Meet The Blue Water Team

Mike Van Capelle

Passive House Certified Designer and Tradesperson, Owner and Founder

Mike was born into the world of construction and renovation, working with his father in the family business as soon as he was able to. To continue his education, Mike attended the three-year Construction Engineering and Architecture program at Niagara College of Arts and Technology in Welland, Ontario. He went on to work as a timber framer, a draftsman for a timber framing company and then spent time wearing both designer and general contractor hats while running his own business. In 2016, Mike completed his Passive House Designer/Consultant Certification, one of the most stringent building certifications to date for overall energy efficiency in order to bring what Mike sees as the future of residential building to his clients projects. When Mike is not at the drafting table or running the show, he is most often found outdoors, skiing, biking, camping, fishing, canoeing and enjoying all that living in the Sea to Sky Corridor has to offer.

Scott Ruttle

Scott Ruttle is our Estimator and brings five years of construction experience, including three years specializing in estimating. He has a strong track record of delivering accurate budgets for both new-build and renovation projects. Since joining the company, Scott has made an immediate and positive impact. Scott transitioned his passion for building into estimating, combining his construction knowledge with a natural aptitude for numbers and statistics. This skill set led him into the preconstruction world, where he plays a key role in setting our projects up for success.

Dane Perras

Dane joined the Blue Water Concepts in 2018 when the team grew to more than one crew, with more than a few projects on the go at once. Dane has years of experience as a Project Manager backed by his experience as Site Supervisor and Carpenter. He has worked on large scale renovation projects as well as new home builds over $1.6million in North and West Vancouver. His past experience as a rowing coach, as well as his organizational and communication skills make him a natural at project management. His years in the trade from foundation to finish make him the perfect addition to the Blue Water Team. When Dane is not running around for BWC he is working on his bike or in his woodshop.

Garry Van Capelle

Lead Carpenter / Construction Manager

With Garry on the team comes years of valuable experience and of course the family connection and that passion for building. Garry is Mike’s father, and although he originally hails from Ontario, he now calls the west coast home. For 40 years Garry ran a successful home building and renovation company in the Muskokas, and now in semi-retirement, helps his son and mentors the crew, spreading his knowledge and expertise down to the next generation. When Garry isn’t slinging his hammer or captain of a crew, he is travelling in his RV with his wife and their dog Aussie.

Cathy Van Capelle

Cathy is our Team Mom and a woman of many talents. She wears several hats on the BWC team, a few essential jobs being; site organization and heading off the professional site cleanups as projects come to completion.⠀

Leslie Miles

Leslie is our Internal Operations Manager and has been with Blue Water for four years. She spent 15 years in IT management and has brought those skills forward to help create structure, efficiency, and a solutions-focused approach. She’s in the office every day ensuring our systems and processes run smoothly and that nothing falls through the cracks. She likes working for BWC because the team is supportive, there is genuine camaraderie, and she enjoys being part of a company that focuses on quality, collaboration, and long-term relationships.

 

Kayla Hildebrand

Designer

Kayla joined the BWC team in 2018 to help us keep up with the increased demand for custom design and she has been helping our clients put their ideas on paper ever since. Kayla has past experience designing for a Sea to Sky timber framer as well as another Passive House builder. Although originally from Saskatchewan, she has called Vancouver home since she moved out to attend the Vancouver College of Art and Design. What Kayla enjoys most about working for Blue Water Concepts is the work ethic, mutual respect, honesty

Michelle Guatemala

Michelle is our Accounting and Payroll Coordinator and has been with Blue Water Concepts since 2023. She is an accounting professional with five years of experience, specializing in the construction industry. Michelle enjoys the fast-paced, collaborative environment and takes pride in the high-quality work delivered through our projects. What she values most about working at Blue Water is the team she gets to work with.

Jake Newton

Jake has been with the company since 2022 and brings over ten years of management experience in the construction industry. He holds a degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Jake provides consistency, depth of experience, and a strong understanding of our projects and internal processes, helping ensure work is delivered efficiently and to a high standard. At BWC, Jake has continued to progress in his career and develop a niche within the company, where he enjoys working on engaging development and commercial projects. He values the collaborative culture, the trust placed in the project management team, and the fact that every team member is valued and a pleasure to work with.

Liam Peake

Liam Peake has been with Blue Water Concepts since 2021 and brings over 10 years of construction experience and a strong track record of delivering high-quality projects, including multiple Georgie Award-nominated builds. As our Senior Project Manager, he values the strong team environment and the interesting projects we get to deliver. Ocean access, boating, and complex logistics are often part of the projects he gets to engage with, which keeps his daily work life dynamic and rewarding.

Jeff Hunter

Jeff brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry specializing in custom homes, commercial, millwork/cabinetry. He has been with Blue Water Concepts for 3 years and brings a high level of craftsmanship and exceptional attention to detail to his role as Lead Carpenter. Jeff is responsible for executing and overseeing all aspects of on-site carpentry, including framing, finishing, and ensuring precision in custom-built elements. His ability to lead by example and uphold exacting standards is critical to the successful delivery of BWC high-value projects.

Paul Rak

Paul is a Site Supervisor and Lead Carpenter with a long-standing commitment to the craft. He began working in carpentry at 17 and has been dedicated to the trade full time since 2000. After many years working alongside friends and colleagues, he established himself independently in 2015, further honing his skills and leadership experience. Paul was drawn to Blue Water Concepts in 2023 for its strong family-oriented culture and collaborative environment. He thrives when challenged beyond his usual scope of work and takes pride in delivering high-quality results. His ultimate goal is consistent: to complete every project with excellence and leave clients genuinely satisfied.

Nick De Kam

Nick is a Site Supervisor and Lead Carpenter with over 13 years of experience in the construction industry. He brings a strong hands-on background and a deep understanding of site operations, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and to a high standard of quality. Nick values working at Blue Water for the strong team environment, the pride taken in quality craftsmanship, and the opportunity to contribute his experience to well-executed projects.