Our People

John was a leader in the 20-year process to create and complete the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. He has been instrumental in designation of protected areas and parks in the East Kootenay, coordinated environmental appeals against industrial polluters, worked to establish the Southern Rocky Mountain Conservation Area, the Columbia Wetlands and East Columbia Lake Wildlife Management Areas.

Casey and his family live work and play in Fernie in the heart of Canada's beautiful Southern Rockies. Casey is 'happy to be home' helping to lead the amazing team at Wildsight and helping to connect with communities in order to better conserve and protect this exceptionally special place in the world.

Born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, Tim grew up camping and road tripping with his parents, and at a young age developed an appreciation for nature and wild places. Driven by a passion to teach others, learn, and share knowledge and experience, he was drawn to his current role with Wildsight and the Youth Climate Corps. On a constant search for new adventures,...

Founder of the Rocky Mountain Education Series, Dawn Deydey brings the experience and understanding of for over a decade of Beyond Recycling coordination and development to the table. As Community Program Coordinator for the Wildsight Elk Valley Branch, her ability to weave environmental education and community action into successful programming that moves our community towards sustainability has been proven repeatedly.

Robyn is the Executive Director of Wildsight and the campaign lead for Jumbo Wild. Born and raised in Kimberley, BC, Robyn fell in love with the mountains at an early age. Her work is driven by her passion for wilderness and wild places and a strong belief that we can minimize our footprint on the planet. She has been with Wildsight since 2006.

Jill has been working in environmental education in many capacities throughout her career. She is passionate about nurturing the natural world around her and fostering environmental stewardship in people of all ages.

Lorene joined the team to share the work of Wildsight with the world. Her formative years were spent in Cranbrook where she tromped through the trails, hiked the wild mountains and swam in cold, clear lakes. She is keen to keep these wild spaces for her own children and the generations to come. With a passion for the written word, Lorene presents the...

When Mel discovered hiking when she was 19, she hung up her roller-skates and headed for the hills. Over the next decade, Mel lived a nomadic life, spanning continents as an Outdoor Educator. She witnessed how transformative working outside was while leading backpacking leadership expeditions. When she stumbled on Nelson, BC a part of her heart suctioned to the bridge and hasn’t been...

Graeme serves as program manager for the Columbia River Field School and the Youth Climate Corps. He is passionate about the relationships that underpin the ways we make decisions about rivers and the climate. In 2017, Graeme spent 35 days biking and kayaking up the Columbia River from sea-to-source. He now lives in Golden but enjoys visiting familiar places and faces across the...

Randal moved to Fernie in the 1990’s and with his wife Lisa raised their family in the Kootenays. Randal is the publisher of Oolichan Books, prior to which he was a museum curator and consultant, working throughout western Canada with museums in human and natural history. He spent much of his life in public service with 15 years as a member of Fernie...

Tamara was the administrator at Wildsight for 5 years before she left to pursue her dreams in the restaurant industry. The world looks a little different now, and she is happy to be back with Wildsight in an administrative support role. In her free time she loves spending time with her family and exploring our beautiful backyard on foot.

A passion for the wilderness and a gift for teaching have drawn Monica into the field of environmental education where she has worked both inside and outside the classroom for the past 15 years.

Eddie is an East Kootenay local yokel, a conservationist and a human and coffee powered adventurer. Eddie works to improve logging practices on the ground and at a provincial level, he works on old growth protection, caribou recovery, recreation and land-use planning. 

Wyatt is the Science Policy Advisor for Wildsight, where he volunteers his time examining the intersection between scientific research and policy implementation. Born and raised in Calgary, Wyatt spent most of his free time exploring the mountain tops, old-growth forests, and everything in between in the East Kootenay. Wyatt graduated in 2018 with a B.Sc. (Honours First Class) in Geology and Geophysics from...

Born in Cranbrook, Dave is a wildlife biologist, educator, wilderness guide, writer and photographer whose work is driven by his passion for wilderness and wild spaces. His work with endangered mountain caribou and badgers, threatened fisher and grizzly, as well as lynx and other species has helped shape his understanding of the Kootenay backcountry and its wildlife, and help guide his efforts to...

