REO Guides

Bryan Fogelman, REO Founder & President
Bryan Fogelman has rafted whitewater for 30 years, starting with early descents down the Salmon and Clearwater rivers in Idaho. In 1980, he started to explore many rivers in British Columbia that had never been rafted. He completed several first descents and introduced commercial rafting on the Nahatlatch, Nahatlatch Canyon, Similkameen Canyon, Elaho and Chehalis rivers.

After completing a Masters Degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University, Bryan headed down to California to work with Bill McGinnis, author of the best-selling book on rafting and owner of California's premier rafting company, Whitewater Voyages. Here Bryan rafted the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork of the American River, the Merced near Yosemite, and the upper Klamath.

Returning to BC, Bryan started REO in 1983 and focused on running the steeper, more technical Class 4 rivers. The Nahatlatch quickly became Bryan's favorite river. The beautiful jade-green waters of the Nahatlatch, the continuous and unrelenting whitewater, the incredible forest and canyon backdrop, and the hot and sunny summers were simply irresistible. In 1989, Bryan purchased the land and began developing his vision for a world-class adventure-style resort on the Nahatlatch.

Bryan has logged over 2,000 trips on the Nahatlatch River and still guides, crazy as ever. When he is not on the river, he enjoys playing squash and fitness training. Bryan is also a management consultant specializing in the tourism, recreation and hospitality industries. Bryan worked with KPMG Peat Marwick for 5 years preparing business plans, market studies and feasibility assessments for resorts, golf courses, ski resorts, casinos, hotels, and other projects including Nasdaq and TSX listed companies. Bryan lives in Anmore, BC with his wife Karen and three children, Bryden (16), Sierra (13) and Tenaya (11). He is the Founder and Partner of a second start-up business, Namegoddess.com, an online business launching in June 2012.

Jamie Wright, REO Senior Trip Leader and Safety Kayaker
Jamie came to REO in 2008 and stepped right into a role of trip leader. With his easy going attitude and amazing on-river confidence & skills he fit right in with the REO team and even helped instruct our guide school. Born in Epping, Essex, he did not call this home for long. Not a big fan of living near London, Jamie found himslelf living in Wales or Scotland when not guiding around the world.
Jamie has a university degree in raft guiding with a second major in kayaking. Despite being disease-free at the moment, Jamie is no stranger to finding and contracting all the best diseases around the world. Shortly after arriving in Canada, Jamie's long time dream of becoming a hockey player was dashed when he found out that he couldn't ice skate, not even close. Jamie's favorite things in Canada include cheese, tea, the temperature of the water and the huge bear population. Jamie hopes to live in a cabin tent without mice in 2011.

Matthew Heslop - REO Resort Operations Manager and Senior Guide
Matt, a former fish biologist, Matt left a life wrestling ‘rather large’ eels in New Zealand swamps to travel to North America and find himself. Mostly he found himself totally lost in small town Mexico, which was too good to last. The US also proved unsettling for Matt, the folk were armed, the cops brandished tazers and weren’t easy to bribe. Canada was the answer. So Matt sought sanctuary in the BC wilderness- lugar de suenos. Since arriving at REO he has discovered a love he didn’t know he had- The River!
After a recent visit home to recharge his accent, get a haircut, guide some rafts over a waterfall, avoid earthquakes and just enjoy being top of the food chain again - Matt is excited to return to REO for his 3rd season.  Matt plans to spend the 2011 season at REO further developing his night vision and spending less time looking for his dog but mostly to continue living the REO legend. Great river, great people and great stories.

Ash Bullivant - REO Trip Leader, Videographer and Safety Kayaker
Ash arrived at REO in 2010, just in time to catch an afternoon trip. The rumours he'd heard about the Nahatlatch, REO and BC in general were true and he never looked back. Ash has paddled in the UK, Ireland, Austria, France, Norway, India, Uganda, Zambia, Canada and the USA. He just enjoys running rivers whether its in a raft, canoe or kayak.
In addition to coaching paddle sports Ash has also coached climbing, rappelling, bridge swinging and dog sledding. Ash has a degree in multimedia design and has a keen interest in video production. He enjoys making videos and even creates content for REO.


Tom Downs - REO Trip Leader and Safety Kayaker
Tom is part of the REO British paddling team and has been running rivers around the world for the past 12 years in his kayak & for the past 5 years in a raft. Tom has paddled rivers in Canada, USA, Nepal and all over Europe.
This lifestyle has suited Tom well as he is a big fan of being outdoors, having fun and the reason he chose to come check out REO Resort in 2010. Tom is back in 2011 with hopes keeping his legs intact, swimming more often and possibly growing a massive moustache.

