Janice Ketchen

My career in the travel industry spans more than 40 years, beginning with an unconventional start that would shape my future in the field. Early in my career, I drove a van full of opera singers around Ontario as part of the Canadian Opera Company’s school touring program. With degrees in vocal music and teaching, my passion for music and education combined with the world of touring which ignited my life-long interest in the travel industry.

This initial exposure to travel soon led me to work as a tour director with various southern Ontario tour operators. Over the years, I have escorted school trips to Ottawa, Washington, New Orleans, Chicago and many other cities and also led mature travellers across North America as well as to international destinations in Europe and Greece. Locally, I provided step-on-guide services in hotspots like Toronto and Niagara Falls for hundreds of motorcoach groups.

In 2015, my husband and I retired to Port Dover where I continued to pursue my passions for music and travel. I founded two local community choirs and played a key role in organizing events for my PROBUS Club. On the travel front, I have promoted group tours for South Coast World Travel for the last four years, recognizing the importance of offering Norfolk County residents an opportunity to travel together with convenient access to Toronto Pearson Airport. To date, I have led tours to Newfoundland, Iceland, and around Lake Huron, with upcoming trips planned for Croatia, Costa Rica, and Italy.