Hanna is happy to be supporting Wildsight’s work of protecting the wild places that surround her. She’s a systems thinker who loves efficiency, numbers, and problem-solving. Hanna lives in Golden, where she can be found in her vegetable garden, in the kitchen making a pot of soup, or out in the mountains.

Lars helps shape Wildsight's communications and fundraising strategies. Lars loves to turn science into compelling narratives, driven by the love of the wild that we share, and to craft communications strategies that get results. He optimizes Wildsight's capacity by making systems efficient, numbers tell stories and technology sing.

Jenna is the Columbia Valley Conservation Coordinator. Jenna has lived between BC’s coast mountains and the Rockies her whole life and has made Golden, BC her home since 2020. Her enthusiasm for healthy ecosystems and wild spaces has always shaped her work. This has led her to various roles including ecological monitoring as a resource conservation officer in six mountain national parks and...

Simon is a former mineral exploration geologist and the current Mining Policy and Impacts Researcher for Wildsight. Growing up near Invermere, he gained an appreciation for the mountains and a love of spending time in nature, whether he is hiking, trail running, fossil hunting or cross country skiing. Always curious, he enjoys looking closely to develop understanding and is happy to be working...

Siobhan has always been passionate about the wilderness. A strong desire to protect the planet and the creatures that reside here led Siobhan to be heavily involved in the non-profit sector over the last decade. From rehabilitating wildlife and fostering kittens to spearheading rescue missions, Siobhan does whatever she can to advocate for the environment. In her spare time, she loves cuddling her...

Shanoon Bennett lives in beautiful Winlaw, in the Slocan Valley. She teaches a host of programs including Know Your Watershed, as well as Wild Voices for Kids Winter Safety and Survival Skills, Animal Tracks, Habits and Homes, Forest, River, Pond Ecology and Natures Wild Food and Medicine programs.

Jess is originally from a small coastal town in Australia. She has lived in Revelstoke since 2019, where her love for outdoor activities within the community has flourished. Jess has a Bachelor of Environmental and Outdoor Education. She has a background in invasive species education and facilitates connections between children and the natural world through the Revelstoke After School Society. Jess brings enthusiasm...

Jessie moved to Invermere in August 2016 from Crawford Bay in the West Kootenays. She now works as a Wildsight Environmental Educator, and at Eagle-Eye Tours. Her favourite spot in the Columbia Valley is her garden, followed closely by Wilmer Wetlands and any number of local hiking trails.

Founder of the Rocky Mountain Education Series, Dawn Deydey brings the experience and understanding of for over a decade of Beyond Recycling coordination and development to the table. As Community Program Coordinator for the Wildsight Elk Valley Branch, her ability to weave environmental education and community action into successful programming that moves our community towards sustainability has been proven repeatedly.

Melissa Flint has a background in conservation biology, organic farming, permaculture and environmental consulting - and a love for mountain air and exploration. She loves taking people outside and finding connections in the natural world. Melissa's other work includes design, gardening and workshops in permaculture, sustainability and resiliency, through her company Aurora Edible Designs.

Jill has been working in environmental education in many capacities throughout her career. She is passionate about nurturing the natural world around her and fostering environmental stewardship in people of all ages.

Patty is in her element when teaching outdoor education and enjoys helping young people find meaningful connections to their natural environment. She enjoys spending time with her family hiking, skiing, canoeing and exploring many of the wild places in BC and beyond.

Genna is passionate about bringing environmental stewardship to our younger generation in the hopes of passing on that enthusiasm so that they may become the next guardians of the earth. She wants them to pass along that knowledge and wonder of nature to their parents so that it will become a "family love affair".

A passion for the wilderness and a gift for teaching have drawn Monica into the field of environmental education where she has worked both inside and outside the classroom for the past 15 years.

