Our Team
"Individually we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."
At Farewell Harbour Lodge, we are fortunate to have such a wonderful team of passionate and dedicated individuals. Each person brings their own unique skills, energy and heart to everything they do, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere that makes our lodge feel like home. Their unwavering dedication and camaraderie make everything we do possible, and we couldn’t be more proud to work alongside such an amazing group of people.
Meet the team
Tim and Kelli McGrady - Co-General Managers
With a lifelong shared passion for adventure, wildlife, and the wild places of the BC coast, Tim and Kelli bring decades of experience in ecotourism, leadership, and conservation to Farewell Harbour Lodge. They have built a life deeply rooted in nature, adventure, and hospitality. When not at the lodge, they call the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island home. Their sons, Connor and Kai, have been involved in lodge operations in various ways over the years. Together, they hope Farewell Harbour Lodge offers guests a much-needed respite from our complex and virtual world by connecting to nature, each other, and themselves. They love to see the joy and sense of calm that washes over guests during their stay, leaving them rejuvenated and more connected to the natural world.
Tim brings 30 years of lodge and wilderness travel experience to his work at Farewell Harbour. After finishing a Biochemistry degree at the University of British Columbia, he began leading expeditions and guided tours all over the coast from Alaska to southern Mexico and has explored most of the 27,000 kilometres of the BC coast by small boat. His passion for wildlife led him to specialize in bear viewing and whale watching. He played a key role in establishing the Commercial Bear Viewing Association and is currently the vice president of the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association. If you can't find Tim at the lodge, look for him lying on the grass on a sunny afternoon in the meadow behind the old homestead cabin - his favourite place on the planet!
Kelli earned a Criminology degree from Simon Fraser University and a Family and Marital Therapy diploma before working with high-risk youth and families. Her passion for nature led to a volunteer experience studying killer whales in Johnstone Strait igniting her lifelong love for Orcas. After meeting Tim, she left city life to guide sea kayak expeditions and lead wilderness programs in Mexico, Alaska and the BC Coast. While raising their sons in the Comox Valley, she deepened her connection to nature. In 2010, she joined Spirit Bear Lodge and brought this experience to Farewell, where she wears many hats, including Office and Hospitality Manager and forest bathing guide. Kelli's favourite place to be is in the water, making her the most dedicated member of the Farewell 5pm Swim Club.
Born and raised in Toronto, I had the downtown apartment, career and city life but was ready for a big change. I moved west and then left the country for a backpacking trip that ended up lasting 4+ years! Now I call the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island home.
What is your favourite comfort food?
I could eat a curry 7 days a week! I spent a few months in India years ago and I think I skipped 70% of what I wanted to do in favor of eating 5 times a day instead. And yes I ate all the street food and NO I didn't get sick! The sickest I've ever been was from a McDonalds chicken sandwich in Jakarta.What do you enjoy most about working in the wilderness?
I used to think it would be nice to have an office with a view. Now I feel lucky that the view is my office.
Rebecca Crilly - Client Services Manager and Guide
Originally from the UK, Vancouver Island is now home and I spend my winters between the Comox Valley and seeing family in Ireland.
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect with nature?
My favourite way to connect with nature is by being close to the ocean - there’s nothing quite like being out on the water. I love the peace and quiet, the rhythm of the waves, and the sense of tranquility it brings. Whether it's kayaking, boating, or simply floating, the ocean is where I feel most at home.
What is your favourite travel memory?
Florence, Italy, is one of my favourite places in the world - especially when travelling there with my mum. There's nowhere better to savour delicious food and watch the world go by. Ironically, this vibrant city taught me to slow down and to truly soak in the atmosphere. It wasn't about rushing to see the sights but about cherishing the little moments.
Rob Neef - Head Chef
Where do you call home?
Vancouver BC. Well, not actually Vancouver, but a small town outside called Deroche, BC. So small, it's better to say Vancouver!
What is my favourite travel memory?
On our first trip to Paris, I was so caught up in conversation with my wife that I completely missed seeing the Eiffel Tower. After settling into our hotel, we went out for a date - turned the corner, and there it was, towering right above us just a block away. Seeing it up close for the first time was absolutely stunning.
In Nara, Japan, the wild deer roam free through the protected National Park. There are hundreds that walk around in the city, and if you bring them a Shika Senbei (or "deer cracker"), they will bow to you in exchange for the cracker. It's magical.
Jeff Weatherhead - Sous Chef
A good homemade lasagne.
What is your most memorable wildlife experience?
It has to be learning to canoe in northern Ontario and coming across a mother moose with her calf. I was only ten years old.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
Each morning, peace arrives at the door in the form of choices.
Tarek Mohammed - Breakfast cook
I like to get out of the city and spend some time in the rainforest. It’s the perfect way to unwind and escape from civilization for a bit. There’s nothing like being surrounded by nature, just soaking in the peace and quiet.
