Artie Ahier

After reading Alfred Lansing’s Endurance at thirteen, Artie was gripped by the story of Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration and he developed a fascination with all things polar. His dream to visit one of the most exciting natural wonders of our planet was finally realized when he began working with Quark and visited Antarctica for the first time in 2017. From that date, he has reveled in sharing his passion for the Polar Regions with people from all over the world, helping them develop relationships with the wilderness that he hopes will last their lifetimes.

Artie grew up on the Restigouche River in eastern Canada, where he helped to run his family’s restaurant. However, when he got the chance to leave home, he began an adventure further afield. He married a chef, and they skippered motor yachts through Florida and the Caribbean. They ran remote luxury hotels and opened a restaurant in Tofino on Vancouver Island, where he has lived since 2000.

After 2015, a pull towards nature and the water brought him back to skippering boats on whale, bear and bird watching tours. Artie could not be more excited to live a life surrounded by nature on an almost daily basis. His deep knowledge of birds was earned through decades of bird watching. The beauty and fascinating habits of birds continue to enthrall him wherever he is. When not chasing birds, he can be found listening to music, paddling his SUP, and enjoying great food and wine.