Faculty and Staff Profile
David Pinel
Faculty/Departments:
Arts,
Science and Management,
Continuing Education and Training
Positions/Titles:
Faculty
Area of Expertise: Nautical, Tourism Adventure Guiding, Tourism & Hospitality Mgmt
David has been at the helm of North Island College’s Adventure Guiding and Indigenous
Ecotourism programs on Vancouver Island since 2002 and active with NIC since 1997.
Through this he appreciates working closely with talented students and graduates,
knowledge keepers from over 30 coastal First Nations, and respected colleagues across
many departments, sectors and regions.
He is the past owner and now consulting Co-Manager of West Coast Expeditions (WCE), through a recent ownership transition to the local Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Che:k:tles7et’h’
First Nations (KCFN). WCE delivers a nationally-recognized Canadian Signature Experience
and was Canada's first kayak tour company to achieve the Sustainable Tourism Gold
Award. Through his leadership and this ownership transition WCE recently became accredited
with The Original Original mark from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
(ITAC) as part of an exciting and important path ahead for the KCFN and sector.
With more than 35 years of experience guiding, instructing and educating in coastal
BC, David is committed to developing well-rounded skills and knowledge in adventure
and ecotourism leaders, including a passion for working with Indigenous ecotourism
education, partnerships, and community capacity building. David’s applied research
and consulting outreach has been focused on community-based tourism planning and regional
economic development that prioritizes cultural and ecological stewardship for health
and well-being.