Freya Pearse - REO Guide and Safety Kayaker
After completing a degree in Psychology at Nottingham Trent, UK in 2010, Freya thought she deserved a holiday and joined her boyfriend in BC. Not content with being just a raft guides girlfriend she pursued her own rafting career that year when she was the first to graduate from the REO guide school program.
Her experience as a white water kayaker helped her to quickly pick up the principles of rafting and she managed to complete the season with few dramas. Freya is returning this year for more river and hot tub fun. During the off season, Freya spends her time searching for new adventures, most recently kayaking the Zambezi and her first ski season in Whistler.
 
Tara Gray, REO's Shuttle Manager
Tara Gray is REO's senior shuttle driver and a former river guide. Tara is in charge of delivering exceptional service to our guests and hopefully exceeding their expectations. Tara started her whitewater career in 1994 as a graduate of the REO Professional Guide Training program. Though she was the youngest (and smallest) participant, she made it clear to everyone that she was not to be underestimated. Tara loves spending time with her two boys Caelan & Evan, her partner Tannah, and her dog, Sadie in the Nahatlatch Valley. 

Part Time Guides

Mark Bond, Senior Trip Leader
Mark is REO's Senior Trip Leader with 13 years of outdoor leadership and trip leading experience. He has been a REO icon since 1999. Mark is an excellent safety kayaker and trip leader, guiding all of our most challenging rivers and expeditions. He runs the REO guide school and is our Multi-sport director in charge of rock rappelling, kayaking, and hiking. Mark is a 1995 graduate of the internationally known COLT program (Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training) on Vancouver Island.  In April 2003, Mark completed his Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria, majoring in Physical Education. Mark, his wife Michelle and son Ethan live in Maple Ridge BC.

Tannah Chernove, REO Trip Leader
Tannah Chernove senior trip leader Tannah Chernove is REO's Resort Manager extraordinaire. Tannah guides, kayaks, trip leads, maintains the resort infrastructure, and repairs our buses and trucks. So we keep him very busy.
Tannah is an exceptional raft guide and a Class 5 safety kayaker. He started formal outdoor education training in 1994 by completing the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training program (COLT). The following year he worked as an outdoor education instructor at Strathcona Park Lodge and spent all his spare time and money kayaking the rivers and surf of Vancouver Island. He instructed kayaking, mountaineering, sea kayaking and canoeing for the COLT program for several years.
Tannah has worked at REO since 1998. He is a licensed trip leader who loves technical boating. So you can expect to see him on the Nahatlatch Classic in high water, the Canyon and Stein later in the summer. He has traveled most winters to places all of us would love to be: Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. He has paddled Class 4-5 rivers in each of these countries and has guided commercial raft trips on over 15 International rivers.

Tyler Dinsdale, REO Trip Leader
Tyler has returned to REO after taking a couple years to travel, guide and kayak around the world. It is nice to have Tyler's experience and skills back at REO.





Fredrik Ellmark (Freddy), REO Trip Leader
Freddy is REO's Swedish superstar raft guide. He obtained a degree in Physical Education in 2001 and has been working in the outdoor industry ever since. He is currently working towards an Outdoor Rec Diploma at Cap College in Vancouver.
Freddy has spent the last number of years traveling and working around the world. He is an elite soccer player, which keeps him in excellent physical condition. Freddy enjoys chick flicks, playing X-Box, watching hockey, and meeting girls.

Chris Fisher (Welshy), REO Senior Guide and Safety Kayaker
Chris is from Wales, weird. Despite a funny accent, Chris is very popular among our guests. Maybe that was because he was often the safety kayaker on their rafting trips, and everyone loves the safety kayaker.
Chris's expert kayak and river skills allowed him to quickly take to raft guiding. This also allowed him a lot of river time over the past couple of seasons. When not on the river Chris enjoys having a few pops, playing with small dogs, and patching holes in his kayak.

Chris Rhodes, REO Senior Guide
whitewater rafting bc river raft Vancouver Chris RhodesOne of our few Canadian guides, Chris is a Vancouver native. Chris's athletic ability allows him to learn new skills very quickly. Raft guiding, kayaking, and driving large vehicles were no exception.
Chris is a very talented river guide and has become an excellent kayaker. These skills go nicely with his current interests of surfing, skateboarding, and sea kayaking. He has taken these skills to New Zealand and is now back at school completing his degree in adventure tourism.
When Chris is not pushing the limits of his kayaking ability he enjoys driving school buses and hanging out with friends.

Shannon McCarty, REO Senior Guide

Justin Morton, REO Senior Guide

Andre Tougas, REO Trip Leader
whitewater rafting bc river raft Vancouver Andre Tougas

Tyler Garnham, REO Trip Leader
whitewater rafting bc river raft Vancouver Tyler Garnham