Caitlin Woof-Tourism and Travel sparked my adventure

Our teachers threw us in canoes and made a classroom of kids paddle to the middle of nowhere, to sleep in tents and poop in holes we dug ourselves and it was probably one of the most beneficial life experiences I’ve ever had.

Graduating Travel, Tourism & Eco-Adventure has not only paved my way to the most incredible career opportunities; it gave me the tools to step out of my comfort zone, have unforgettable experiences, meet some of the most interesting people, and see the most breathtaking places in Canada. Some may say that being put in a tent, on an island in the middle of nowhere might do that to you- push you out of your comfort zone.

Travel and Tourism wasn’t your average classroom. I don’t think many other programs taught you how to dogsled, to snowshoe up a mountain, or how to dig a cat-hole either (that’s a hole you poop in). These not-so-average classes showed me that I wanted a not-so-average career either, in not so average places.

I took with me the tools that T&T taught me, including stepping out of your comfort zone, and drove myself halfway across the country to take on a job of being a whale watching assistant on the tip of Nova Scotia. Travel & Tourism showed me that there’s always more adventure, and it gave me a thirst to keep exploring. So soon after I drove myself completely across the country to work in Fernie, British Columbia in the most breathtaking mountain town where I would meet people from all over the world. I was able to wake up to the snow covered mountains and take on a new adventure every day.

Today I’m writing this from my office, as the supervisor of one of the oldest lodges in the beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. I know I made the best decision taking this program when I can look out my window and see the glacier fed lake and rocky shores, and the incredible mountain range surrounding my village.

Soon I’ll be looking for the next place to discover. Confederation College, my teachers, my peers, and this program has opened so many doors for me all across the country that I can’t just stop exploring here.

My adventure started with Travel, Tourism & Eco-Adventure and it hasn’t stopped since.

Caitlin Woof-Graduate 2016

Baily-Jean Hamilton-Operations Lead Westjet

This year I graduated from Travel and Tourism - Adventure and Ecotourism Program with Confederation College. My program helped me create a future I never dreamed I could have. During my time with Confederation College I was given the opportunity to work with WestJet airlines as part of my Cooperative Education where I truly grew a love for the industry. Once I completed my Cooperative Education I was able to receive a permanent job with the WestJet as a Customer Service Agent. I then worked my way up to Operations Lead and am now currently the local base trainer here in Thunder Bay. With WestJet I am a part of the local Care Team where we work together on our community investment which is very important to me. My biggest accomplishment with WestJet has been our 12,000 Christmas Miracles where we went out into the community and did small acts such as putting change on parking meters at the college and hospital and well as leaving candy canes on everyone's’ cars. WestJet has also given me the opportunity to travel the world. Some of the destinations include London, Paris, St. Lucia, Hawaii, Germany and numerous others.

I am also a manger to a company I took part in creating called Union Jack'd Bustraunt. Union Jack'd is a 1966 double decker bus from Scotland that we restored and converted into a food truck (Bustraunt). Our goal with the bus has had primarily been to increase local tourism traffic to different areas of town as well as enrich our customers with remarkable service. The Travel and Tourism program helped me a lot in learning how to own and run a business solely by the numerous different classes they offer. Some of the classes being business fundaments, sustainable tourism, marketing for tourism and customer service professional. Without these classes I would not be even close as knowledgeable as I am now in owning a business. 

Without the encouragement and help from my program coordinator Giannina Veltri and the college I don't think any of this would have been possible. I am undeniably thankful to the college for taking a part in helping me create a bright future for myself. 

Scott Simpson-Systems Operations Control Centre

I registered into Tourism - Travel & Eco-Adventure program in the Fall of 2006.  At this point, I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do in life, but I loved to travel.  What did I have to lose?

This decision ended up being one of the best choices in my life.  Not only did I meet some great people who many became long-term friends, but I got to meet Giannina and Rod.  These two made coming to school fun.  We learned many things in such a way that it didn’t feel like we were in school.  We also got to experience learning outside of a classroom; from a canoe trip, to hiking, and a class trip to Costa Rica. 

I graduated in the summer of 2008 and was lucky enough to get a job shortly after, with Wasaya Airways.  I was originally hired as a Flight Follower but with some hard work and dedication, I’ve worked my way up to the Manager of SOCC (Systems Operations Control Centre).

All this has allowed me to do what I love most: travel.  From New York, Mexico, St. Lucia, and Panama, just to name a few.  I credit for where I am today to the experience I learned within this program.  Thanks Giannina and Rod!

“Life is short and the world is wide”

Scott