About Classic Canadian Tours

Brian Keating is our guest Naturalist on this tour. Brian is the Honorary Conservation Advisor at Calgary Zoo, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology at U of Calgary, and the owner of www.goingwild.org. He’s been leading groups on nature-based travel for over three decades, exploring some of the best wildlife areas on the Planet. He’s a weekly guest on Calgary’s CBC Radio, was a regular on the Discovery Channel and presently has a 4-part TV nature series called “Going Wild” airing on National Geographic Canada TV.

Les began his career in wildlife biology in 1979 after earning a BSc from Trent University. His early work in Churchill, Manitoba, as a polar bear researcher sparked his interest in wildlife tourism. He later researched grizzly bear behavior in western Canada and studied black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, and cougars. In 1988, he joined the Calgary Zoo, where he led over 20 eco-safari trips to Africa and other global destinations. For the past 15 years, Les has hosted trips for Classic Canadian Tours, including polar bear and grizzly bear expeditions. A passionate educator and photographer, he continues to share his love for wildlife.

We are pleased to also have Dr. Owen Slater as our guest Naturalist. Owen is an instructor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary where he teaches wildlife veterinary medicine. He also works for the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and consults for various agencies including Parks Canada, the Alberta and BC Provincial governments, primarily on species at risk.

He is keen to share his wildlife knowledge and experiences with others and is an avid wildlife photographer (Owen Slater Photography).

Classic Canadian Tours is pleased to have Owen join our tours as a guest naturalist.

Susan Blum is the Associate Vice-President of Applied Research and Continuing Education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Before moving into research administration, Susan had a strong research background in ecotoxicology and was a polar bear biologist for the Government of Nunavut. She spent nine years conducting research on polar bears in Churchill and throughout the high and central Arctic regions. Susan has had numerous trips to Churchill to conduct research, lead tours, and teach about polar bears.

As a zoologist and primatologist, Gillian has spent many years learning about and learning from animals.  She has been with the Calgary Zoo since 1992 and is the Supervisor of Outreach Education.  In her role at the Zoo she has designed many of the iconic programs such as the sleepovers, In the Heat of the Night, Corporate team builders and Panda Breakfasts.  Gillian has been the lead naturalist on eco-tours to Galapagos, Ecuador, the Amazon, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya.  She has a passion for wildlife, travelling , a love of learning and enthusiasm for people that is infectious.  We have pleased to have Gillian as a guest naturalist for our Polar Bear Safari.