Our Story

Message from Ocean Edge Expeditions Owner Shelley Sansome

I first came to Haida Gwaii in 1996 for silviculture work and the moment I set eyes on the islands it felt like home.  After spending a consecutive year working here, I called the storage unit I was renting in Vancouver and let them know I no longer required their services.  Everything I arrived with in my backpack a year prior was enough, and I chose to stay to make Haida Gwaii my forever home.  I am grateful daily to the Haida Nation who have been stewards of these lands since time immemorial for welcoming and supporting me, my family, and the privileged life we’ve been gifted. I have spent the majority of my time outdoors fishing, hiking, paddling, and exploring with my family of five.  I have taken my decades of experience exploring Haida Gwaii to develop tours to ensure guests have the opportunity to see the highlights, meet the locals, and leave with memories to last a lifetime.

Ocean Edge Expeditions is a small, locally owned and operated company who help people enjoy authentic experiences.  Because we strongly believe that Haida Gwaii is a magical place, we want to share our experience with others. Our guides were all born and raised on Haida Gwaii, thus proficient to lead groups to explore all the wonders Haida Gwaii has to offer. We’re guided by our values of grit, integrity, gratitude, and healthy lifestyles in which we respect the client, environment, and quality of the services we provide.

Haida Gwaii is home to eight communities with a population of approximately 4,300.  Most residents wear many hats in our Island community to create a spectacular place to live and visit.  We are an inter-connected community surrounded by beautiful scenery with a slow pace that allows us to be present and enjoy each moment of this extraordinary archipelago.  We are often challenged with capacity issues such as limited amenities, resources, and labour force.  Weather here can be wicked, and trips planned on the water such as fishing, paddling, or to the UNESCO site of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage can be cancelled or delayed due to the ferocious winds we often experience.  These challenges can overwhelm guests planning a first visit, but I assure you we always have a contingency plan for guests to ensure fantastic memories are created daily.

We are available to provide solutions and practical advice so you can travel with peace of mind.  Ocean Edge Expeditions is fun, reliable, and grateful for your business.   I optimize our services with the help of my employees, family, and friends so you can check everything off your bucket list.  I look forward to connecting with you!

Cheers!