1. Name: Graham MacDonald
2. Guide Level: AOG
3. Years as an SKGABC member: 2 years
4. Where do you work / paddle and for whom?
Work/paddle - Haida Gwaii, Sandspit, Go Experience
o Goexperience.ca
o Scott Gould Owner
Paddle – Alberta lakes and rivers
5. How did you get into paddling / guiding?
In 2020 my buddy Bill took me on a 5-day float down the Red Deer River to the badlands. Being a backcountry hiker/camper, I loved it! It was backcountry with happy knees. I started taking rolling and white-water classes. I paddled with a local club. All the time paddling multiday on local rivers with Bill. Guiding began in 2024. My buddy Scott from “Go Experience” asked me to be part of his team. We took the AOG course with Arron. Since, I’ve been guiding with Scott on day trips, and a 5-day AOG with Mateo. Most of my ocean interaction has been through diving. I have a lot learn!
6. Do you have a side / winter gig or study?
I am a retired IT Sys Admin. During winter, when I’m not playing with my grandkids, I enjoy growing plants indoors and practice yoga.
7. Care to share a guiding-related fun fact?
Here’s a fun fact… The 5 species of Lamnidae sharks have a very cool feature. Lamnidae sharks have a warm-blooded system (rete mirabile, “Wonderful Net) that gathers heat from muscle movement and circulates the heat into vital anatomy for predation. The Salmon Shark, one of the Lamnidae, found in the Pacific Northwest, has been recorded with a core temp of up to 20 degrees F above surrounding water temp.
8. What do you like to educate or inspire guests about?
Yoga, Sharks, Stories of awesome marine life I’ve encountered as a divemaster through the 80’s and 90’s.
9. What's a challenging memory or trip you've had as a guide and what did you take from it?
I made the mistake of not securing my own kayak properly at lunch. A guest pointed to it floating 10 yards off shore. It was a humbling pill to swallow.
Takeaways:
1. Maintain an overview and don’t get too microscopic/defused while focusing on entertaining and feeding the fun guests from the UK.
2. Have a short checklist to keep me on track.
3. Have my communication devices on my person or with me.
10. What do you think are the most important qualities of a leader?
Arguably here are my most important qualities of a guide / leader:
- Clear Communication with self, individuals and groups through questions and soliciting feedback for confirmation. Another part of communication is observation of body language, facial expressions and changes in paddling cadence.
- Do not lead by assumptions.
- Have Patience.
- A leader loves what they do.
- Capable of building common ground between the group.
- Cares about each guest’s experience and making lasting memories.
11. What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn and why?
Chicken/Duck farming. Food is medicine!
12. What's a favourite memory from an SKGABC Training Course, Exchange or Exam?
On the AOG Training course we did a 5-day trip around Louise Island. The planning, the comradery and the amazing campsites will be with me forever.
13. What’s your favourite sea creature and why?
Sharks.
It was Jaws at the drive-in when I was a kid. We need a bigger boat! Back then there were approximately 250 known species. They say there are around 540 known now.