About Us

Jason Griffin, Owner-Operator

Tour Salt Spring, aka Western Splendour Tours & Charters, is owned and operated by us, Jason Griffin and Yael Wand.

We have chosen to live and raise our family on Salt Spring Island because we recognize what a unique and magical place this is. Lush forests and ever-changing beaches, a wealth of artists and creative people, delicious bounty fresh from the farm – Salt Spring is a place that remembers what community is about. Our greatest travel adventures are those where we get to experience a place through the eyes of the locals, whether it’s the stories behind the big attractions or the lesser-taken path to hidden sites.

Jason is a vetran of BC’s tourism industry, a woodworker and a man of many trades. His many wild-west adventures include mushing a doglsled in Canada’s north, herding Bison across the muskeg of the Northwest Territories, living off the grid in a log cabin in the snowy mountains of BC, building and piloting an airplane, whitewater canoeing, mountain climbing, paragliding, and being a cross-Canada road manager. He has worked in many areas of the tourism sector: as a wilderness guide, historical interpreter, vice chair of a regional tourism association, and Director for Barkerville Heritage Trust. Jason is steeped in the early history of British Columbia and loves to share his knowledge and passion for the great outdoors.

AmanDa Bapty, Guide

In a perfect turn of magical Salt Spring coincidence, AmanDa turned her mother’s first Island visit into personalized tour. She shared all the places she had come to love, and her mother exclaimed that she should be a tour guide. Little did she know at that time that her dreams of leading tours of Salt Spring would come to pass.

AmanDa has spent months as a traveler, on road trips across Canada and from Mexico to Costa Rica. She has lived aboard a sailboat sailing the Salish Sea and visiting remote places along the BC coast. She moved to Salt Spring in 2014 after a weekend visit blossomed into an opportunity to host and produce her own radio show with Salt Spring’s community radio station. The natural beauty of the Island and the friendliness of the people pulled her in completely. AmanDa married into a family with five generations of history trailblazing on Salt Spring, connecting her more deeply to the land and its stories.

AmanDa has a keen interest in the history of the island and its surroundings, and if she can’t answer a question, she’s seeks the answer with determination. She loves meeting people and sharing the special places and stories she has come to discover. With a background in landscaping and hospitality, AmanDa always prioritizes creating a fun, safe, and welcoming experience. She has a deep appreciation for the island’s farmers and an intrinsic sense of the importance of eating local. She now spends her time exploring the island’s hiking trails with her young child, cultivating plants in her garden, and cooking meals that nourish the soul. Her heart is on Salt Spring, with her family, where she enjoys country living and being surrounded by the sounds of nature.

AmanDa speaks English, French, Spanish, Ukrainian and Italian.

Peter Lloyd-Jones, Guide

Peter has been involved in hospitality his entire life. Born into a family of hoteliers, he interacted with guests from a young age. At 10 years old he was guiding guests around Salzburg or leading hikes into the Sound of Music country. (He even had a minor role in the movie!) After his family moved to the UK, he learned English fast and soon realized his dream of travelling the world. As an international tour manager during university vacations, he guided American high school students throughout Europe and beyond. This laid the foundation for a career in tourism, including sales and marketing, tourism operations, and lobbying the European Parliament. 

After a spell in Greece running a major tour operation, Peter and his family moved to British Columbia. From coffee shops in Whistler to founding a PR & marketing company with his partner Jayne, tourism has remained in his blood. A hotel client on Salt Spring introduced them to this island idyll, where they bought a Bed and Breakfast and became one of the top island accommodations. Peter volunteers at the Salt Spring Visitors Centre, is president of the Salt Spring Accommodation Group and a founding member of the Salt Spring Crankcases. He looks forward to introducing you to the magic of Salt Spring Island and all that it has to offer.

Peter is fluent in German.

Yael Wand, Marketing

Yael is a gifted singer-songwriter who has performed across Canada and produced several independent albums. Her most recent record, Saltwater Heartwood, garnered two Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations.

Beyond performing, she has worked in the arts for more than two decades, strengthening opportunities for artists and building local culture. She’s a seasoned magic maker with a passion for bringing people together through the arts: events, festivals and creative projects large and small – she’s raised the money, project managed, built collaborations, and made dreams come to fruition.

Yael loves exploring the outdoors by self-propelled means: on foot, on bike, snowshoe or cross-country skis. Her passion for farm-fresh food, cooking and feeding people had gained her a reputation in many kitchens: she’s been known to whip up delicious feasts despite a seemingly empty pantry.