Recently retired, Julie Gardner had a career as an academic and then a consultant in the area of environmental policy and planning. Most of her later contracts were with First Nations. She and her partner, Dan Moore (a hydrologist), are grateful for their perch overlooking the beauty and ecological diversity of Retreat Cove – Xetthecum. Hiking and kayaking are their favourite activities.
Risa Smith is a founding director of the Galiano Conservancy, the volunteer warden of the Galiano Ecological Reserve and current chair of the Islands Trust Conservancy. She is an ecologist who currently works on the protected areas/biodiversity/climate change nexus, producing reports, assessments and issue papers for the World Commission on Protected Areas and other national and international organizations. She has led many ‘state of the environment’ and ‘state of biodiversity and ecosystems’ assessments for provincial and federal governments and international organizations. Risa’s personal interests include ecosystem resilience, natural history, impacts and adaptation to climate change, social justice, gardening, solar energy and kayaking. Risa is committed to the potential for the Galiano Conservancy Association to have a positive impact on natural history education, restoration of damaged ecosystems, protection of special places and reconciliation with the First Nations of the Gulf Islands area.
Sid has been part of our Galiano community since the summer of 2017 and lives here with his
cat, Caju, about 1/2 the year. He comes from an academic background as he is a professor of
Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of British Columbia since 1998. His
research deals with designing better computer interfaces for people as well as modeling the
human vocal tract. His long-term research goal is to make a voice instrument that can be
played. He brings academic expertise in machine learning, computer interface design, musical
instrument design, modelling biological tissues and biomechanics. As an engineer, he brings a
wealth of pragmatic knowledge and know-how to solve problems such as found in electrical
installations, construction projects, broken pieces of equipment or just a pipe that needs fixing.
For 12 years, he was the director of a research centre called the Media and Graphics
Interdisciplinary Centre (MAGIC), thus, brings management and HR experience to the board. He
believes in finding creative approaches to find win-win-win solutions to complex problems.
While on Galiano, if he’s not enjoying working on his endless list of home and garden projects,
he’s cooking up a storm, walking the trails and occasionally trying to learn how to wing foil in
Montague harbour.
Emily Gonzales (M.Sc. Wildlife Ecology (Guelph), PhD Restoration Ecology (UBC) believes that people and relationships are central in the solution to every ecological issue. She is an Ecological Restoration Specialist for Parks Canada, where her work focuses on restoring relationships among humans and more-than-humans. She is also working to link on-the-ground restoration with international policy and targets including the 2022-2030 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Target for ecosystem restoration. Emily also chairs the Science and Policy Committee for the Society for Ecological Restoration. This committee, comprised of representatives from every global region, developed the 10 Principles of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, defined international standards for ecological restoration and generally aims to elevate science and policy in ecological restoration at the global scale. Emily also teaches Conservation Biology a the University of Victoria..
In 2014 George moved from Vancouver to Therah Village, an intentional community on 160
acres of rainforest on north Galiano Island. He was seeking a sustainable lifestyle that included
growing food and collaborating with others to conserve this land and habitat. George has since
served as Chair and Director on the board of Therah Village Development Corporation.
George is a retired publisher, most recently as the Associate Director of UBC Press. He has also
served on the boards of Access Copyright (Canada) and the Association of Book Publishers of
BC.
Holly obtained a Forestry degree in 1981 and worked for the BC Forest Service on Haida Gwaii for several years in the silviculture department. She then moved on to various administrative and managerial roles in the financial field. Since retirement, she has lived on Galiano part-time for the first three years and full-time for the past seven years.
She currently writes speculative fiction with an emphasis on eco-fiction, with over a hundred short stories published in Rising Tides, Save the World, Cli-Fi: Canadian Tales of Climate Change, and many other publications throughout the world. A long-time member of SFWA, she has been a fiction editor at Solarpunk Magazine and media content coordinator for SF Canada, as well as mentoring new writers and conducting writing workshops.
She is passionate about the environment and believes it is not too late to protect, steward, and restore critical habitat and that, by working together, we can create a new reality.
Laurene has called Galiano her full time home for over 32 years. She is currently a volunteer at the Conservancy’s Food Forest and has participated in many of the educational offerings on the island throughout the years. Laurene is particularly interested in environmental education/eco-therapy and food security/indigenous food sovereignty, especially in the light of our rising climate crisis. She holds a BA Honors degree in Geography and Sociology and has a Child Care Workers certificate, with experience in working with youth in mental health. Laurene currently works at our community school as an EA (education assistant) and enjoys working in the woods.
Nancy Wilkin (BA Geography (UVic)) has worked for the people of British Columbia at all levels of government. From 1998 to 2002 Nancy served as a Chief Treaty Negotiator for the Province of BC and from 2002 to 2008, as the Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Environment. Nancy has over 30 years of experience in the public sector which has resulted in wide and deep roots in the fabric of British Columbia, working collaboratively with First Nations, local government, recreation and conservation organizations and resource industries. Nancy successfully retired from the BC Public Service and accepted a position as “Executive in Residence” at Royal Roads University. Nancy was the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Royal Roads University and retired in 2018. Now fully retired, Nancy volunteers her time as a Director with Ducks Unlimited Canada, and as a Park Elder. Her most recent appointment is as one of the Co-Chairs of the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council.
blake is a neurodiverse queer settler and an environmental toxicologist with a PhD from Simon Fraser University, where their research investigated the molecular, endocrine, and developmental effects of environmental pollutants, with a focus on amphibians. They also hold an Honours BSc in Biology from the University of Victoria. blake has lived, worked, and spent time in community on Galiano Island and across British Columbia, engaging in projects ranging from amphibian conservation and wetland monitoring to contaminant risk assessment and public science education. Their experience spans field ecology, molecular techniques, organismal toxicology, environmental contaminant assessment, curriculum design, and community-based science. Alongside their academic and research work, blake brings years of experience in the service industry and labour sector, which shaped their strong skills in teamwork, adaptability, and inclusive communication. blake is committed to inclusive and anticolonial approaches to environmental research and practice and has been actively involved in developing training programs, public outreach, and equity-focused initiatives within science. Outside of research, blake enjoys cooking, playing volleyball, watching anime, reading, while also enjoying hiking and birding.
Tahirih grew up on Galiano and is honoured to have called this Island home for 45 years. She has worn many hats – volunteer firefighter, Islands trustee, bookkeeper, and barista. Tahirih now manages her family’s business, the Daystar Market, and is currently finishing her Bachelor of General Studies degree, focusing on course work that includes silviculture, biology, environmental studies, sustainability, regional impacts of climate change, and natural resources pathology and entomology. Her passion is the environment, community, and her family (which includes a herd of dwarf goats and a flock of chickens!).
Bio to be added
Galiano Conservancy staff includes nine permanent employees who are joined each summer by seasonal employees and student interns
There are many ways to get involved with the Galiano Conservancy, whether in the garden, in the field, or on a committee.
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