Chapter One – People, Place…

Ocean Sound Kayaking was founded in 1989 by Colin MacNeil. Originally from Alberta, Colin was the cowboy on the BC coast at the time. He settled in Vancouver, and became a guidance counselor at a local high school, but his passion for kayaking and Haida Gwaii continued to be infectious during the summer months.

In the early 80’s Haida Gwaii was at the forefront of International News with the Lyell Island Blockade.  It was not until 1987, when the Haida Nation, in conjunction with the Canadian Government, that the South Moresby Memorandum of Understanding was signed, paving the way to Canada’s designation of the area as a National Park Reserve.

In 1989, Colin was granted a business license from Parks Canada and the Haida Nation, making him one of the few kayakers to receive such an allocation.  Well-liked amongst the Haida Elders, Colins ability to tell stories, roll a cigarette while paddling, and oh could he cook, sushi, and crumbling chocolate chip cookies, were just some of the attributes that made him stand out.

I arrived on Haida Gwaii in 1995, to guide for a local Sandspit zodiac company – Moresby Explorers, founded by Doug Gould. Over the next eight seasons, I would guide for this outfit, and get to know Gwaii Haanas intimately.  Driving that zodiac to a new place every time I got behind the helm, “OH the places you’ll will go…”

After a few years of zodiacing, I would put my craft of kayaking to work and started managing a fleet of kayaks in Gwaii Haanas for the founder of Gabriola Cycle and Kayak, – Peter Marcus. Peter a giant of a man in stature and personality, would unfortunately pass in 2000. Gabriola Cycle and Kayaking would take on a new brand through my long-time friend, and co-guide – Joanne Hagger. Known by locals as JoJo, she would transform the GCK in Gabriola Cycle and Kayak into Green Coast Kayaking, which presently offers tours on Haida Gwaii through Bryce Klye.

In 1999, I had plans of my own, and started the Moresby Explorers Kayaking Company, with Doug (silent partner), Darren Bowman (my college roommate), Bill Rieger (my longest friend on the Gwaii), and Heron Wier (Susan Weir’s son from Rose Harbor). They say, business partners only last a few years, and in 2002, Doug was selling Moresby Explorers to my friends and co-guides Heron, and Lo.

With our first child on the way, my wife and I were presented with an uncertain world ahead of ourselves, either reinvent myself, and my passions, and pursue a new career in Canmore, Alberta where I would reside in the winter months.  So, I decided to put my best paddle stroke into the vast ocean and embark on a new adventure.

In 2003, I purchased Ocean Sound Kayaking from Colin MacNeil. At this time, Ocean Sound Kayaking was the smallest company operating in Gwaii Haanas, while Colin provided trips to a transient group of friends annually, creating little to no revenue other than self-enjoyment.

From one cowboy to another, Ocean Sound Kayaking continues to be fueled by a passion for the many cultural treasures and natural wonders that Haida Gwaii has to offer.

 Chapter Two – … and Community

Today I pride myself that OSK has become a leader in the industry and has stayed true to its roots as a niche product, exclusively found on Haida Gwaii. In the early years, I guided every tour that Ocean Sound Kayaking offered. While the company has grown over the years and so have my responsibilities at home, I am blessed to have such an invested team of guides that I have worked hand in hand with over the recent years. As they say, you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and I believe this is the advantage that Ocean Sound Kayaking has to offer to its guests and team.

Over the past 15 years, I have continued to hold an active role as a Director for the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association, an organization that represents and advocates for licensed operators in Gwaii Haanas, while corresponding with Parks Canada, and the Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board regarding policies for the many user groups within the park. This is a role I take seriously, as it allows me to express my values for the natural world.

