BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors

The Board consists of the Executive and up to 10 additional Directors-at-Large, and meets monthly, except in December and August, to discuss and plan activities to keep the club functioning. Membership on the Board is limited to 6 consecutive years, but can be renewed after a one-year absence. The Board makes decisions regarding expenditures and activities on behalf of the membership, except where a vote by the membership at large is required, e.g., changes to the Constitution, etc. Board activities are recorded in minutes, which are available to members if requested.

 

Executive

The Executive consists of 4 members: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Positions on the Executive are restricted to 2 year terms.

Gary Gauthier — President

Gary retired from the BC Provincial Government in 2014 as a Regional Manager. His interest in food security and safe nutrition led him to organic gardening where he studied to obtain certification as an organic gardener with specialization in food production techniques. From that, Gary and his wife Cathy started Page Point Farm in Ladysmith until retiring from gardening in 2022.

Previously to that, Gary founded CAPS Nursing services in Burnaby to provide supplementary medical staffing services in the lower mainland and around rural BC.

As a lifelong learner, he obtained a Project Management Certification from Mount Royal University followed by certification from PMI with a CAPM designation.

“I firmly believe that maintaining a healthy natural biosphere is key to human potential and that our understanding of, and interdependency with nature is a connection that must be respected and nourished for future generations to be able to thrive.”

Vacant — Vice President

Sinjin Dixon-Warren —  Treasurer

Sinjin is a newcomer to Nanaimo, having moved back to BC from Ontario in 2021, to retire.  Sinjin and his wife, Irene, lived in Ontario for about 30 years, mostly in Ottawa.  Sinjin has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and a BSc in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University. He was born in Saskatchewan, but spent his high school years in Maple Ridge, BC. As a member of Nature Nanaimo, Sinjin is interested in learning more about biology, and especially the ecology of the Nanaimo region. 

Judy Wickland —  Secretary  

Judy is an Environmental Educator. She teaches a variety of topics about nature. Judy has a background in fisheries and teaching. She has lived in Nanaimo for over 15 years. She loves to hike, learn about nature and teaching kids and adults about nature. Has volunteered as scout leader and Nature kids leader. Loves to travel.

 

Sally Hofmeier — Membership Director

Born in England, and immigrating to Canada in the late 60’s, Sally has an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Fire Ecology. She relocated to Nanaimo from Quesnel where she was involved as a volunteer in several community groups including the Quesnel Trail and Nature group and the Baker Creek Enhancement Society.  She is enjoying the ecology of the Nanaimo area and the many opportunities for exploration this area offers and being a member of  Nature Nanaimo.

Helen Colvin – Director at Large

I have studied various aspects of the natural world for all of my life. I have a teaching degree and music college qualifications. I lived in Ontario for almost forty years and for much of  that time, I was a member of  the Hamilton Naturalists Club, the Bird study group, a weekday bird watching group called The Larks and a multi season birding group The Pipits, as well as volunteering at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and Burlington.  I am gradually becoming more familiar with the birds, animals and plants here on the island.

Rick Harbo — Director at Large

Rick Harbo is retired after 36 years with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as a Habitat Protection Biologist and Resource Management Biologist, South Coast, Nanaimo, B.C. He is currently a citizen scientist, instructor at Elder College, and a volunteer Research Associate, Invertebrate Zoology section at the Royal B.C. Museum.

Rick has written several marine life guides and his photographs are used in university textbooks (McGraw-Hill) worldwide.  He has a new, third edition (2022) of the award winning Whelks to Whales

Field guides ( http://www.harbourpublishing.com/author/RickMHarbo) are available at bookstores and online and include

  • Award winning, Whelks to Whales. Coastal Marine life of the Pacific Northwest. 3nd Edition 2022
  • Pacific Reef and Shore 2nd Edition 2017
  • Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest. A Field Guide.
 

Mark White – Director at Large

As a young boy growing up in a northern Vancouver Island logging community I was immersed into totally undisturbed wilderness environments. The experiences I had in the outdoors with its sceneries, fauna, wildlife and the people I met along the way had a lasting deep impression on me.
I took up photography to record what I would see and the action constantly unfolding and to show it to people that never had the chance or opportunity like I’ve had. Now the new informative and exciting venture “ Nature Nanaimo”  and all it has to offer a keener like me: the people, the meetings and the field trips and in some cases, in some areas, a chance to make a positive difference for now and the future.

Sheila Duguid – Director at Large

Marilyn Nelson — Director at Large

Marilyn moved to Nanaimo 12 years ago after a lifetime in Alberta. She has a background in geology and mainly worked at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. She is interested in natural history and through Nature Nanaimo is learning about the nature and conservation in the Nanaimo area. 

Helena Kreowska — Director at Large

Helena  moved from Ontario and joined Nature Nanaimo in 2017 and was happy  to learn about her new environment.

I am a Landscape Architect from Poland, familiar with plant Physiology, Ecosystems, Biology, Archeology, Astronomy and everything connected. Nature was always my passion: as a child I was able to roam free in large parks in Poland to observe insects, animals and birds, and build large collection of butterflies. I care about trees, old growth and I like to educate and bring awareness to protection of vulnerable ecosystems. I love life in healthy nature.