It鈥檚 a very long way from Squamish to Antarctica, but there鈥檚 a small group of locals making the trip on a regular basis 鈥� and helping others get there too.
Squamish-based tourism company One Ocean held their annual three-day training conference in town last week, preparing an international team of polar experts for their seasonal changeover.
鈥淎ltogether there are something like 50 years of polar exploration here,鈥� said director of operations Aaron Lawton.
Travelling in the north as a tourism operator is a logistical puzzle 鈥� with limits on where ships can dock, navigation and sometimes unpredictable weather.
At the annual meeting, the One Ocean team works on strategies for those challenges 鈥� but also how to engage guests and create an impression of the Arctic that will create lasting change.
鈥淲hen the industry started, it was just as much about teaching people,鈥� said Lawton. 鈥淲e鈥檝e stayed true to ourselves and true to our roots.鈥�
In 2007, One Ocean was one of just a few Arctic tourism companies. The Squamish company is still growing. This year a third boat will be added to their fleet, and tours have expanded to Iqaluit and Labrador.
The market remains a niche 鈥� but for those enchanted by the ice caps, the journey can be life-changing.
鈥淥n an expedition cruise, we focus on the wildlife, the scenery, and what鈥檚 happening around the ship,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f we can turn people into ambassadors for conservation or preservation of that area then all the better. We have a philosophy at One Ocean that the world is one ocean. If we can send our people home with some knowledge and some appreciation about what is at stake, and they change one decision in their life, we鈥檝e done something good.鈥�
Lawton said he has seen travellers on the ships come back giving up bottled water or their gas-guzzling vehicles. Many have also returned with insight into what it takes to live up north.
To aid in that goal, the company employs naturalists, historians, artists and Inuit cultural interpreters to give those on board a fulsome view of the Arctic while at sea.
Depending on accommodation level, trip length and destination, trip costs can vary from $4,000 to upwards of $10,000.
While the cruises have introduced international tourists to places like Antarctica, the Arctic and Spitsbergen, they鈥檝e also opened that world professionally to a few locals in Squamish.
As the town has grown, One Ocean has faced the same challenges as other Squamish companies: a shortage of office space, rising cost of living and parking difficulties. But Lawton said despite that, one of the advantages is how many adventurous people are drawn to the area.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very easy place to attract good talent to, because it鈥檚 very beautiful,鈥� said Lawton. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of talent already in town because there are a lot of people in this area working in positions that aren鈥檛 their strength, but are taking jobs based on what is available and then keeping their eyes open.鈥�
When she first moved to town, Kaylan Worsnop was working behind the counter at Zephyr Cafe. Lawton and his colleagues were some of her regulars, and eventually, she was offered a job.
Now she leads polar expeditions aboard One Ocean鈥檚 two cruise ships.
She said the best part of the job 鈥� besides 鈥渇ormidable鈥� polar bear sightings and epic whale encounters 鈥� is watching people leave their comfort zone.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing all these incredible new things, and you realize maybe you can do more than you thought you could,鈥� she said.
鈥淎lmost on every trip, I see the stillness of Antarctica and of the Arctic and the vastness. If you give people the opportunity 鈥� and I always try to encourage everyone to take a moment to put the cameras down 鈥� to just be quiet for a moment. Just to be with it, rather than trying to capture it. It鈥檚 easy to get sucked into consuming and experience, than having an experience.鈥�
鈥淲atching people transition into just being a human in an amazing place 鈥� how does that feel? What does it sound like? That鈥檚 the moment where you see the change happening.鈥�
