Meet The Staff

"Island Lake Strives to be a Leader Among Preferred Places to Work"

Join our team

	Steve Kuijt - Operations Manager Steve has lived in Fernie off and on for over 25 years and skied in the area for close to 30 years. He worked his way up from summer park maintenance and ski bumming in the winter to year round guiding and now management of Island Lake Lodge. Steve is a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and has an educational background in Environmental Science. Steve has been the owner operator of private guiding company for 10 years and loves sharing the wonderful mountains of BC with people from all over the world.
	Jen McEvenue - Lodge Manager Jen came to Fernie from Ontario on a spontaneous cross-country road trip, and was originally intending on staying just a few months. Her first time out to the Mountains, there must have been something she liked; it's been 7 years now and she hasn't left since. Jen has been with Island Lake for the past 4 of those years. She brings with her a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bishop's University in Quebec (Major in Psychology, Minor in Anthropology) as well as 7 years experience in the Hotel and Tourism Industry and 14 years now of experience in Customer Service. Jen's bumper sticker should read: I'd rather be camping or riding or swimming or reading…but if I have to work, it's not such a bad place to spend 40 hours a week, or 50, or 60…
	Kelly Atwells - Head Chef Originally from Ontario, Kelly moved out West in 97’ and settled in the ski town of Fernie in 1998. “That season I got to taste the legendary Fernie powder…I fell hopelessly in love”. His kitchen career started in 95’ when he was employed in Scotland and worked his way around Europe. In the summer of 98’ Kelly started cooking in Yellowknife NT, where he prepared Arctic fish and game dishes for a flexible blackboard style menu.” We changed it up every night, so from the beginning I learned the importance of creativity and putting flavour first”. Kelly has since traveled and worked around the globe gaining experience from places such as Australia, NZ, Japan and Indonesia. Spending the last year at Island Lake as the Sous Chef, Kelly now steps into the role as Head Chef, a promotion he welcomes. “My work at Island Lake gives me the opportunity to be creative with my craft in a beautiful setting, and the cat-boarding is the icing on the cake”.
	Vanessa Avery - Spa Coordinator Vanessa flew in on a wind from the west and bounced off the foothills of Alberta to end up in the gorgeous rocky mountains of Fernie. She is definitely a “hands on” girl with over five years of experience as a massage therapist. Somehow, between the snowmobiling, catskiing, and the early morning snowboard run, she still finds time for a husband, a baby girl, and a runaway dog.
	Lucie Richer - Front of House Manager Lucie came to Fernie for a winter in 1996 and like so many others couldn't leave after getting a taste of what winter was really all about "pow", It turned out that the summers where equally fun once she started mountain biking. Fernie is now home. Lucie as worked in the service industry since she was 15 from bus girl and dishwasher to serving and cooking. "I started at Island Lake 3 years ago and I can't still believe I'm so lucky to work with all theses amazing people, I never worked anywhere like it and they're the reason I love my job…the scenery's not bad either!"
	Katrina Horne - Reservations Supervisor Katrina has been with Island Lake Resort Group since the spring of 2005. She has lived in the Elk Valley for the past 9 years. Katrina's previous jobs have mainly been in agriculture, natural area management and customer service. Her hobbies consist of skiing, fly fishing, camping, dogs and her husband (not in that order). Katrina brings an abundance of energy and enthusiasm to the Fernie office.
	Katey Taylor - Reservations Katey grew up in Fernie and over the past few years has had the opportunity to travel to such places as the U.K. Europe, and South Africa, but even after seeing what the rest of the world has to offer Katey and her boyfriend have decided Fernie is where they would like to call home. Katey is very exited about joining the ILRG Team and can’t wait to go Cat Boarding this winter.
	Kathy Pelletier - Reservations Kathy grew up in Fernie ski racing throughout highschool. She attended post secondary school in Calgary after graduation and is now back in Fernie living with her boyfriend. Kathy's interrests include, downhill skiing, x-country running, biking, going to the lake and travelling. Kathy also enjoys customer service and the friendly enviroment of Island Lake Resort Group. Over the years Kathy has been a dishwasher and then server at Island Lake Lodge and as of fall 2007 is pround to be part of the reservations team.
	Sandra DaCosta - Events Coordinator Sandra discovered Fernie in 1998 during a road trip from Ontario, with intentions of staying for only one winter season! Now 10 years later, after experiencing the beauty of the mountain culture and the deep “pow”, she is here to stay. Sandra has been a member of the Island Lake Resort Group for the last 9 years. Sandra’s skills and expertise lie in guest services where she enjoys meeting and working with people. Most recently her winters have been spent at Powder Cowboy Cat Skiing and she is currently the summer event & group coordinator at Island Lake Lodge. She is inspired by the outdoors and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, fishing and climbing.
	Christa Moffat - Sales & Marketing Manager Christa Moffat discovered Fernie in 1988 while working and living in a geology camp in the Flathead Valley southwest of town. After having grown up in the Quebec ski town of Mont Tremblant, Christa was drawn to the Fernie lifestyle and its epic deep Rocky Mountain powder and decided to stay. Christa spent 7 rewarding years raising her sons here in Fernie and then began work for a local lifestyle magazine selling advertising. This is where she found her true calling - sales! Christa has worked with the Island Lake Resort Group on the sales and marketing team for the past 3 years. She also teaches yoga at Island Lake Lodge in the summer and enjoys hosting the Women's Wellness Retreat and Girlski Programs.
	Andrew Brown - Maintenance Manager Andrew found Fernie in 1979, after leaving Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of New Brunswick. He worked for Fernie Snow Valley and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies for 26 years. Andrew worked for the BC Forest Service, recreation and forest surveys, during the summer, in the early years. Then the ski industry became a full time position, and he apprenticed as a Millwright and indentured six others as Millwrights. Andrew was the Lift Maintenance Manager and received papers to work on passenger ropeways including high speed detachables and assisted with construction of all the current lifts at Fernie Alpine Resort. Andrew can usually be found shoveling snow with a big smile at Island Lake Lodge.
	Darryn Shewchuk - Director, Sales and Marketing Darryn left the big city of Vancouver and his high-tech jobs three years ago to work with Mica Heliskiing and now works with Island Lake and Powder Cowboy as well. Darryn has 20 years of sales, marketing and advertising experience, combined with a lifelong passion for skiing and snowboarding. "Working for the best backcountry operations on the planet is the opportunity I've been waiting for all my life. The teams I work with are fantastic, the best in the business and the skiing…you just can't describe it in words, you have to come and see it for yourself to believe it can be this good"!