Barbara Hacio Kirby – Director – bhacio@tourismeriel.com
A heart filled with a thirst for new discoveries and adventures, Barbara has been in the Canadian tourism industry for well over 15 years. A native from Czechoslovakia, but raised in Montréal, QC, she has been exposed from a young age to multiculturalism and the French-Canadian culture (which has inspired her multilingual nature). She has completed her studies in Tourism at George Brown College in Toronto and has had the great opportunity to work as a wilderness guide and instructor as well as concierge in the high-end hospitality industry.
Jocelyne Fournier – Operations Manager – operations@tourismeriel.com
Jocelyne was born and raised in Saint-Boniface. She is very proud of her francophone and Métis heritage, and thoroughly enjoys getting to know new people. She obtained her Diploma in Tourism Management from the University of Saint-Boniface, as well as a Bachelor Degree in Tourism and Recreation Management from Vancouver Island University. Jocelyne loves to travel and experience new cultures; however, she says regardless of how far she travels she will always come back to find her roots right here in Manitoba.
Sheri-Lee Desrosiers – Reservations Coordinator – reservations@tourismeriel.com
Honours graduate from the Travel Counsellor program at Robertson Career College, Sheri is a travel enthusiast and cultural explorer with a background in customer service. She believes that travel is the only thing we buy that makes us richer.
TOUR GUIDES
Michelle Gervais
Michelle is the original founder of Ô TOURS and its owner for its first 23 years. Although retired, she still has a great passion for the industry and for her city and province and continues to guide groups. She loves witnessing visitors’ reactions to Manitoba’s vast offerings, from the great north to the rich history and cultures of Winnipeg. As a sixth-generation descendant of some of the first settlers, she is always sure to share the history and culture of her francophone community.
Philippe Mailhot
A retired Museum Director, Philippe is a historian by training. He has a recognized ability to share his wide knowledge in a storytelling fashion. His dedication to heritage tourism has garnered him local, provincial, and national recognition.
Junko Bailey
Junko is passionate about connecting with people from all around the world! Originally from Japan, she has been in Winnipeg since 1998, speaks Japanese and English.
Therese Gerhard
Therese has been a tour director & guide for ten years and is passionate about the beauty, nature and history that Manitoba has to offer. She enjoys travelling around the globe, reading, working as Director of Volunteer Services at a local non-profit, and being a self-appointed ambassador of Winnipeg. Manitoba is a diversified province with one of the largest populations of French speaking, Indigenous and even Mennonite communities in Canada. Therese’s ancestors came to Manitoba in 1874 and she is part of the Mennonite population found in Manitoba. She is fluent in English and German.
Mona Dupuis
Mona loves being a tour guide. Born and raised in Manitoba, she enjoys guiding people through the history and geography of her native land. Mona is a French Immersion Elementary teacher as well as a business administrator; both career choices have brought many skills to her guiding. Mona has had the experience of guiding at a local historical site called “Lower Fort Garry”, bus tours through our city, as well as accompanying groups to Churchill. Mona loves to meet people and is interested in hearing all about their culture and background. When Mona is not guiding, she loves to go on canoe trips, camping with family, as well as take part in cycling adventures.
Nancy Zhang
A true passionate of travel and story telling, Nancy has joined the Ô Tours team as a guide in 2023. Fluent in Mandarin, she brings considerable knowledge and experience guiding tours in China and accompanying Chinese travelers across many European countries.