Photo of the GCA’s 2025 Summer Crew, by Adam Huggins
From left to right: Top row: Shayne Poleyko, Lúthien Teel, Madeline Hart
Bottom row: Kassidy Kelly, Jamie Jacobs, Sylvie Hawkes, Tamara Bonsdorf
Shayne Poleyko
Shayne graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BSc in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability Studies. Like all the best Ontarians do, she moved out west straight after graduating to live and work in beautiful British Columbia. She has spent her time in on the traditional lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), learning and teaching ethnobotany, environmental education, and traditional cooking at the Skw’une-was longhouse. From there she moved to Revelstoke, traditional lands of the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Syilx peoples, to become a full time ski bum in the winter, and work for environmental non profits (and hike) in the summer. She is very happy to work with, and learn from, the amazing folks at the Galiano Conservancy this summer as a Biodiversity Technician!
Lúthien Teel
Lúthien is currently pursuing a BSc in Marine Biology and Environmental Science, with a focus on the intertidal region. Having grown up closely connected to Galiano, she is delighted to spend a season with the Conservancy, working in the beautiful forests and waters of this island. For years, she has been involved with the UVic Environmental Studies Field School at the Millard Learning Centre as a cook. Lúthien is also an avid hiker, photographer, and artist.
Madeline Hart
Madeline is the Land Stewardship Technician this summer. Coming from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory (commonly known as Kamloops), she grew up hiking, skiing, kayaking, climbing, and developing a deep love for the outdoors and all things nature related. This love for the environment led to her pursuing her bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies at the University of Victoria (UVIC). Now graduated, Madeline is excited to continue learning about the beautiful Pacific West Coast from the wonderful people of the GCA, as well as participate in the exciting restoration work, monitoring projects, and trail building on GCA and Galiano Club lands.
Kassidy Kelly
Kassidy joins us this summer in the role of Ecosystem Technician, working a joint contract between the GCA and Mayne Island Conservancy. She grew up in Chilliwack and then lived in Victoria for six years where she completed a double major in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. In her spare time, Kassidy enjoys hiking, bouldering, attending farmer’s and art markets, trying new recipes, and getting to know the local communities where she’s living. She is looking forward to exploring the Gulf Islands this summer while strengthening her knowledge of local ecosystems and practicing her plant and bird ID skills.
Jamie Jacobs
Jamie Jacobs (she/her) is a white settler of Lithuanian and Italian descent. While she is grateful to have grown up on the traditional territories of the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish nations, she has been gratefully living on the unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Kosapsum nations since 2018. Jamie holds as BSc in Geography and Environmental Studies from UVic, with a certificate in permaculture design and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems. Jamie is passionate about plant power and people power, and has worked in demonstration gardens as well as with kids for the past few years. In her spare time, Jamie enjoys heading out on hikes, spending time by the water with her dog, and learning about the plants and animals around her. Jamie is thrilled to get to spend the summer in this wonderful community, tending to the food forest as the Food Systems Technician.
Sylvie Hawkes
Sylvie moved from Alberta to Vancouver Island a decade ago to pursue a BSc in Environmental Studies and Geography at the University of Victoria. Since then, she has worked with environmental NGOs and research labs in restoration and conservation. Passionate about wetlands and the intersection of community, art, and ecological resilience, Sylvie is now in her first year of an MSc in Environmental Studies with the Restoration Futures Lab at UVic. Her research, in partnership with Adam Huggins and Bobbi-Jo Basarab, explores how people with ties to Galiano perceive wetlands and investigates the ecological outcomes of wetland restoration. A former GCA co-op student, Sylvie is excited to return to Galiano this summer to continue this work.
Tamara Bonsdorf
Tamara has an Environmental Technology diploma from Camosun College and is finishing up a BSc in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University. She has worked primarily in the restoration of stream and terrestrial habitats. After working for the Mayne Island Conservancy last year, she is grateful to experience another beautiful island and to continue to learn and be inspired by the many people working to protect and conserve lands. She is excited to collect seeds for propagation this season and to learn more plant and bird species!