What is your favourite comfort food?
That is an easy one - Falafel! I love how it brings people together. It’s one of those foods that crosses all dietary preferences, and no matter where you are, you can always find someone who loves it just as much as you do!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
An old man once told me that you must respect everyone if you want respect from them.
Jessica Weis - Front of House
The first time I moved to Vancouver Island, I was alone on the ferry and of course nervous about the new life ahead as I only knew a couple of people. This all changed when the captain told us over the intercom to look outside. That was when I saw my first pod of Orcas!
What is your favourite travel memory?
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is one of my favourite places in the world! Spending the day wandering through a park with over 160 waterfalls is nothing short of magical. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend adding this beautiful country to your bucket list!
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
New friends quickly learn that if there’s water, I’m there. Whether I'm sitting on a rock watching a river, lounging on a beach, attempting to surf, drifting on a boat, or simply floating the day away.
Gavin Baker - Dinner service and Housekeeper
Eggy Bread with Ketchup. No matter the problem, eggy bread fixes it!
What is your most memorable wildlife encounter?
Being cornered by a moose on a bike path and having to wait for it to lose interest before I could safely pass it. It was a loooong wait I can tell you!
Tell us about your favourite travel memory!
Driving from BC to Alaska and back on a mega road trip with my fiancée, many adventures and wildlife spotting ensued. En route we even worked on a goat farm in the Yukon and quickly
Julie Thouy - Breakfast service and Housekeeper
Edinburgh, Scotland. I landed in Scotland about 10 years ago and have considered it home ever since. It is a stunning city with easy access to the outdoors. I guess nothing beats men in kilts, fried mars bars and the charming but impossible-to-understand Scottish accent.
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
I would say hiking solo. I could walk for hours just by myself, all day in the mountains (with a preference for the Scottish Highlands). I could go with friends, but they would need to be ready to stop to look at birds, mosses, funky rocks and hopefully find them as amazing as I do!
What is your favourite travel memory?
At 22 years old, I travelled to Tasmania for my first couch surfing experience. I was a bit anxious, with my basic English, to stay alone with a local host. But when I arrived there were 12 international couch surfers staying in the three bedroom house, and our 71-year-old host was sleeping in a tent in the garden! I stayed for a month and a half, hiking, making jams from the fruits in the backyard, learning to cook dishes from around the world and improving my english faster than expected. It was incredible, and I created unforgettable memories with all the other wonderful travellers.
Javiera Munoz - Hospitality Services
I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile.
What is your most memorable wildlife experience?
One of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences I had was in Puerto Williams, the southernmost town in the world. I had the chance to trek through breathtaking landscapes and kayak along the Beagle Channel. I was completely surrounded by untouched nature and incredible wildlife. It was just magical and a very humbling experience.
What is your favourite comfort food?
I am a BIG pizza lover! It's my ultimate comfort food, and I could eat it every day.
Sylvie Stewart-Grantham - Guide
Like many others on the team, I was born and raised in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. My family moved away in high school when my parents took up teaching jobs at an international school in Hong Kong, and after four years there I went to Ontario for University. Although I loved those years and learned a lot, being away for a decade helped me appreciate what a beautiful place I grew up in and how lucky I am to be able to call it home.
What is your most memorable wildlife experience?
I feel completely spoiled to work as a guide in such a wildlife rich part of the world. Over the years there have been many wildlife moments that have made my heart soar, but one of the most
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
My obsession with needle crafts! I first learned to knit when I was studying abroad in Iceland and couldn’t afford to buy a real Icelandic sweater. So, after many nights spent knitting in the student pub, a very frumpy brown sweater emerged. I tried to pawn it off on my sister because it was “too small,” but now it lives in the back of her closet for the rest of eternity. Probably for the best. I’ve now moved on to socks and toques and have become totally hooked.
Renée Cross - Guide
I feel very fortunate to have been born and raised in the Comox Vally on Vancouver Island. Growing up on the island has meant that I am constantly in a state of awe, immersed in the rugged beauty of the West Coast. It has inspired me to spend as much time as I can exploring and learning from these wild places. I will always live in a place where I can dip my toes in the ocean!
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
I have fallen in love with many ways of getting outside, but get me seated in a kayak, and I will happily (momentarily) forget about everything else! Sitting low in the water, where you can see all the vibrant, strange intertidal life swimming under the surface, never ceases to excite me. Don't be
What is your most memorable wildlife experience?
One unforgettable afternoon comes to mind; we were sitting in an estuary when some rustling trees nearby revealed a Grizzly bear and her cub. They walked past our group, but the curious cub paused for a moment and looked right at us. I remember looking into those eyes and being shocked by the feeling that washed over me. That's the short and sweet version, but I think about that moment all the time.
Lauren Webster - Guide
Every day is full of surprises! I constantly find myself in awe, filled with wonder and feeling grateful to be alive.
What do you hope guests take away from their experience here and how do you contribute to that?
