About WCC

West Coast Canyoning Adventures was built by people who love wilderness — and who hold themselves to the highest standard of care for the people they bring into it. Not just as a guiding company, but as stewards of the places we work in and the sport we're helping to build.

Our Story

François-Xavier "FX" Gagnon grew up paddling and fishing Quebec's Laurentian rivers with his grandfather. By 17, he was running his first outdoor guiding business. By his twenties, he had moved west and made the Sea-to-Sky his home — building a career as a professional outdoor guide across hiking, skiing, biking, whitewater, and canyoning in BC and around the world.

In 2019, he joined Lions Bay Search and Rescue, where he serves as a Team Leader and Safety Officer in swiftwater, high-angle, and mountain rescue. It was through that work that the canyons of BC came into sharp focus — how extraordinary they are, and how few formal standards governed how people were guided through them. He set out to change that.

WCCA became the first CGI-accredited canyoning operator on Canada's West Coast. FX is now a CGI Trainer and Examiner and a founding member of the Canadian Canyoning Association — helping build the professional standards that govern the sport across the country.

What began as one guide's mission has grown into a team. WCCA is now entering a new season — more guides, more canyons, and the same standard of care that started it.

Meet our Founder “FX”

Meet the Team

Every guide on our team is independently certified through Canyon Guides International, with additional training in wilderness first response, swiftwater rescue, and rope rescue — six are active Search and Rescue members. They debrief every descent, recertify regularly, and travel to train internationally. They're here because they love these canyons and sharing them with the people they guide.

Francois-Xavier "FX" Gagnon

ProGuide CGI Lvl 3/Level 3 Instructor