An exciting public announcement, a ribbon cutting, and some sprayed champagne took place outside the iconic Interior Whitewater Expeditions building in Clearwater on Aug. 23, with new owners Travis Aback and Kenneth Mckay taking over the waterways from longtime mentor Doug Trotter.
New river boss Aback tells the surgeryitaly that Trotter isn’t going to be “leaving in reality.” He says that “We were just joking with Doug about this, and realize we may just find him out talking up the guests next season and giving them the prep before a trip.”
Aback says that he and Mckay are cut from the same cloth as their mentor, adding “We have the same values as Doug: integrity, honesty and hard work. This is my ninth season. I started in 2015. We took over the business in February and haven’t gotten around to marketing until now.
“It’s been a good season for us this year. We’ve applied a new online marketing mixed with guerilla marketing, and have taken our team to Kamloops to events, handing out coupons, networking. It’s been good.”
The longtime friends and adventure enthusiasts have had many trips together, always feeling a strong pull to the excitement of the river and the bonds made while working with others who share the same love of whitewater rafting in the spectacular beauty of Wells Gray Country.
“We believe in surrounding ourselves with people who share the same values, and we are committed to upholding the principles that Doug established early on and over the past four decades in every aspect of the business. Ken and I intend to maintain IWE’s high standards of safety, excitement and professionalism that the company is known for,” says Aback.
Speaking to employees and locals gathered at the headquarters of Interior Whitewater during the recent ribbon cutting celebration, both men spoke about their gratitude to Trotter for providing them with this opportunity and for the amazing example he set for them early on in their years of employment with the company.
”I moved here from Collingwood, Ontario 10 years ago and took the TRU Adventure Guide program,” says Aback, who has been teaching at TRU for the last six years. “I teach there in the winter. I also do heli-skiing in the winter. Our plan is to do heli-rafting trips this coming year. We did one and it was really successful.
“We fly to the Mahood confluence, 40 kilometres up the road. We do about 12 kilometres a day and camp on beaches, playing beach games like badminton and volleyball. We also provide charcuterie boards and dinners and desserts. We provide everything: tents, sleeping bags. We also take hiking trips into Sylvia Goodwin and to Moul Falls. We are definitely trying to expand and see what is sustainable.”
The partners are very focused on safety, and praise the other companies in the North Thompson for being dedicated to sharing information in that regard.
“We work well with the other rafting companies and send them client,s and they do the same for us. Our biggest thing is safety. We communicate well between our companies and make sure the community and our guests are safe. High safety standards will continue to be our priority, as we’ve learned from the best, that’s Doug.”
Trotter has dreams of travel and relaxation, but no one will be surprised if he just shows up now and then, throwing on a company shirt and ready to help.
“Our commitment to the community here is unwavering,” says Aback, “and we can’t wait to welcome everyone out next season for more thrilling whitewater adventures.”
