Kate began her career in the tourism industry as a guide working in Northern Ontario and South America; travelling to Inca Ruins in Peru, the Galapagos in Ecuador and through the Amazon Jungle in Boliva. She continued to gain experience as the manager of “Playa Escondida” Ecolodge in Ecuador. Her work in the tourism industry was combined with time spent volunteering in conservation, community development and working with street youth in South America. Her experiences inspired her to begin an innovative eco-tourism company that encompassed her ideals of community development through sustainable tourism and thus, the journey to create Ecolibrium Sustainable Adventures began.
Kate has an Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Lakehead University, Canada. Her search for knowledge has also led her across continents to pursue cultural studies in China, polar tourism in Antarctica and healing techniques in South America. Kate is a Registered Massage Therapist and graduated from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in 2007. Her interest in health care and balanced living is an inspiration for Ecolibrium Adventures and through her work she seeks to bring the opportunity for education in health care to communities and people around the world.
My favorite place: Elliot Lake, Ontario
Most fascinating place I’ve been: The Amazon Jungle
Most majestic places: Patagonia, Galapagos, Mt.Omei, Salt Flats in Bolivia, Machu Picchu, Canadian Rockies and the Lemaire channel in Antarctica.
The genesis of Ecolibrium: I had just moved back to Canada after 3 years in South America and was heading off for a beautiful day of skiing. I remember listening to salsa music and feeling a giant knot of nostalgia and displacement. I had left the tourism industry in South America because I felt that tourism was actually damaging the places and cultures that I had grown to love. Now I was in Canada and it didn’t feel right. I felt that I could do more, and combine my love of travel, adventure, and health and healing with community development (or volunteerism). So I decided to start a small grassroots tourism company that puts equal focus on sustainable development and meaningful tourism experiences to help balance out this world. That is how Eco-Librium Sustainable Adventures came to be.