It would go without saying that the Haida Watchmen program has played a profound role in influencing my passion for Haida Gwaii, and the Haida culture. Kinjuuaas (Charlie Wesley) – hereditary chief of Hlkinul (Cumshewa Village) at the time, known to me as Chief Charley, would be the first Haida I would meet. Instantly he filled my ears with stories of the creator – the Raven, and its companion – the Eagle, while his wife, Carolyn would bake huckleberry pies with the countless berries I would gather when visiting the village of K’uuna Linagaay (Skedans).  I remember the day, as it was yesterday, when Haida Elder and Master weaver, Jiixaa (Gladys) would present me with a dozen weaved cedar roses at Hlk’yah GawGa (Windy Bay), stating “These will last you a lifetime”, but it was her gentle soul that would leave a lasting impression on me. Friends who stop by my Canmore home, often see me strutting my Haida weaved hat that my friend, and Manager of the Haida Watchmen Program, Kaahling.nga Jaad (Upsy) would present to me while attending my wedding, a symbol of friendship – a bond I will never disappoint. My Haida heart however goes to Xaahlgiinganguu (Joan Moody), Upsy’s sister, who has shared her incredible family with me on countless occasions and gave me the much-needed haircut one day at Gandll K’in Gwaay.yaay (Hot Springs Island) with the scissors on my Swiss army knife…

Since my arrival on Haida Gwaii, I have learned that age is only a number, and it is a person’s spirit to explore wild places that I desire.  While guests have taught me to laugh plenty and often, it is the Spirit of Haida Gwaii that fills my soul annually.

Though our lives have changed in so many ways, I am blessed that the majority of my relationships are still weaved together, and I am also grateful that my family and I are welcomed into the Haida Gwaii community with open arms.

This evening, like most evenings in Sandspit, I find myself sitting on the beach watching the sunset amongst friends, around the warmth of a beach fire, reminiscing with Doug about the early zodiac years.  Bill places another log on our fire, while Heron and Lo’s little one shuffles about the beach.  The fire presents JoJo warmth as she exits the ocean from her nightly swim, all while my children laugh and share the beach with us – my Haida Gwaii community.

“Oh, the places you will go”

I look forward to sharing the many cultural treasures and natural wonders of Haida Gwaii with you and yours.

Cheers

Steve Konik – Owner/ Operator

We believe that thinking small can help you get the attention you deserve. Our business is small and owner-operated, and we take a hands-on approach to every aspect of it. We are specialists, not journeymen like many other tour companies that offer tours throughout the BC coast or global destinations. Our niche tours on Haida Gwaii provide you with a full-circle experience that others cannot match.

From the initial email and conversation, to helping you through the planning stages, to finally meeting you in Haida Gwaii, we offer a unique feature that sets us apart. Each tour is a one-of-a-kind experience because it’s YOUR tour. We focus on tailoring each tour to your individual expectations, needs, skill level, and overall desires.

Every tour we offer is a one-of-a-kind experience because it’s YOUR tour. We believe in tailoring each tour to your individual expectations, needs, skill level, and overall desires.

While others may try to imitate our tours, it is our 30 years of experience navigating the waters around Haida Gwaii that allows us to successfully offer a variety of tours, ranging in skill level, location and duration (6 to 21 days).

• Open this link to review our niche tours throughout Haida Gwaii.

Basecamp Tour or Expedition Style

Both styles of tours offer you an equal amount of kayaking time in a day. What it really comes down to is how you wish to spend your day.

Expedition tours have a specific objective – to travel from a known starting point to a finishing point. Kayakers will break camp and set up a new home almost daily, rain or shine, and early starts may be required for efficient travel when working with tides.

Expedition kayaking also provides you with the opportunity to explore a variety of landscapes unique to Haida Gwaii. There is nothing like having the opportunity to wonder what new adventures may lie ahead in your day.

One luxury that a Base Camp tour offers is flexibility. Our Basecamp tours tend to use three or five strategically placed remote wilderness camps throughout the vacation. Guests may find a more leisurely atmosphere because they are not required to move camp from one rainy site to another, if they don’t wish to.

