About Us – Bow Valley Canyon

OUr Story

At Bow Valley Canyon Tours a passion for sharing unparalleled, once in a lifetime experiences, is at the core of everything we do. We are the premier and largest operator of guided half & full day canyoning tours in western Canada.

Bow Valley Canyon Tours was established in 2015 but its roots in the heart of the Canadian Rockies goes back long before that. Born out of its parent company the C.W.S.X (Canadian Wilderness School & Expeditions) specifically to provide and develop canyoning experiences. Both the C.W.S.X and Bow Valley Canyon Tours have been a small family owned adventure tourism company with over 40 years of guiding and outdoor educational experience. Originally founded in Jasper AB, and now based out of the Banff/Canmore, we continue to organize one of kind off the beaten path experiences.

We cut our teeth developing the first guided canyoning trips in the Canadian Rockies over 10 years ago in Jasper AB, but It did not take long to discover and realize the incredible potential for once in a lifetime canyoning trips in Banff. Starting in 2015 B.V.C.T was established and we began developing the trips that become the core of the incredible experiences that we offer to this day. We continue to push the envelope every season to add to and refine to our existing trips and to ensure we provide the absolute best experience possible for our guests.

Meet OUr incredible Team:

Marc Niehaus (owner)

Marc is the owner and director of Bow Valley Canyon Tours, where he also works as the lead instructor. Born and raised in and around Jasper, his connection to the Rockies has remained strong throughout his life. For over 15 years, he has been based in the Banff and Canmore area, continuing to live and work in the mountains he calls home.

With nearly 25 years of guiding experience across northern and western Canada, Marc brings a deep wealth of knowledge to his work. His background includes time as a high school science teacher, along with certifications as an ACA Pro Canyoning Guide, Professional IGA 4-Season Hiking Guide, ACMG Top Rope Instructor, paddling guide, and survival instructor. He is passionate about all things outdoors—whether rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, or simply enjoying a good coffee with an incredible view—and is always excited to share that passion with others on canyon adventures.

Our Guides

Kris Roney

Kris was born and raised in Calgary AB and calls the mountains of Banff & Canmore home. He has been with Bow Valley Canyon Tours on and off for over 5 seasons and he is a graduate of the College of the Rockies outdoor Skills Academy in Fernie BC. He is a ACA Certified Single Site Canyon guide and and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to canyoning and guiding. When you don’t find him exploring canyons or the mountains of Canmore you will find him guiding and working as a mechanic for Toby Creek Adventures.

Mateo Torrequebrada

Originally from Spain Mateo trained as a Forestry Technician before completing his studies as a UIMLA-certified mountain guide. He also holds Rescue3 Europe certifications, which enable him to work as a canyon guide trainer in Spain. Over the years, he has guided across a wide range of disciplines in destinations spanning Europe to the Himalayas In 2016, Mateo founded his own guiding company, Caminos a la Cumbre in the Pyrenees, offering canyoning, trekking, and mountain activities. After stepping back from operations for a year, he has made his way to the Canadian Rockies, where he is exploring canyoning on this side of the Atlantic and spending the winter pursuing his passion for ice climbing.

Nils Körnert

Nils, originally from Germany completed his outdoor adventure guide diploma with Timberline Academy in Banff in 2025. He has called Banff home for the past two years, where he has continued to develop his experience in the mountain environment. He holds a Swiftwater Rescue Technician Level 3 certification, an IRF Raft Guide Provisional Level 3 qualification, and is a certified ski instructor through the Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance. An avid rock climber and passionate outdoor enthusiast, Nils brings a friendly, approachable energy and a strong enthusiasm for sharing time in the mountains.

Oliver Niehaus

Oliver Niehaus grew up in the Rockies near Jasper and proudly calls the mountains home. An avid rock climber, mountain biker, canyoneer, and outdoor adventurer, Oliver has traveled from Europe to the United States pursuing his passion for exploration and mountain sports. He is known for being very approachable and easy to connect with, helping guests feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors. With nearly three years guiding with Bow Valley Canyon Tours, Oliver brings strong local knowledge, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for sharing adventure experiences in the Rockies.

