Professional Background
Marine Defense
In 2015, Keith was hired at Babcock Canada as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist to work on the refits of Canada's submarines. During his 5 years with Babcock, he executed some internal database projects to better manage engineering information flow and configuration control, and both studied and practiced systems engineering on the combat systems team.
In 2020, he left Babcock and started Jacobsen Visions Inc, and offered his services as a consultant in Systems Engineering and Architecture to Vancouver Shipyards, assisting with streamlining the change management process during the construction of the Navy's Joint Support Ship, and later redeveloping the shipyard's Requirements Management System and Long-Lead Item Subcontract System to more efficiently receive, review, and control the engineering information flow between hundreds of suppliers, various departments of the shipyard, and the customers at the Canadian Coast Guard during the design of the new fleet of icebreakers. His contract with Vancouver Shipyards ended in August of 2025.
Politics
For a short time after the 2011 election, Keith worked as Executive Assistant to the Wade Istchenko, Minister of Highways and Public Works.
This opportunity to observe cabinet meetings and to interface with governmental officials and constituents alike taught Keith the business of government.
Entertainment & Hospitality
In 2006, Keith took over a small pub in the Town & Mountain Hotel called Shenanigans. A year later, he changed the business name to Coasters Bar & Grill and moved to the 202 Hotel. This 300 seat entertainment venue and liquor off-sales was home to some of the city's best entertainment for a number of years, hosting bands such as Marianas Trench, April Wine, the Mahones, and many local musicians and comedians.
Later he opened Coasters Bistro at 3rd & Wood, and in 2009 he purchased the Capital Hotel on Main St. and renovated it with an eye to converting it to a brewpub. He did get the doors open for a spell, but he learned some hard lessons about renovation costs, which were too great for the suite of businesses to support, and the doors closed in 2010.
Investment Advice
From 2000 - 2007, Keith worked as a stockbroker with his father at Canaccord Capital in Whitehorse. During this time he worked with many small, publicly-traded exploration companies to raise funds from Yukon investors seeking to participate in this vital sector of the Yukon economy.
This experience taught him not only about balance sheets and income statements, but also about the nuanced challenges and considerations that the northern mineral sector has.
First Job!
Keith has been an avid movie buff his whole life. As a teenager, he got a job with Landmark Cinemas working at both the Yukon Theatre and the Qwanlin Cinema Centre. He worked every position at the theatre and eventually worked his way up to assistant manager before moving on to other careers.
Community Engagement
Robotics
For nearly a decade, Keith has volunteers as a judge and coach in the FIRST Robotics championships. He coached the FIRST Lego League (grades 4-7) and judged the FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 8-12), first in BC, and then in the Yukon. He has also served on the board of FIRST Robotics BC & Yukon.
Rendezvous
In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Keith competed as a Sourdough Sam, winning the competition in the final year with a friend doing a Top Gun theme. The dance night was the highlight. It was choreographed by well known local dance instructor Becky Legs to the song Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins, and the video of it is sill lurking on YouTube.
Videography
Lucky to have a talented friend with great skill in the art, Keith has collaborated on a couple of short videos that he is quite proud of, including this entry into the video competition hosted by the City of Victoria when they introduced a plastic bag ban.