Base camps are also not so tide-dependent, so early starts may not be required. From these camps, guests enjoy a variety of day trips that allow them to intimately explore the surrounding landscape.

We understand the importance of eating well, and we take pleasure in preparing excellent meals for you. Our meals are made using fresh, locally sourced produce, and we prioritize flavor and nourishment while ensuring quality, quantity, and variety. Our years of experience have enabled us to cook almost all meals over an open fire, giving them a homely touch. We also use an outback oven to bake bread, carrot cake, and our guests’ favorite ‘yam brownie’. Whenever possible, we catch fresh fish to serve. Our menu is primarily vegetarian, but we also offer side dishes for fish and red meat lovers.

We provide a full breakfast every day that includes fresh fruits, hot drinks, omelets, French toast, whole-grain pancakes, and more. For lunch, we serve deli-style meals with hearty salads, and chocolate is always available. Dinner is a three-course meal with a surprise dessert.

We are happy to accommodate guests with allergies or dietary restrictions, provided we are given enough time to prepare.

At Ocean Sound Kayaking, we have a policy where we do not require a minimum number of guests to operate a trip. We believe that if you make a commitment to travel with us, we must deliver that commitment back to you, with no questions asked and a 100% trip departure guarantee.

We are confident in providing this commitment as our sold-out track record over the past two decades speaks for itself.

Over the years, we’ve experimented with various kayak combinations to create the perfect environment for your sea kayak vacation. After much trial and error, we’ve found that a fiberglass mixed fleet of six single kayaks and three double kayaks is the ideal setup for self-supported travel.

Since 1989, our approached when using a mix fleet of kayaks (6 singles, and 2 doubles) is, if each person took 1.5 days in a double kayak, this would allow everyone to use a single kayak 80% while on a eight day tour.   Please note, no one person can reserve a single kayak for their Gwaii Haanas trip with OSK.

Our tours are designed to cater to both experienced and beginner kayakers. However, a beginner kayaker may lack the confidence or skillset required to meet the daily objective, which could result in a lot of downtime if you use single kayaks exclusively.

The inclusion of double kayaks can provide a less-experienced kayaker with more confidence or a more leisurely day when desired, resulting in a better overall vacation for the entire group. While using all double sea kayaks can be a unique and rewarding way to travel, it does not provide the independence that some travelers seek. Using a mixed fleet is simply the best option for safe and comfortable group travel in a remote wilderness setting.

Eating well is a vital aspect of any vacation, and we take great pride in our cooking! However, storage space can be limited in single kayaks, resulting in a limited or dehydrated menu. The additional center hatches in the double kayaks provide ample storage for a well-equipped wilderness kitchen and all the fresh fruits and vegetables needed for our coastal cuisine, where imagination is your only limitation.

Equipment: We use the Nimbus Telkwa Series and Seaward Tyee Kayaks single kayaks and the Sea Ward -Passat G3 and Nimbus- Scana double kayaks.

OSK mixed fleet gives you the freedom, the comfort, the confidence and the experience you deserve!

We can accommodate almost any idea for a custom tour, but it’s important to note that most tours require advanced planning with detailed objectives. If you’re planning a custom tour in Gwaii Haanas, we can offer support and outfitting services, but please keep in mind that all tours require two guides.

No matter what your proposal entails, we always uphold the high standards and policies set by our professional body, the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia. Our team is proud to include some of the best examiners and instructors in the industry.

“At OSK, we sell our tours directly to guests instead of wholesaling to mass marketing schemes. By doing so, we can provide you with the benefits you deserve. Eliminating the wholesaler scheme also benefits you because we are able to make a cohesive group through our principles well before we even meet.”

Haida Gwaii is not a mass-market destination- thank goodness! It is not the cheapest region to visit either, but the experiences found here are like nothing else in the world.

Operating in a remote region within a short season, means we encounter expenses that do not apply to more heavily travelled destinations. We pride ourselves as being thorough when it comes to planning for contingencies and ensuring your experience is second to none.