Churchill Wild co-founders and owners Mike and Jeanne Reimer.
Churchill Wild co-founders and owners Mike and Jeanne Reimer.In the vast expanse of Manitoba’s Hudson Bay coastline, where the northern lights dance across star-filled skies and polar bears roam freely across the tundra, a remarkable tourism story has unfolded over the past three decades. It began with an abandoned whale research station and a couple’s audacious dream. Today, that dream has culminated in one of Canadian tourism’s highest honours: the Tourism Industry Association of Canada‘s (TIAC) Lifetime Achievement Award for Churchill Wild co-founder Mike Reimer.
In an exceptional year for Canadian tourism leadership, TIAC made the unprecedented decision to recognize four exemplary leaders whose contributions reflect the industry’s diversity, strength, and innovation. Alongside Reimer, the 2024 honourees include Cindy Ady, former CEO of Tourism Calgary; Cathy Duke, former CEO of Destination St. John’s; and Josef Ebner, Regional Vice-President and Managing Director of the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented during the Canadian Tourism Awards ceremony on December 5 at Vancouver’s Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, represents the most revered honour in Canadian travel and tourism. It recognizes those rare individuals who have dedicated their professional careers to tourism while demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and innovation—criteria that perfectly describe Mike Reimer’s remarkable journey.
But the real story lies in how Mike and his wife, Churchill Wild co-founder and owner Jeanne, turned an improbable vision—allowing people to walk safely among polar bears—into a world-renowned eco-tourism enterprise.
“Mike Reimer has redefined wildlife tourism,” said TIAC in their announcement, highlighting how Churchill Wild “pioneered polar bear walking safaris on the Hudson Bay coast.” But like many groundbreaking innovations, it started with a deep connection to the land and its magnificent wildlife.
The saga began in 1993 when Mike and Jeanne purchased an abandoned whale research station at Seal River on the coast of Hudson Bay, 60 km north of Churchill, Manitoba. This dilapidated outpost would become their first property, Seal River Heritage Lodge, and go on to set a new standard for polar bear and Arctic wildlife viewing.
Churchill Wild ecolodges. Then (lower) and now. L to R: Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, Seal River Heritage Lodge, Dymond Lake Ecolodge.
“We welcomed exactly one guest that first year,” Mike recalls with characteristic humility, a stark contrast to the hundreds of people who now visit Churchill Wild’s three luxury ecolodges annually. The journey from that single guest to international recognition involved equal measures of innovation, perseverance, and respect for the Arctic’s delicate ecosystem.
The Reimers’ story is deeply rooted in Churchill’s tourism heritage. Mike cut his teeth in polar bear tourism during the 1980s with Churchill Wilderness Encounter, while Jeanne grew up immersed in northern hospitality as the daughter of Doug and Helen Webber, pioneers who established Manitoba’s first 5-Star fishing lodge, one of the first lodges in Canada to operate almost exclusively on solar power. Helen also co-authored the best-selling cookbook series Blueberries & Polar Bears, with friend Marie Woolsey, and the guest-tested recipes in the series form the foundation of the culinary delights at Churchill Wild today.
Blueberries & Polar Bears cookbook authors Helen Webber and Marie Woolsey appear on The Great Canadian Food Show in the 1990s.
Jeanne’s family history on the Hudson Bay coast goes back to 1876, when her Icelandic ancestors first arrived in Canada. This foundation of experience proved invaluable as the Reimers developed their unique approach to polar bear viewing.
What sets Churchill Wild apart is their revolutionary polar bear walking safaris—the first and still only operation worldwide offering guests the opportunity to safely meet polar bears at ground level. This wasn’t just a new tourism product; it was a complete reimagining of how humans could safely interact with one of nature’s most magnificent predators, and it also resulted in Mike Reimer receiving the PURE Life Experiences Award for Contribution to Experiential Travel in 2017.
The expansion to three luxury ecolodges—Seal River Heritage Lodge, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, and Dymond Lake Ecolodge—happened organically as demand grew for their distinctive brand of Arctic adventure. Two of their properties earned the prestigious designation as National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, confirming their world-class status.
But the Reimers’ impact extends far beyond tourism innovation. Their commitment to sustainability set new standards for ecolodges worldwide. Solar power systems, greywater recycling, and careful attention to environmental impact demonstrate their dedication to preserving the fragile Arctic ecosystem. Their respect for Indigenous cultures and commitment to local employment has strengthened regional communities and preserved cultural heritage.
The operation has always been a family affair. While building their tourism empire, Mike and Jeanne raised four children who grew up understanding the delicate balance between hospitality and wilderness preservation. Their hands-on approach—from maintenance to guiding excursions—helped them continually refine the guest experience. Jeanne’s culinary expertise ensured delicious dining in one of the world’s most remote locations, while Mike’s innovation led to the development of their signature polar bear walking safaris.
Mike and Jeanne Reimer and family. Early days at Seal River.
Recent years have seen Churchill Wild expand beyond polar bear viewing. Their newest offering, “Cloud Wolves of the Kaska Coast,” has captured international attention from wolf enthusiasts, further diversifying their wildlife experiences. The company’s latest venture, The Blueberry Inn in Churchill, demonstrates their ongoing commitment to expanding tourism opportunities in Manitoba’s north.
The TIAC Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes not just business success but the broader impact of tourism leadership. Under the Reimers’ guidance, Churchill Wild has trained countless guides and staff who have gone on to work worldwide, carrying with them the company’s high standards and conservation ethics. Their operation has been a catalyst for regional development, creating jobs and infrastructure while spotlighting the Canadian Arctic’s natural wonders.
As Mike Reimer accepts this prestigious recognition, it marks not an endpoint but another milestone in an ongoing legacy. Over 8,000 guests have now experienced the thrill of meeting a polar bear at ground level through Churchill Wild’s programs, and each encounter helps build global awareness of Arctic conservation. Churchill Wild has won numerous tourism awards, their three ecolodges – Seal River Heritage Lodge, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, and Dymond Lake Ecolodge, have garnered over 500 5-Star reviews on Tripadvisor.com, and guests from around the world have become loyal ambassadors for the Churchill Wild brand.
Guests and guides viewing polar bear on ground-level. Peggy Peregrine-Spear photo.
The transformation from a single guest in 1994 to today’s world-renowned operation is a story of vision, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence—qualities that have not just built a successful business but helped shape the future of Canadian eco-tourism.
As the Reimers ease into retirement, their impact on Canadian tourism continues to grow through the company they built and the standards they established. Their dream of creating unforgettable Arctic wildlife encounters has evolved into something far greater: a model for sustainable tourism that proves luxury and conservation can work hand in hand, even in Earth’s most challenging environments.
Mike Reimer’s TIAC Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates not just personal success for himself and Jeanne, but a transformation in how we experience and preserve our natural wonders. It’s a testament to the power of following one’s dreams, no matter how improbable they might seem, even if they include…
Walking with polar bears.
