At Your Service

This all started with a complete infatuation with fishing and hunting. Growing up around Lake Superior there were many opportunities to chase trout and salmon which led me into the guiding world. I attended the University of Waterloo, graduating with an MS in Biology, specializing in polar bears. This led to an amazing job as a biologist in Canada’s high arctic, tagging walrus, whales and doing some pretty wild fieldwork. But the outfitting world pulled me back, I took a guiding job at Scott, and quickly moved into the office: this will be my 11th year as GM and I love every minute of it. Most importantly, the people I get to spend my summers with, the guests and staff, are simply amazing. In between seasons I’m based in White Fox, SK with my wife and labs, fishing, running a waterfowl outfitting business in BC and adventuring around the world.

When it comes to making Scott Lake a second home, Dani knows a thing or two. Being at the lodge since 2012, she continues to return to the North, always amazed by it’s pristine beauty. Originally born in Ontario, she attended the University of Guelph and has continued to take courses related to her interests: yoga, wine and nutrition. Working at Scott Lake gave her the opportunity to fall in love with Saskatchewan, travel the western side of Canada and explore many other countries. From backpacking to volunteering to fishing trips, Dani always finds herself in beautiful parts of the world. You can find her with her dog Halle, exploring new countries, teaching yoga, keeping up with the hospitality industry or talking about what’s next at Scott Lake. She is always looking forward to seeing her Scott Lake Family and welcoming those new to the island.

The things Amelia loves most in the world are people, food, and travel. That curiosity has led her across the world, from the Serengeti desert to Machu Picchu, meeting great people and learning about different cultures. Hospitality has always been the industry for her. It has allowed her to embrace the adventurous lifestyle and learning about her interests as a bonus. Growing up in Ontario, she received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph in Hospitality and Tourism Management and from there she’s had the opportunity to work at some of the highest rated hotels and restaurants in the country. Currently, Amelia lives near White Fox, SK with her little family whom you may recognize around the island (both the tallest member of our team and the smallest), where we enjoy the Canadian wilderness and the occasional escape from winter. Amelia’s experience is showcased in the coordinating and training of the hospitality team.

In her seventh season at Scott, Rachael knows her way around kitchens. Her culinary training began with a two-year program at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, her hometown. From there, she worked at a classy golf resort in Muskoka, Ontario in that province’s storied lake country. She has travelled throughout Central and South America in the last few years, improving her Spanish and taste for a variety of food. She now lives off-season in Victoria, British Columbia where she takes classes at an art school there. Landscape oil painting is her current artistic interest and there is lots of opportunity to find subject matter around Scott Lake. Since she has never lived far from water, she enjoys life on an island where water is never more than a hundred yards away.

Shaida was born and raised in a small town in Northern Alberta. Her family was big on the outdoors and gave her a wealth of knowledge in the industry. Since graduating from the University of Alberta in 2022, she adventured down to Washington and started a career as a Registered Nurse.  Shaida is specializing in Cardiac Surgery working in the ICU.  Last year she volunteered with an organization in Nigeria, helping provide cardiac care to a small village. Her free time involves travelling, sun searching and getting outside on her Yamaha TW! In Shaida’s words: “It doesn’t matter how busy I am, something always draws me back to this remote island in Northern Canada.” We are SO happy to have her back!

Talia is new to Scott Lake Lodge, but she is not new to lodge life! Previously, Talia worked at a fishing lodge in the Northwest Territories and a remote bear camp with her family. During the off-season, she is busy studying to complete her law degree at the University of Alberta. In the small amount of free time she has, you can find her bartending at local cocktail bars, travelling throughout the world, and fly fishing in Alberta’s rivers. She will be working in the kitchen this season, but you are sure to see her helping out her younger sister, Shaida, behind the bar!

This is Sierra’s first year at Scott and she is looking forward to seeing the great Canadian North, a part of Canada she hasn’t experienced yet. Sierra is a well-versed traveller and is always in search of a new adventure. Her favourite places have been Greece and Spain with many more countries on her bucket list! When not travelling or studying Anthropology and History at McMaster University in Ontario, she is at the gym working on being the strongest girl in the room! The importance of personal fitness and mental health are a priority in her life and she hopes she can help others feel the same. She also loves cooking, baking, forest hiking along new trails, sparking up impromptu adventures and hangin’ with her cat, Bandit. Sierra can’t wait to have a chat on the wood chipped-trails or hear about your fish stories at the end of the day.

