About us

Your Hosts

Margaret, Amanda and Chad Peterson moved north to Yellowknife with Jim Peterson in 1979. They’ve been an essential part of the family business, Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge, since 1984. And they’ve seen the City of Yellowknife grow and flourish. Combining their expertise in the hospitality business with their love of northern lore seemed like a no-brainer, and My Backyard Tours was born.

MBYT offers fully equipped new six and ten passenger vehicles and a schedule of intimate and fascinating tours in the City of Yellowknife and beyond. Margaret and Amanda are looking forward to showing you the best of this amazing area in comfort, with true northern hospitality and a generous helping of northern lore.

Please see our tours section for tour descriptions, dates and rates.

Margaret Peterson

Margaret has a contagious go-getter attitude….and there’s no adventure she’s not willing to try, beginning with moving to Yellowknife with her husband Jim, in 1979. They fell in love with the North and decided pursue a life-long dream of building a lodge where people come as guests and leave as friends. Their dream was realized and since the early 1980s they have hosted friends from all over the world. As a former employment and career development officer Margaret has friends in communities across the Northwest Territories. Margaret has many so many interests the list is too long to write – she enjoys providing a helpful hand, having fun and showing the beauty of her backyard.

Amanda Peterson

You will easily recognize Amanda from her boisterous laugh, her gregarious smile and welcoming nature. She has a love of people and desire for everyone to have a great time, so it’s no surprise that the hospitality industry was a perfect fit as a professional career choice. Her family taught her about the outdoors, and she developed a respect for the environment and appreciation for the wise management of natural resources. Amanda enjoys living ‘off-the-grid’ along the Ingraham Trail where she can easily view the northern lights and enjoy the occasional sightings of lynx, bears, moose and migratory birds. Amanda has had a taste of being a tourist herself and appreciates having personal and authentic experiences, which is something she hopes to offer you while you’re here in her backyard.

Chad Peterson

You know you’re in the best hands out on the land with Chad. He is an excellent outdoorsman. He was taught by his father, Jim, how to survive in the North’s extreme conditions, and how to hunt and fish. Chad is at home on the land and it’s easy to see how comfortable he is in this environment. When he is not guiding our guests here in Yellowknife or at Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge, he is hunting, fishing or working at First Air as an Aviation Maintenance Engineer. He is also an auto mechanic and all round great guy. Chad has traveled the world, from Bolivia and Columbia to Japan and Holland, and he loves to share his love for the north with visitors.

Brian Desjardins

Brian’s passion is to host others and ensure his guests have the time of their lives. It’s a result of his own experience with a guide who made a great trip for him. Brian’s love of the North can be seen in his eyes and the way he enthusiastically speaks about this area we call home. Brian spent three years in Inuvik prior to moving south to Yellowknife. When Brian is not assisting with special tours or working with local governments you can find him fishing, hiking, boating, snowmobiling and camping. So, whatever your interests are, with Brian’s background in recreation, special events coordination, communications and media relations, you will experience the very best of our backyard.

Ann Timmins

It’s not just through Ann’s eyes that you may discover a fresh perspective, but through the process of your exploration. After living in several countries, and with formal training in art and textile design, Ann came north in 1991. Now a Yellowknife based artist, she was commissioned to develop a mural, a tribute to northern athletes, at the popular Northern House at the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver. Ann is known for murals, solo and group shows in galleries in Yellowknife, at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, as well in BC and Nova Scotia. Ann enjoys sharing her inspiration from hiking in the northern landscape and interacting with people and the environment. You will enjoy learning and getting connected with the local arts community through the eyes of our local artist, Ann Timmins.

Yvonne Quick

If you want to know just about anything about Yellowknife, aviation or mining Yvonne has first hand knowledge. Yvonne was a pioneer woman aviator here, when in the 1960s she piloted a 185 Cessna on floats to haul fish from Hottah Lake to Rae. By 1968 she was operating a northern flying school. Her desire to show visitors the incredible fishing and spectacular beauty of this area led her to purchase and operate a fishing lodge, which remains in the family. Yvonne is passionate about the North. She’s an active member of the Heritage Committee, the NWT Mining Heritage Society and the Northern Frontier Visitors Association. Yvonne is regularly recruited to help coordinate special events like the Float Plane Fly-in, and she organizes the Arctic Ambassadors program, and she’ll give you a terrific tour of our backyard.

Clark Marcino

There are some people who are affected by the north in such a way that their original plans get thrown out the window. Clark and his partner, Joan, moved to Yellowknife just for a year or two – that was over twenty years ago! Now despite travelling extensively throughout the arctic, Clark still hasn’t exhausted the supply of new adventures. He has had memorable journeys from Fort Liard to Norman Wells and Kugluktuk, Resolute Bay to Pangnirtung, and many places in between, including a three week stint floating on the Polar Icecap. Clark is eager to share his stories and sense of wonder and awe about the Great White North!