2026 CapU Alumni Awards: Tom McPherson

Growing up in a tiny, remote community on the west side of Vancouver Island, Tom McPherson’s connection to nature was shaped far from roads and crowds.

Tucked away in a community accessible only by boat or seaplane, his childhood days were spent on beaches, fishing and helping his parents with the chores of remote living. Immersed in the life of land and sea from an early age, Tom developed a deep respect for the natural world.

That early connection guided him toward a future in outdoor leadership and conservation. Knowing he wanted to work as a guide, Tom enrolled in Capilano University’s Outdoor Recreation Management program, where he developed the technical skills, mindset and industry connections that helped fast-track his transition from education into the workforce.

“The program gave me the foundation to turn my passion into a profession,” he says.

Sharing wildlife stories with purpose

Tom went on to found Seaforth Expeditions, driven by a desire to share meaningful wildlife encounters with photographers and filmmakers. His goal was to help stories from the coast reach wider audiences and deepen understanding of the animals and ecosystems that define it.

Central to that work has been his relationship with sea wolves. Spending extended time observing them as individuals has revealed a remarkable story of survival and adaptation.

“Getting to know a pack on that level has allowed us to witness their incredible resilience,” Tom says. “It has led to meaningful conservation wins and increased understanding of the important role sea wolves play in near-coastal ecosystems.”

Learning through collaboration and respect

Working closely with coastal First Nations has deeply influenced Tom’s approach to conservation and storytelling. Time spent on the water with Nuu-chah-nulth Nations’ knowledge holders has shaped how he understands relationships between land, water and wildlife.

“As visitors in their traditional territories, we do our best to respectfully share our understanding of the relationship they have with the land and sea,” he says. “Those experiences have changed how we approach both conservation and storytelling.”

Bringing coastal wildlife to the world

Tom’s expertise has led to collaborations on major international productions, including Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix), Big Beasts (Apple TV) and The Americas (BBC/NBC/Prime). Working alongside world-class film crews in challenging environments has been both demanding and rewarding.

“It’s an honour to work with such talented teams,” Tom says. “Sea wolves are highly elusive, and the environments we work in are unpredictable. There is a lot of pressure to deliver stories and images you cannot control, but over time, those efforts have paid off.”

Despite common misconceptions, Tom emphasizes that sea wolves are not dangerous. After years of close encounters, many of them alone or at night, he has never felt threatened, nor have any of his clients.

Looking ahead

Today, Tom is focused on actively bridging eco-tourism and citizen science. Through Seaforth Expeditions, he has helped identify individual wolves, document significant life events, collect scat for DNA metabarcoding and contribute to a new facial recognition project designed to support long-term research.

Looking ahead, Tom hopes to launch a conservation initiative that brings together First Nations, biologists and conservationists to have sea wolves officially recognized as a unique subspecies deserving protection.

Among his most meaningful recognitions is a Fellowship with the Canadian Geographic Society, acknowledging his work to make sea wolves better known to Canadians and to audiences around the world. He is also excited by current collaborations with biologists to develop AI-based facial recognition tools for sea wolves, a project that brings new depth and purpose to his work.

“Every project feels more meaningful when it contributes to understanding,” he says. “That is what keeps me excited about what comes next.”

On March 4, 2026, Capilano University will honour Tom McPherson with the Relevant Award at the Alumni Awards of Excellence – a recognition of his leadership in wildlife conservation, coastal storytelling and his work to raise awareness of sea wolves through film and eco-tourism.