Say Hello To Our New Board Of Directors!

Our Annual General Meeting took place on November 5. Alongside two interesting feature presentations from our Murray Journeay, Niall Bell, and Danica Jones, we elected our new Board of Directors.

But first, goodbye, and thank you

We are sad to say goodbye to both Rachel Shephard and Murray Journeay as Board Members. Rachel has been on our Board since 2017, and Murray since 2022. Both have contributed immense amounts of time to our goals, with Rachel acting as Membership Secretary and Western Toad Monitoring Program Coordinator, and Murray leading the Wildlife Connectivity Project.

We are grateful that both are continuing to volunteer their time with us following their departure from the Board. Rachel will continue to be our Membership Secretary, and Murray will continue with Ecoscapes, our new project which is making the results of the Wildlife Connectivity Project widely available for implementation.

Returning Board Members

We’re grateful that the following people are continuing on as Directors:

Gwen L’Hirondelle

I retired to Squamish from Vancouver in 2007. In 2014, a friend persuaded me to sign up for the Nature Squamish newsletter and I got involved in response to a plea for someone to become Treasurer. My interest in nature til then had been through photography and I have learned more about both nature and photography through contributing to Biodiversity Squamish. My main photo interests are pollinators and bryophytes, and I find plenty of both around Squamish. If you see me with a big camera on a tripod I’ll be happy to share what I see in my viewfinder.

Carl Halvorson

I’m a born and raised Squamish resident, passionate about peanut butter, dark beer, small bugs and kingfishers. I am devoted to the pursuit of public participation and have sat on many District of Squamish committees. I can usually be found off my bike on the side of a road picking up litter and have proudly never owned a hair brush. Since I am rarely at his computer, the best way to get in touch with me is by text, or by participating in Nature Squamish activities!

Claudia Cridge

I’m originally from South Yorkshire, England and relocated to Squamish in January 2025. Fuelled by my curiosity for learning about what makes animals tick, I completed my degree in Animal Behaviour in 2018, and Master of Research in Ecology and Environment in 2020. With Nature Squamish, I am the Coordinator for the Bird Friendly Squamish program and co-lead the research project looking into western purple martin nest box microclimate. On the Board, I manage the newsletter and social media accounts. I also work in science communication, and I’m an avid wildlife photographer, mountain biker, arts and crafter, and nerd.

Niall Bell

I am a passionate environmentalist and wildlife photographer from Yorkshire, England. At nine years old, I was inspired by a book called Heaven & Earth: Unseen by the Naked Eye, which displays photographs of objects from a single gold atom to the famous Hubble Deep Field Photograph. This book introduced me to a universe of complexity, beauty, and mystery. Since then I have been dedicated to sharing the incredible natural world we live in with those around me through photography and storytelling. At 22, I began to pay more attention to the challenges our natural world faced and decided to pursue an MSc in Environmental Management. I pivoted my work towards conservation with the hope of using my passion to make a real difference. My other interests range from astronomy to philosophy, and birding to mathematics. Over the past year I’ve volunteered across almost all active Nature Squamish Projects with a specific focus on The Wildlife Connectivity project.

Hello and welcome to the new Board Members!

We welcomed three new Directors at our AGM on November 5:

Mackenzie Rowat

I am known as a professional dilly dallier, happiest in nature, surrounded by plants. With over 10 years as a horticulturist and a passion for herbalism, I love sharing what I know about plants and connecting people with the natural world. By day, I manage food-growing and education programs across Canada. You’ll likely find me lying on the forest floor or taking in the beauty of our rivers. If I’m not there, I’m snowboarding, paddleboarding, mountain biking, playing volleyball, or sewing up a new wardrobe! My intention with Nature Squamish is to guide you towards a slower pace and a curious eye for your surroundings.

Robin Joy

Originally from the UK, I’ve lived in the Sea to Sky for seven years and recently made Squamish my home. I’m a lifelong nature enthusiast, keen birder, and Registered Professional Biologist (R.P.Bio.). I work as an environmental consultant with a particular focus on terrestrial wildlife. My volunteer experience includes research on corvid intelligence, bird banding in Norway, and contributing to otter conservation efforts in India. Outside of nature, my main interests are climbing, snowboarding, and, perhaps surprisingly, baked beans.

Danica Jones

I’m a researcher and wildlife rehabilitator from the UK, having recently moved to Squamish earlier this year. I love learning about the natural world and understanding how we can better coexist with wildlife. I am particularly passionate about often-misunderstood animals, especially sloths and bats! I hope to help build a better understanding of the bats that call Squamish home and help protect our bat populations. Alongside my conservation work, I have a background in local government, where I’ve seen first-hand how environmental information can help shape development decisions. Outside of work I love anything that gets me out and about in the outdoors, cooking for friends or settling down with a good book and a cup of Yorkshire tea.

Our Annual General Meeting had a great turnout! We’d like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the running of the AGM, as well as all the others that work on in the background to keep the Nature Squamish cogs turning.