Janelle Park lives with her family in beautiful Fernie, BC. She has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta. Janelle strives to connect students to the natural world through her work with Wildsight, HCTF and School District #5. She is passionate about connecting students to place to help foster young stewards

Born in Cranbrook, Dave is a wildlife biologist, educator, wilderness guide, writer and photographer whose work is driven by his passion for wilderness and wild spaces. His work with endangered mountain caribou and badgers, threatened fisher and grizzly, as well as lynx and other species has helped shape his understanding of the Kootenay backcountry and its wildlife, and help guide his efforts to...

Ayla Bennett lives with her family in Fernie, BC. She is passionate about conserving and discovering more of our beautiful mountains, free-flowing rivers and wild spaces. Ayla works with environmental non-profit groups including Wildsight, Elk River Alliance and Mainstreams Environmental Society.

Kim brings plenty of enthusiasm and passion for outdoor activities and connecting people with the natural world. With a background in Environmental Education and Communications, she brings a varied skillset of community engagement, program development, and volunteer management.

Jess is an environmental educator with an Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree. She is passionate about the environment and loves to spend time sharing the wonder and awe of nature with her students. She believes that all people, no matter what age, can learn to appreciate the wilderness around them and learn skills to keep it wild for all to enjoy for the...

Aita is a born and raised Parson-ite, she moved away for school and life but recently moved back. She is a biologist and map-maker, and joined Wildsight to advocate for our amazing landscapes. She enjoys gardening, the outdoors and connecting with people.

Nicki was raised in the prairies and hails from a family with a rich history in agriculture. She has consistently exhibited a fervent passion for food, food security, and supporting local producers. With a Bachelor of Nursing degree and ongoing studies in holistic nutrition and Phytotherapy,Nicki also possesses a profound appreciation for the remarkable benefits that plants offer our bodies. In May 2023,...

Brian Conrad moved to the Kootenays in the mid 1970’s after living in England, the United States, Mexico and Colombia. The grandeur of the region inspired an intensified consciousness of environmental excitement and concerns. As a teacher at Mt. Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook, Brian joined a team of colleagues and ran an Environmental Awareness Program for Grade 11 students for many years.

Lindsay Donald is an international award-winning wildlife photographer. Originally from Scotland, he has a degree in zoology and animal behavior from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. Lindsay started taking photographs to illustrate animal behavior for a research project in the late 1970’s. He has travelled the World in search of amazing wildlife images. In North America he travels from Florida...

Tracy Flynn came to the Columbia Valley from northern Alberta 12 years ago. She appreciates intact, healthy ecosystems but it was Columbia Lake that drew her here. Having spent most of her life in the unspoiled lake environments that northern life offered, she was pleased to find Columbia Lake. Tracy has always preferred to be outside, doing everything and anything outdoors related, including...

Lesley is a retired lawyer who worked for the East Kootenay Environmental Society (Wildsight’s precursor) as a campaigner between 1992-1998. Lesley established the Elk Valley Conservation Society which evolved into Wildsight’s Elk Valley Branch, negotiated the East Kootenay CORE Land Use Plan with the environmental sector, and was on the originating steering committee of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. In her legal...

I feel fortunate to have lived in the Rocky Mountain Trench for over 30 years and have been able to play and work in my front-yard, the Rocky Mountains and my backyard, the Purcell Mountains. My history with Wildsight is as old as the organization. As a founding member, I have been a proud supporter for many years. I have worked on many...

Woody's strong pragmatism has helped to guide Wildsight programming since 2013. His involvement is inspired by the value he places on local food security and the stewardship and protection of local ecosystems.

Kathy joined the Wildsight Board of Directors in 2023.

Sarah came to Revelstoke in 2005 after a decade in Fort St. James, and before that, she grew up in Nova Scotia. She is an avid conservationist and a lover of the wilderness. Currently she is a teacher at Begbie Elementary School. She has an undergraduate degree in history and geography, a diploma in climate change education from Cornell, and a Bachelor in...

Kelvin, ‘Kel’ (he/him) resides in Rossland where he squeezes time in his consulting business in between volunteering, biking, hiking, kayaking and skiing in all its forms. He brings a deep background in community and organizational development and non-profit management to Wildsight’s board. As a recently certified Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring (CABIN) field tech, he plans to participate in volunteer citizen science and contribute to...