I hope guests leave with a deep sense of connection to this incredible place and a renewed sense of wonder. Some of my favourite moments are seeing guests of all ages light up with childlike excitement - something that can be harder to find as we grow older. Watching them in awe of the natural world is truly special. As guides, we can't control the wildlife, but we do our best to read the environment, create the best possible experiences and share in the excitement!
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
Looking for tracks! Last summer, coastal wolves returned to the area, which was incredible! Hearing their howls was unforgettable, but discovering their tracks and signs around Berry Island made the experience even more magical.
April Klein Horsman - Guide
My most memorable experiences with wildlife come from my childhood in Ontario’s Great Lakes region. Summers were spent wading into ponds, streams, and lakeshores, catching frogs, minnows, and crawfish - memories I cherish to this day. Now, I’m grateful to explore and study aquatic life for a living!
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
My favourite way to spend time outside is in the water. Whether I am surfing, scuba diving, or just swimming. I love feeling the ocean’s power and being immersed in its rhythm. As someone who’s naturally chatty, swimming forces me to slow down, be quiet, and truly tune in.
What is your favourite travel memory?
I recently had the incredible opportunity to live in Australia for a year travelling the country as a salesperson on the county fair circuit. My favourite part was road tripping through the northwest. Western Australia has the most spectacular beaches, breathtaking sunsets and the best gas station meat pies I've ever had!
Sean Thompson - Guide
I am a sucker for a beautiful view. Waking up early and hiking, biking, kayaking or boating to find the perfect spot for a sunrise is my favourite way to start to day.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
You are only as young as you are today! Live every day to the fullest.
What is your favourite comfort food?
A homemade, bacon, cheese Elk burger!
What do you hope guests take away from their experience here?
A sense of calm. I want people when they return to their normal lives and have a moment which might cause them stress to be able to close their eyes, take a deep breath and play back a moment during their stay with us which brought them inner peace.
Sebastian McGrady - Guide
I grew up in Comox on Vancouver Island, but I am currently living in Kamloops where I am taking a guide training program at Thompson Rivers University.
What do you enjoy most about working in the wilderness?
I enjoy the excitement of experiencing something new every day.
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
My favourite thing to do outside is to get out ski touring. It's a great way to explore beautiful remote places without the crowds.
Ashley Warwick - Guide
I was born and raised on Vancouver Island and have lived here my entire life. I feel a profound connection to this island, not only because multiple generations of my family have lived here, but because I grew up with the ocean at my side and forests as my backyard. Surrounded by the island’s rich biodiversity, I developed an early sense of wonder and curiosity that has shaped me. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to share my passion for this remarkable environment with others.
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
Recently my new favourite hobby has been snorkelling/free diving. Once immersed in the cold North Pacific waters of BC, it's hard not to become enthralled by the many species that live within
What is your most memorable wildlife experience?
It’s hard to choose just one experience, as I’ve been fortunate to have many incredible moments with wildlife. However, as an enthusiastic birder, one encounter with a Pacific-slope Flycatcher stands out. In pursuit of the perfect shot, I had spent three hours trying to photograph this elusive bird, with no luck. Feeling defeated, I finally gave up and sat down beside a cedar tree. To my surprise, the Flycatcher perched right next to me, lingering for about five minutes as if curious about my presence. I snapped a few photos before setting my camera down and simply enjoying the moment. That experience taught me a valuable lesson - to slow down, be present, and that patience is the key to unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Frances Greening - Shuttle Driver
Swimming with manta rays and whale sharks in Western Australia.
What is your favourite way to get outside and connect to nature?
Freediving or swimming in the ocean has to be my favourite way to feel connected to nature. A dip never fails to make me feel more grounded.
What is your favourite travel memory?
It has to be watching the sunrise at the summit of Mount Fuji after hiking through the dark for 6 hours!
Patch & Renea Burley - Our winter caretakers
Our favourite location is the Great Room, even in the quiet of winter, the echoes of laughter linger, carrying the joy of past guests as they set off on new adventures and forged lifelong friendships. This place feels like it is filled with stories, energy and the spirit of exploration.
What is your favourite comfort food?
For us, food is more than just flavours or ingredients—it’s about the experience of sharing it. Whether it’s a hearty meal after a day of adventure or a simple snack by the fire, food becomes truly special when enjoyed with friends, new acquaintances, and meaningful conversation. There’s something magical about gathering around a table, swapping stories, and creating memories over a
What is the best advice you've ever received?
The best advice we've ever received came from my grandparents: "Never rush into an answer. If you're unsure of the correct response, wait - in time, you will grow into it". Their wisdom has stayed with us, reminding us that patience often reveals the best path forward. This philosophy is beautifully echoed in the words of Abraham Lincoln: "It is not the years in the life, but the life in the years". Life is meant to be embraced, explored and enjoyed. So take your time, savour the moments and above all - have fun along the way.