandparents. I would love the opportunity to learn more about our family history and hear stories from their childhoods. I was fortunate enough to know my Granny Jesse, my dad’s mother, whom I miss dearly, but I never had the chance to meet my other grandparents. From what I’ve heard, they all had incredible stories to share, and I would cherish the chance to listen to them.

What’s a skill you’d love to learn if time and money were no object?

I would love to learn everything needed to manage and operate a lodge within our traditional territory. There is so much beauty and rich history that lies within our Kwakwakawakw Territory. So much land that remains to be explored and appreciated, which also carries its own stories.

Being here in Nimmo Bay, I can feel the presence of those who once lived and walked these lands before us. So, to breathe life back into one of our traditional village sites, where my ancestors once walked, would truly be a dream come true.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self that not all people are mean or unkind. Often, people’s actions are shaped by the trauma and challenges they have experienced throughout their lives. Everyone has a story to tell. Most importantly, I would remind myself to love who I am a little more each day than I did the day before.

Sylvia O’Brien, Guide Team

My name is Sylvia O’Brien. Born and raised in Tofino, now currently based in Victoria.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done, and what did you learn from it?

Last summer, during a boat-camping trip, I decided to bushwhack up a remote, unmarked mountain. The terrain was incredibly rugged, I fell more times than I can count, crawled through dense devil’s club, and tackled the entire climb in running shoes because I hadn’t packed hiking boots. To make things even more interesting, I was in the middle of negotiating the purchase of a property and handling all the communication through satellite texting. It felt like I was balancing two very different adventures at once. After a long day of scrambling and route-finding, I camped on the summit and woke up to an unforgettable sunrise overlooking miles of untouched wilderness. The experience taught me that resilience and a positive attitude can take you much farther than perfect preparation, and that some of the most rewarding adventures come from stepping into the unknown. Also, to always pack hiking boots.

What’s a small, everyday thing that genuinely makes you happy?

Being in and around the water. Whether it’s an early morning cold plunge, a day spent boating, or an afternoon swim, water has a way of grounding me and bringing me back to the present moment. No matter how busy or challenging the day has been, I always leave feeling refreshed, centred, and absolutely happy.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Ooh La La by Faces

Dylan Penner, Infrastructure, Projects & Safety Manager

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring three items, what would they be?

I feel like this question needs a bit more context. Are we talking shipwreck, plane crash, or a planned island getaway gone sideways? If it’s a crash situation, I’d be at the mercy of whatever was in my suitcase, so hopefully a toothbrush, some clean underwear, and a notebook. If I get to choose, I’d bring Freya (dog), a whole lot of rope, and my sweet love. Between the three of us, I figure we’d have a pretty decent operation running before long.

What’s your superpower at work? The thing people always come to you for?

Finding things. Whether I’m on-site or off-site, if something’s missing, there’s a good chance I know where it was last seen, who moved it, or where it mysteriously ended up. I spend a lot of time moving around the docks and across different areas of the property, so I’ve developed a pretty good memory for people, places, and misplaced equipment. It’s either a superpower or a serious issue haha.

What’s your go-to comfort food and what memories does it evoke for you?

Comfort food depends entirely on the circumstances. Is it a cold rainy day? A long week? Or am I recovering from a night out. Regardless of the situation, it’s hard to go wrong with a wood-fired pizza or a steaming bowl of ramen. Both have a remarkable ability to improve morale, at least temporarily.

Guest Experience Coordinators

Abby Swan

What is a skill you would love to learn if time and money were no object?

I’d love to learn how to properly sail and fish and then I would spend my winters sailing south and eating fish tacos between ocean dips.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Anything by Shania Twain.

What is a small, everyday thing that genuinely makes you happy?

Light, honestly. The way it turns ordinary things magical for a moment; sunlight making the ocean sparkle, the sun filtering through the trees, a shadow of dancing leaves and the reflection of a chandelier in the ocean. It all brings me joy.

Sarah

What’s a skill you’d love to learn if time and money were no object?

I would love to learn how to play the fiddle! When I was about 7, I asked my parents to put me in fiddle lessons after I went with my family to a little east coast blue grass festival, I fell in love with the sound and energy of the instrument. They probably saved their eardrums by saying no, but the itch has never left me!

Creedance

Whats a small, everyday thing that genuinely makes you happy?

After a full day on the dock, when most of the staff are tucked into bed, on my way to my own, I love imagining Nimmo Bay as a little diorama. The guests enjoying the tasty morsels our chefs have prepared. The staff preparing for bed, reading or journaling or snoring. The late night snackers eating a bowl of cereal in Rosies, our mess hall. A few night owls enjoying a cold beverage on the staff fire dock. The dock pups curled up at the foot of their owners bed. The lights slowly but surely shutting off one by one.

ALEx Janes, Marketing

My name is Alex Janes and I currently live and work in Squamish.

What’s your go-to comfort food?

My go-to comfort food is simply pasta and a red meat sauce. It’s not anything fancy or a traditional bolognese, but it was a classic dinner that my dad made while I was growing up. It brings me right back home. Whenever I need a cozy pick-me up meal it’s still the dish that I crave and must make.

What’s a small, everyday thing that genuinely makes you happy?

I am a big promoter of having a daily little sweet treat. That could be anything from the freshest summer strawberries or a giant chocolate chip cookie. So, for me, when the clock hits 4:00 pm, making my afternoon coffee and having a little treat on the side truly brings me such joy.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

I’m going to pick Birds Still Sing by Taylor Acorn as the theme song of my life.

Emiline, Wellness Team

How do you recharge?

I recharge by spending time in nature, paddling, reading, dancing, journaling and practicing yoga.

Share a memorable travel experience that has shaped your perspective on hospitality

I’ve had the privilege of traveling to many countries and experiencing different cultures and landscapes, but one of the experiences that has stayed with me most was a recent trip to Sri Lanka. I stayed with a family in a homestay who welcomed me as though I were part of their community. I spent one-on-one time with each of them, learning about their lives, stories, and traditions.

They opened their home to me, introduced me to their friends, and made me feel an incredible sense of belonging and love. Each day I would head out to explore, and the mother of the home would check in on me, help arrange transportation, offer recommendations, and surprise me with home-cooked meals, conversations, and laughter. That experience shifted my perspective on hospitality because it reminded me that some of the most meaningful travel memories are shaped not only by the places we visit, but by the people who make us feel at home along the way.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring three items, what would they be?

If I were stranded on a deserted island, I would bring my Kobo fully loaded with books, arts and crafts supplies, and my journal. Books would keep me company and remind me that there are infinite worlds to explore, even when standing still. My art supplies would allow me to create, play, and find inspiration in the beauty that surrounds me and my journal would be a trusted companion and a place to collect fleeting thoughts, moments of wonder and the lessons of solitude.