Faculty Profile - David Pinel

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.