We will be welcoming Danielle to the lodge as the Registered Massage Therapist for her 2nd summer. Danielle grew up in the farm/ranch world and is no stranger to the outdoor lifestyle. Her family having owned a hunting camp in rural Manitoba, she brings a lot of her own experience to Scott Lake. Danielle took her education for massage in Winnipeg, where she has recently moved back. She will be offering deep tissue and relaxation massage in our Stone Haven Spa. Her experience working in other resorts and having her own practice has given her the opportunity to expand her knowledge and techniques. She has a love for hiking, crafting and the occasional cold plunge! When asked about what she is most excited for, it’s the peacefulness that comes so deep in nature. She’s got that right.

Claire is rejoining the Scott Lake team after a few summers away, having her first season back in 2017. The past 3 years were busy spent with her husband running their seasonal mobile coffee business in Southern Alberta. Travelling seems to be a common trend among the Scott Lake team and Claire is no exception. From a year in Europe working on organic farms to time spent in Japan, Mexico and more, travel is an important part of her life and she feels like this island is just an extension of that lifestyle. The past 6 winters she was a part of the hospitality and management team at Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges In British Columbia. As a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she has a passion for painting/drawing and all things creative. This creativity lends to her other interests in the hospitality field — cocktail creating, coffee making, food appreciating and wine drinking. All of which she is looking forward to sharing with guests here at SLL. She can’t wait to be back on the island!

Kailee is continuing her education with a master’s degree in landscape architecture at the University of Manitoba. Her studies have taken her to Paris and London, and over to her favourite, The Netherlands. Kailee loves the outdoors and has been enjoying the lodge life for years. Her experiences have included working in Atikaki Provincial Park and Churchill, both known for their breathtaking Canadian wilderness. Loving being immersed in nature, the island in the middle of Scott Lake is the perfect fit. Apart from school and the outdoors, you can find her beading, reading and surrounding herself with friends. She is no stranger to appreciating the sunsets and will be found around Laker Lodge doing just that.

Jasmine is a West Coast gal who was born in the wrong province. As soon as she finished college, she turned towards the Rocky Mountains and never looked back. She has been working in hotels and fine dining restaurants for the past 14 years in Banff, Alberta. Working in restaurants in this tourism-centred hotspot, it allowed for travel in the slower shoulder seasons. One of Jasmine’s expertise is her passion of wine. She has visited some of the best wine regions in the world to enhance her knowledge. She briefly tested out other career options (advertising, nursing) but always has a calling to come back to hospitality. In her words: “I get to meet amazing people, learn about food, wine/cocktails, and have fun while doing it. What’s not to love? I am looking forward to a great summer working at SLL with a fantastic team!”

You may recognize the last name of Maintenance member Jesse Sawchuk. He joined his brother Dawson in 2022 and is coming back for his third year to continue his hard work around the island. Growing up in the Canadian prairies, he is no stranger to the outdoors. Currently living around Yorkton (Saskatchewan), he is spending his off-season going on camping and hiking trips in Western Canada. Jesse is an avid outdoorsman and has been hunting and fishing from the time that he could pull his boots on. Focusing on being a true tradesman, he has experience in the fields of commercial construction, civil engineering and occupational health and safety. With everything Jesse has to offer, it’s made him the right choice for a team that has such an array of responsibilities that makes this island community run smoothly. From cabin upkeep to making sure the planes are filled with fuel, you may not necessarily see Jesse, but you can be certain he is working to ensure all of the lodge facilities are tip top.

Jackie is no stranger to Scott Lake Lodge but is now in a new role on the island. Jackie started her adventure at Scott back in 2015 on the hospitality team but continued her education as she went to school for her Medical Massage Therapy Course. She has been running her own business in Nipawin, SK for the last two years and building her skill as an RMT. In the off season, if she is not working, she is usually doing something that gets her outside, from guiding whitetail in the fall, running her trapline in the winter, and riding her horse in the spring. This year she will be our island Massage Therapist, taking care of our guests after a long successful day of fishing.