With a master's degree in physiology and a never-ending curiosity about the world around her, Jackie has a love of nature and the outdoors that has carried her through many challenging and exciting adventures. A far cry from her more conventional upbringing in southern Ontario and northern Scotland, Jackie’s expedition career kicked off in 2008 when she worked as first mate during a live-aboard sailing program for high school students in the tropical waters of the Caribbean. She spent the next 10 years sailing across open oceans and working in sailing-related tourism all over the globe. Her love of water intersected with her love for wildlife in the fjords of British Columbia when she came face to face with Ursus arctos — wild grizzly bears — on the shores of Knight Inlet in 2016. A new obsession took hold, and Jackie has since been skippering water-based grizzly bear tours in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest. Once grizzly season winds down, you'll find Jackie moving north to Churchill for a different kind of bear viewing—exploring the tundra ecosystem with Nat Hab guests, in search of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. 

Upcoming Adventures with Jackie:
Polar Bears of Churchill
Iceland: Circling the Land of Fire & Ice


Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

R. Gillespie
“Jackie could not have done more to make our trip a true adventure. She was very knowledgeable, helpful and patient with every guest. I cannot imagine a more qualified Expedition Leader to guide us around this environment!”

T. Kokjohn
“We loved Jackie for so many reasons. She was very informative and had a fun personality, which made for a fun, relaxing experience. Our trip was nothing shy of amazing because of her assistance. Jackie made this trip one of my all-time favorite vacations.”

B. Magid
“Jackie is very enthusiastic and fun to travel with. Everyone in the group loved her and enjoyed her presence. She was incredibly knowledgeable and helped expand our bear understanding. I would love to go on another expedition with her.”

J. Henning
“Jackie is an extra special guide. She is very fun and her personality allowed us all to relax on our trip. She was also mindful of each person’s wellbeing and needs throughout the excursion. We were very appreciative that she made good use of every minute we were with her!”

R. Wexler
“Jackie's enthusiasm made every single thing so much better. She kept us informed on the whole trip and taught us so much about Arctic wildlife. She was also a good listener, which is a very important quality in an Expedition Leader. I loved spending time with her on the trip.”