Trevor Montgomery, Certified Tourism Professional

Every month we feature an outstanding Certified Tourism Professional. This month’s featured professional: Trevor Montgomery, Owner, A2Z Safety & Training Ltd., based in Prince Albert.

Trevor holds several certifications as a first aid and safety trainer, and a diploma in Integrated Resource Management from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, but his experience with certification goes back long before he started A2Z Safety & Training.

"I started working as a dockhand and guide in 1988 and have been involved in some aspect every year since," Trevor says.

There were no tourism certifications back then, but after those programs became available, Trevor jumped on board. The Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council was a pioneer in the development of nationally recognized outdoor certifications throughout the 1990s. Trevor earned his Freshwater Angling Guide (now Freshwater Fishing Guide) and Hunting Guide certifications.

Trevor notes that certification helped validate his skills as a member of the Saskatchewan Outfitters Association (now Saskatchewan Commission of Professional Outfitters) and as an owner and guide at Tazin Lake Lodge.

Trevor's enthusiasm for certification put him in a good position to help others. Trevor is a trained facilitator for Tourism Saskatchewan's Service Best customer service program. As well, in addition to instructing fishing guide courses, he helped develop portions of outdoor, outfitting, wilderness guiding and ecotourism programs at Lakeland College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

He also volunteers extensively, having taken part in trade shows such as Saskatoon Sports Tourism events and various ecotourism programs at Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada.

"The certification experience took a few months and taught me valuable information about fishing and hunting guiding and about the industry," he says. "When I began to teach these courses, I spent a lot of time researching the industry and fine tuning my programs."

"I believe all guides and outfitters should be involved in certification and training programs, to add to their knowledge base and teach them the expectations of the client and guest," he says. "They show you how to develop the skills to be a great guide."

"Certification helped me to achieve my long term goals by providing me with the knowledge necessary to be a great guide and to work towards starting my own training company, A2Z Safety & Training."

"I don't guide full time any more," Trevor adds. "I mostly guide TV crews and VIPs. The experience I have gained through the certification process and by working in many different roles in the outdoors has enabled me to succeed and continue to grow A2Z Safety and Training and Tazin Lake Lodge."

Trevor's training and experience has proved valuable in helping his business develop specialized training for the outdoors, such as wilderness first aid and survival, non-traditional forest products, bear and wildlife awareness and gold panning, among others.

"Certification as a guide, outfitter and instructor adds credibility to my business and shows that we strive to improve ourselves and our business. It also helped me to be a better instructor and more knowledgeable instructor in these roles."