The Best of the Canadian Maritimes

James (Jay) White is an expert in history, having earned his PhD in Canadian History from McMaster University in 1994. After a two-year stint at Western Washington University, Jay migrated home to Nova Scotia where he has lived ever since, teaching a variety of historical subjects. He even instructed members of the Canadian Armed Forces in military history. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and photography, is a Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens fan, and is of Loyalist and Acadian descent.

Derrick Higgins decided to follow his passions — art and travel — after 32 years in advertising as an art director and illustrator in Toronto. He and his wife moved out to Prince Edward Island where they live now and are building a house overlooking the red sand beaches and confederation bridge. His love for new places and meeting new people made group leading a natural extension of his passions. When not in P.E.I., Derrick and his wife can be found exploring different parts of the world.

Cameron Bennett MacDonald was born in Charlottetown, as a 9th generation Islander. Being between the theatre and history of the Island his entire childhood, it only made sense that Cameron joined the Confederation players in 2013, a historical reenactment troupe. The troupe combined a knowledge of history and group leading experience, with a theatrical side as well, a job to honor both his parents. As the troupe’s artistic supervisor, he writes historical vignettes and shares his knowledge with those around him.

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Philippe Theriault has been a group leader in India, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas for 30 years. He has a background in anthropology and history, and is an expert in generalizing history to help people understand local cultures and traditions. When asked to comment on his experiences while traveling, Philippe quotes Marcel Proust: “helping people discover a new place or a new culture is also a way of opening their eyes to the joy of living and to the art of travel.”

Marian Bell-Whitcomb, a great-great-granddaughter of Alexander Graham Bell, studied biology and botany at Florida State University. Her career was spent in biomedical and social scientific research at several major universities and as as a veterinary technician at the Oregon Zoo, until she was afflicted with fibromyalgia. Since then, Marian has worked as a small business owner, artist, archivist, garden designer, photographer, garden and website designer. She is currently retired but still works in botany, ecology, and education.