Laura Azorin

Laura Azorin is a certified canyoning guide from Spain with extensive experience guiding in the Pyrenees. An experienced ice climber and passionate mountain athlete, she has been climbing throughout the Canadian Rockies since last fall. Laura is known for her outgoing personality, calm professionalism, and ability to create fun, memorable experiences while sharing her strong technical skills and international guiding experience.

Matteo Lentfer

Born in Munich, Germany Matteo grew up in Ontario Canada. At a young age Matteo fell in love with the outdoors and the mountains growing up skiing and Hiking in the Alps of Europe. Matteo has been living in the Rockies for the past 3 years pursuing his passion and he is a graduate of the Timberline Academy outdoor guiding program in Banff AB. Matteo has been with Bow Valley Canyon Tours for over two years and in the winter he works as a ski Patroller in Lake Louise. Matteo's humour, great attitude and wonderful personalty will get everyone addicted to be in the outdoors

Anne Jensen

Anne Jensen brings over 10 years of hospitality leadership experience across the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, and Australia. An avid ski instructor with a passion for the outdoors, she believes the skills developed in hospitality translate naturally into guiding — creating welcoming environments, anticipating guests’ needs, and making every outing memorable. Anne is currently completing her guide diploma and training with Timberline Guiding, combining her love for mountain sports with a strong commitment to guest experience, safety, and professionalism.

Joris Van Bergen

Joris has been living in Banff for several years and is a graduate of the Timberline Outdoor Guiding Academy in Banff. We will let him tell you the rest: "Hi there it’s your average 6 foot, blue eyes, blond hair Dutch guy. I ran away from the cities in the Netherlands and now I spend my days guiding and doing fun things in the mountains. I don’t go many places without my camera and love taking photos. See you out there! When Joris is not working as a canyon guide you might see him taking professional photography dangling off the side of cliff or rock climbing himself.

Valentijn Versluijs

Valentijn is an adventure enthusiast from the Netherlands. An avid hiker and runner, he has completed major endurance challenges including ultra-marathons and a full thru-hike of New Zealand, developing a deep comfort with extended time in remote outdoor environments and a strong connection to travelling on foot through wild terrain. He is currently enrolled in the 2-year Outdoor Adventure Guide Diploma program at Timberline Academy in Banff. Valentijn also works as a snowboard instructor at Mt Norquay. He is fluent in English, understands German, and brings a calm, capable, and endurance-driven approach shaped by years of self-powered travel in the mountains.

Rodrigo Rugeri

Rodrigo has called Canmore home for close to eight years, originally from Regina. Before moving into the outdoor industry, he owned and operated a staging, lighting, events, DJ, and pyrotechnics company, building a strong foundation of technical and rope-based skills that now carry over into his work in the mountains. He is a rope technician and passionate rock and ice climber, as well as an avid Jeep 4x4 off-road enthusiast. Rodrigo has been involved with Bow Valley Canyon Tours since its early days, contributing as a guide, consultant, and key support in the growth of its canyon and jeep operations.

Hector

Hector is the newest (and furriest) addition to the team at Bow Valley Canyon Tours, joining the crew this year and quickly making himself at home. While not a fan of water, Hector has developed a strong appreciation for heights—often preferring high ledges, lookout points, and elevated spots where he can safely observe canyon life from above. With a calm and curious presence, he’s taken on the important role of unofficial site supervisor, keeping watch over operations in his own quiet way. When he’s not overseeing the team from a high perch, Hector can usually be found relaxing in the sun and reminding everyone that staying dry is a perfectly reasonable approach to adventure.

At Bow Valley Canyon Tours all our guides are certified through the American Canyoneering Association (ACA). The ACA is the most respected, well established, and most rigorous body for certifying professional canyon guides in North America. In addition t this our guides often posses a wide range of additional skills, experience, and certifications, to ensure all participants have the absolute best experience possible.