Faculty Profile - Mike Neville

Michael began his career as an adventure guide in Tofino in 2004. He moved to the Yukon the following year to continue his career, where the Arctic and subarctic rivers became a second home. Most summers consist of rafting the Tatshenshini, Alsek, and Firth rivers.

Michael enjoys showing others some the most beautiful places in the world through guiding and education. The outdoors drew him to adventure guiding, but the people he meets keep him engaged. Michael believes that sharing his passion for rivers and the wilderness and fostering adventure tourism helps ensure these areas are recognized as timeless assets and protected from resource extraction.

Michael completed his graduate research through Acadia University, where he focused on integrated land management and the implications to whitewater kayaking, and studied the relationship between user groups in wilderness areas. While on the East Coast, Michael taught adventure tourism at a college level in Gaspe, Que. Michael has also worked for the Outdoor Recreation Program at Vancouver Island University and for School District 69’s outdoor program. Returning home to Vancouver Island and teaching at North Island College in the Adventure Guiding program is “a dream come true.”