Laura Dowling - Guide and Co-Founder of Canadian Rockies Experience

Laura Dowling

Laura is the co-owner and professional guide at Canadian Rockies Experience.

Laura’s journey started with a degree in Sports Science & Biology in England and led her into a career as a Phys Ed. teacher in the Irish Prison System.

In 2011, Laura took a career break from her job and decided to travel the world and discover what else was out there. Spending time in Australia and New Zealand gave her a new perspective on life and introduced new opportunities. Arriving in Calgary in January 2014, was quiet the shock with the -20°C temperatures.

Laura is an IGA professional guide with 4 seasons group management and is also Certified in Wilderness first aid.


Darrell Menduk

Darrell Menduk

Darrell is the co-owner of Canadian Rockies Experience. Darrell and Laura are married and found the perfect fit in running a business they are both passionate about.

Darrell was born in British Columbia, Canada. He is an expert in nature having grown up surrounded by wilderness and spending his free time hiking and biking in the mountains.

Darrell is passionate about giving guests a top class experience regardless of age or ability. Darrell constantly increases his knowledge and is passionate about the Mountain environment he lives in.

Darrell is an IGA apprentice guide with Wilderness First Aid Training.


Andrew leighfield

Andrew is a professional guide with Canadian Rockies Experience and joined our team in May 2022.

Arriving in Canada from south-east England in 2014, Andrew quickly traded his quaint, countryside village for the rugged, endless peaks of the Canadian Rockies. An avid hiker and outdoorsman, he soon found a home in the bustling tourist town of Banff, Alberta and decided that a career in the outdoor tourism was the way forward.

Utilising his academic background in British colonial history, he soon expanded his knowledge base to cover the geology and ecology of the mountains, and completed his guiding accreditations, becoming a Professional Interpreter and 4-season hiking guide with the Interpretive Guides Association.

Now a Banff local, Andrew enjoys exploring the mountains in all seasons - whether that be with a pair of hiking boots or a pair of snowshoes - and is always looking to expand his knowledge of the local area through the best learning method there is: experience.


tony esteves

Tony is an IGA certified guide and joined the Canadian Rockies Experience team in May 2023

Tony Esteves has over a decade of expertise in showcasing the stunning Canadian Rockies. He brings a global perspective through visits to 40 countries.

He is the author of, "Talk2MorePeople: Change Your Life by Meeting People” which guides readers how to step away from screens and embrace face-to-face connections. 

A master of communication, Tony speaks English and Japanese and is proficient in Russian, Portuguese and Spanish. He served the world leaders during the G8 Summit in Kananaskis in 2001, a testament to his exceptional customer service skills, and he is also a performing artist.

Tony takes immense pride in extending that same level of excellence to discerning guests. He ensures that every luxury tour under his guidance is not just an expedition but a seamless and unforgettable experience. 

Join Tony Esteves on a journey where luxury meets adventure, and let him unveil the splendours of the Canadian Rockies in a way that transcends expectations.


cameron harburn

Cameron is an Outdoor Council of Canada hiking guide with Wilderness First Aid.

Having grown up in the Bow-Valley, Cameron has over a decade of guiding experience including Heli-hiking, caving, car / van / bus tours as well as multi day excursions. He has lived in Kenya, Colombia as well as the Philippines.

Specializing in the lesser known history of Canada; if you are looking for local myths and legends Cameron is your guy.


jill rempel

Jill is our airport specialist, she meets our guests at the airport to transfer them to their hotels and brings the perfect Canadian welcome.

Jill has called the Bow Valley home for 12 years. After raising 4 children, she and her husband Leroy are enjoying 6 keen little grandkids.

Adventure and life experiences are Jill’s reason for living her. Nature never disappoints! Looking up and living the in the majestic Rockies, puts a beautiful, peaceful perspective on life.

Always one to enjoy a good story, Jill loves to meet our guests and hear of their past adventures and welcome them into their Canadian Rockies Experience!

Jill is an IGA apprentice guide and joined our team in 2023


Chris was born in England and grew up in an active family. At an early age she moved to the European Alps for the love of the mountains and has never really left them.  She spent 14 years living in New Zealand and traveling various parts of the world and has now made her home in Canmore, Canada.

Using her background in outdoors adventures and local knowledge Chris has been a tour guide in the local area since 2023.  Prior to moving to Canada, she was a Paramedic and SAR member in New Zealand for 10 years and enjoys caring and helping people.

Chris is a passionate outdoors enthusiast who, in her free time, can be found hiking, biking and rock climbing in the local area. She is keen to share her knowledge, continue learning and meet incredible people on the way.


Kyle pearce

Kyle is an IGA Hiking guide and is trained in Wilderness First Aid

Kyle has a decade of experience in digital marketing and he moved to the Canadian Rockies to spend more time outdoors and less time sitting at his computer.

He has 7 years of experience leading hiking adventures, nature retreats and teaching ecological mindfulness practices outdoors.

He is a certified IGA Hiking Guide and he loves sharing his passion for experiential learning, outdoor adventures and storytelling with guests from around the world.


Raised in southern Alberta, Jeff began exploring the trails and history of the Rocky Mountains during the early 1990s. If his bookshelf is any indication, he is most drawn to the stories of the first mountaineers.

As a guide, Jeff is continually learning and he encourages his guests to make connections between species of flora and fauna, between historical time periods and between nature and their own lives. 

He loves wildflowers – his favourite is spotted saxifrage – and always has a field guide at the ready. Ask him about that wildflower in the meadow or along the lakeshore. Together you just might identify a wildflower that is new to both of you.

As a passionate long-distance backpacker, Jeff has hiked the length of numerous long trails including, among others, the Great Divide Trail, the Arizona Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. The Appalachian Trail is next on his list.  

Jeff is an IGA Professional Interpreter, Four-Season Hiking Guide and Advanced Adventure Medic. He holds an MA in Environmental History from the University of Calgary.