How It All Started
Wild Blue Yonder began the way a lot of great adventures do — with a crazy idea and a lot of passion.
Nearly 30 years ago, company founder Gina Goldie found herself stuck in a hot city parking lot, two young kids in tow, wondering what she was doing with her life.
She had grown up in small towns in the Yukon and Northern Alberta — places where the there was way more wilderness than town. The city never really fit. That day, she decided it was time to find her way back.
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Later that year, Gina went rafting for the first time, despite her fear of water. It was terrifying — and thrilling. She fell in love with rivers.
So, she learned to swim, went rafting a lot, and started dreaming. Not just about getting back to nature — but about sharing her love of rivers with other people.
"From the very first season, it’s always been about connection — to the river, to the wilderness and to each other."
Fast-forward a year, and Gina had booked her first guests. Not long after, fate showed up in the form of a shaggy young guide with a purple kayak and a beat-up Toyota truck.
Johannes Zwart, more commonly known as Yo, ​arrived the same day as the new rafts. A few weeks earlier, after a wild series of coincidences and a ten-minute phone call, Gina had offered Yo a job as Trip Leader. Within two years, he was a co-owner.
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Wild Blue Yonder started with two rafts, one freshly painted old tree-planter bus, eighteen wetsuits, helmets and PFDs... and a dream.
It was chaotic. It was exhausting. It was epic. Everyone lived in tents at the campground. Gina’s kids pumped cold well water by hand to wash wetsuits. Hot chocolate was made over the fire. The first ‘chocolate chip cookies’ were bannock biscuits baked in a wood stove.
Guests and staff became friends, and the River Family was born.
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Ready to join us?
Meet the Family
Wild Blue Yonder grew from a small operation to a company with locations in two provinces.
It was exciting, and we’re proud of what we built. But, after decades of running rivers, training guides, and raising our family on the water, we found ourselves wanting something a little simpler — a little more like how it all started.
Today, we’ve come back to our roots. At our Grande Cache location, it’s mostly just the two of us — Gina and Yo — guiding trips, alongside a few trusted, longtime members of our River Family.
We’re smaller, and we like it better that way. We get to spend more time where we’re happiest — on the river, telling stories and sharing adventures with people like you.​
"Still Dreaming Big"
Gina – Founder, Senior Guide
Gina started Wild Blue Yonder with a dream, a lot of heart, and a pretty big fear of water. Her lifelong philosophy? Do it anyway — scared or not.
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Today, she’s a leading voice in Canadian rafting; president of Alberta’s rafting association and Executive Director of BC’s, and sits on provincial tourism committees in both provinces.
Beyond the river, Gina works as a tourism consultant, mentoring small businesses and helping develop new outdoor experiences. But she’s happiest guiding trips, sharing stories, and making guests feel like family.
"The River Whisperer"
Yo – Co-owner, Head Guide
At eight years old, Yo decided he liked camping so much he set up a tent in the backyard — and refused to move back inside until it snowed. He was guiding canoe trips at 16, went on to guide overnight sled dog trips, and has been guiding rivers and training new guides for nearly three decades.
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He’s a Class V Trip Leader, a Raft Guide Examiner, and a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. He can find the best line in whitewater by instinct alone. He’s tall (really tall), charming, and full of legendary river stories — and riddles that’ll tie your brain in knots. Around here, he’s the heart of the River Family.
"The Funny One"
Freeman – Trip Leader
Freeman literally grew up on the river — his summers were spent carrying boats, washing wetsuits, occasionally being left at the put in, and learning every rapid and eddy by heart. He started guiding trips at 18 and worked as a River Manager and then Operation Manager for the next 8 years.
Now, Freeman’s a dad and he's found his way back to the river… sharing it with his young son, Fynn. Besides running the occasional trip, Freeman is a project manager and writes about Leadership Lessons learned on the river. Freeman brings heart, humour, and a deep connection to the river to every trip he runs.​
"The Brit Who Stayed"
Annie – Senior Guide
Annie came to Wild Blue Yonder from the UK, planning to volunteer for a few months — but the rivers (and a certain young river guide) had other plans. She fell in love with the mountains and rivers, but Freeman really stole her heart. Before long, she married into the River Family, and started a new generation.
Besides being a talented guide, Annie's a former national arm wrestling champion, avid rock climber, and massage therapist who helps athletes develop mental fitness. Although it’s rare to catch her on the river these days, when she does guide, her experience — and her dry British wit — are a welcome addition.
"Sassy Since Birth"
Rio – Safety Boater, Bookings
Did you know Rio means river in Spanish? Rio’s first rafting trip was in utero, her next was at four months old, and she had her own wetsuit before she was two.
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She’s a bit of a world traveller already, with 15 countries so far. She's been running rivers longer than she’s been walking, and at 14, surprised everyone by jumping on the oars and running most of the class 3 Canyon Whitewater on her own.
Today, she runs safety while waiting to be old enough to guide, and is often a friendly voice on the office phone.
"Still Shows Up Sometimes"
Fletcher – Trip Leader
Fletcher was one of Wild Blue Yonder’s original guides and helped shape the company’s early years. An extremely skilled raft guide, Fletcher and Yo became closer than brothers while running some of our most advanced trips back in the day.
He's been there for some of our most epic moments and remains an absolute legend. He's also been there for us through thick and thin.
If you’re lucky, you might still find him guiding a raft. Just yell, “Give me everything you got, Fletch!” — and be rewarded with a dazzling smile and a hilarious story.
"Tougher Than a Beaver"
Cory – Trip Leader
Cory started with us fresh out of guide school and quickly became a Class IV raft guide and Trip Leader. Kind-hearted, steady, and tough as they come, Cory is the kind of person everyone trusts — on the river and off.
He was also the main reason we expanded into Revelstoke. Even though he chose not to take on ownership, he’s still a big part of the River Family.
When he’s not guiding with us, Cory volunteers with Search and Rescue and refs hockey games. If you’re lucky enough to paddle with him, you’ll see why he’s one of the best.