Dave has a Master's Degree in Recreation Management from Acadia University and Bachelor degrees in History and Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism from Lakehead University. Originally from Peterborough, Ontario Dave has lived in and around the Rockies for 7 years.
Dave started working in the guiding industry in 1997 as a canoe tripping guide. When he moved west, he taught Nordic skiing at the Chateau Lake Louise in the winters and guided historic float trips down the Athabasca River in Jasper for the Rocky Mountain Voyageurs. Accredited as a Professional Interpreter by MPHIA in 2001, Dave continued working in Jasper and Lake Louise for another year before gaining employment at Dinosaur Provincial Park with Alberta Parks.
While at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Dave led interpretive
hikes, bus tours, children's programs and performed weekly amphitheatre shows.
During his second season with Alberta Parks, Dave conducted his Master's research study on interpretive programming in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The research specifically focused on the integration of Environmental History into Interpretive training and programming at the park.
After completing his Masters research project, Dave moved back to Banff and became Executive Director of MPHIA. He also spent a summer as a roving interpreter for Parks Canada. Currently, Dave remains very busy with MPHIA and also works part time guiding for various companies in the Banff area and presenting the Banff's Best program.
Directors Message- Spring 2007:
We're just about ready to head into the busy guiding season and we've got a full slate of courses available to help you prepare for the season. New guides can look forward to the Basic, Group Management or Standard/Apprentice courses and more experienced guides can explore the benefits of the Professional Interpreter course.
A focus for MPHIA this spring is to offer exciting opportunities for MPHIA members to learn new things. In March we hosted Jack Nisbet, author of Sources of the River and he provided us with an incredibly in-depth look at the complex life of David Thompson - just in time to prepare guides for the 2007 David Thompson Bicentennials. In May, Bob Sandford and Dr. David Sauchyn will take us through how to communicate climate change effectively to our guests. If you haven't been peppered with questions about climate change yet, you will this summer - it is a hot topic! A third program we are offering MPHIA guides is the Aboriginal Awarneess Training course with Ghost River Rediscovery. Don't miss these incredible opportunities - sign up early to secure a spot.
Another change for this Spring is the new log-in for the members section of the website. Update your MPHIA profile and look at some of the new information we have posted. If you have material you think other guides would want to know, please send it to me!
Here's to a great summer of guiding!
I believe that the creation of on-going learning opportunities is key to
the formation of a learning community and the personal and professional growth
of interpreters.
For these opportunities to be successful and useful to you,
I need YOUR ideas and participation.
With your help, ideas and support, I believe we can continue to improve
MPHIA and increase its relevance to individual interpreters and to the tourism
community. Please contact me with your
ideas and suggestions.
