Bulkley Valley Research Centre

Founding Board, 2002-04

Back Row: Sybille Haeussler; Frank Doyle; Tom Buri; Brian Edmison; Anne Harfenist; Paul Sanborn; Kevin Kriese

Front Row: Irving Fox (Director Emeritus); Rosemary Fox; Jim Pojar; Carl vanderMark

Kirsteen graduated from UBC with a BSF in 1979. She worked for MacMillan Bloedel on Vancouver Island and obtained her RPF before heading overseas to work for two years in Moçambique with CUSO. After a year of travelling she returned to BC and worked in Prince Rupert with TM Thompson. The following year, 1986, she and her partner established Laing & McCulloch Forest Management Services and based their operations out of Smithers. She was involved… Read more about Kirsteen Laing

Craig Nitschke

Adjunct Researcher

Craig’s main research area is forest ecosystem response and vulnerability to climate change. Craig was born in Canada and he obtained his BSF (Hons) in forest resources management and Ph.D. in forest vulnerability and sustainable forest management under climate change and at the University of British Columbia. Craig is currently involved in several research projects that relate to assessing the vulnerability of local species and ecosystems to climate change. Over the past 3 years, Craig… Read more about Craig Nitschke

Rick Budhwa

Research Program Manager

Rick Budhwa is the principal of Crossroads Cultural Resource Management located in Smithers, BC. He is currently working with several government agencies, First Nations and industry to help bridge differences in perspectives and establish cultural resource management (CRM) and indigenous land management initiatives. Over the past 7 years, Rick has been successful in creating and implementing alternative CRM methodologies for multiple stakeholders in British Columbia. These initiatives have resulted in… Read more about Rick Budhwa

Rasmus Astrup

Adjunct Researcher

Rasmus Astrup was the Senior Scientist with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre. His main research area was stand dynamics and growth predictions for complex mixed-species stands. Rasmus was born in Denmark and he obtained his BSF at the Royal Agricultural and Veterinarian University in Copenhagen. He obtained his Ph.D. in quantitative silviculture and growth modeling at the University of British Columbia. Rasmus is currently involved in several research projects that relate to topics such as… Read more about Rasmus Astrup

Board of Directors, 2004-2006

Back Row: Brian Edmison; Jim Pojar (Past President); Dave Wilford; Paul Sanborn; Steve Gordon; Kevin Kriese; Frank Doyle; Carl vanderMark

Middle Row: Tom Buri; Sybille Haeussler; Don Morgan

Front Row: Rosemary Fox; Irving Fox (Director Emeritus)

Missing 2004-06 Board: Anne Harfenist

Ingrid Granlin

Community Outreach Coordinator

The Centre has gained some additional part-time help, in partnership with the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest. The Centre has hired Ingrid Granlin to work one day per week as Community Outreach Coordinator. Ingrid will be responsible for promoting community awareness and participation in the Community Forest. You want to know what forest or wildlife research is going on within the Community Forest? Or what the flying squirrels are up to? Stay tuned! Ingrid will also be… Read more about Ingrid Granlin

Amanda Follett

Communications Coordinator

Amanda was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and graduated from Carleton University’s Bachelor of Journalism program in 1997. After graduation, she moved out west to Canmore, Alberta, where she worked as a reporter and then assistant editor at weekly newspaper The Canmore Leader while exploring the Canadian Rockies. Always in search of adventure and new experiences, Amanda visited Smithers in spring 2006 and decided to stay. She began working at the Bulkley Valley Research… Read more about Amanda Follett

Beth Henderson

Research Assistant

Beth Henderson started working as a Research Assistant at the Bulkley Valley Research Centre in May 2007. She was a graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College in Ontario where she completed the Fish and Wildlife Technology program. She assists with many of the research projects doing both field and office work. Beth enjoys snowshoeing in the Babines. One aspect of her work that she has most appreciated has been the opportunity to explore more of… Read more about Beth Henderson

Sheldon Haftner

Research Assistant

Sheldon Haftner was born in Smithers, BC and raised in Houston, BC. He has enjoyed working as a contractor and landscaper, before starting work with Bulkley Valley Research Centre. He obtained a UNBC Scholar’s Award for obtaining top marks in high school and attended UNBC for 4 years. He received his Bachelor in Science degree Majoring in Biochemistry and Minoring in Chemistry. Sheldon hopes to be able to receive a research job relating to the… Read more about Sheldon Haftner

Board of Directors, 2006-2007

Back Row: Carl vanderMark; Tom Buri; Brian Edmison; Dave Wilford; Kevin Kriese; Paul Sanborn; Anne Harfenist; Rick Budhwa (Staff)

Front Row: Kirsteen Laing (Staff); Irving Fox Director Emeritus; Rosemary Fox; Sybille Haeussler

Missing 2006-07 Board: Dave Bustard; Don Morgan

Alana Clason

Adjunct Researcher

Alana graduated from the forest science program at UBC in 2007, during which time she worked in Smithers as a field assistant. Determined to return to the Bulkley Valley, she connected with the BVRC to pursue a masters here in Smithers through the University of Alberta, supervised by Ellen Macdonald and Sybille Haeussler. She completed her MSc in 2010 on overstory-understory dynamics and forest change in… Read more about Alana Clason

Al Gamble

Seasonal Staff 2007 - 2009

After 30 years working for IBM, Al Gamble happily traded the corporate rat race for peace and solitude in Smithers. When he’s not sampling trees or amusing BVRC staff with quirky anecdotes and interesting observations, Al likes to run rapids in his kayak or shred the slopes on his skis. Al started working for the Bulkley Valley Research Centre in the fall of 2007 and continues to do odd jobs around the office and periodic… Read more about Al Gamble

Michelle Larstone

Fundraiser

Michelle grew up in Vancouver and Victoria before moving to the Bulkley Valley in 2005. After completing a degree at SFU, she went on to work with at-risk youth until an epiphany led her to the Sierra Club of BC and a new career. She has since been helping not-for-profit organizations raise money and communicate more effectively. She works a little with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre and spends the rest of her time in… Read more about Michelle Larstone

Hilary Thorpe

Adjunct Researcher

Hilary recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a PhD in forest ecology. She was hired by the BVRC to complete a project on crown shyness and is currently employed as a postdoctoral fellow in the Departments of Geography and Forest Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Hilary’s research interests include disturbance ecology, stand dynamics, dendroecology, individual-based modeling, and ecosystem-based forest management. In her dissertation, she used dendroecological techniques and neighbourhood models to… Read more about Hilary Thorpe

Marius Boldor

Research Associate

Marius started to work for Bulkley Valley Research Centre in December 2008 and is currently involved in testing and calibrating SORTIE-ND, working toward improving the model results and establishing the model as a reliable timber supply analysis tool. Marius was born in Romania where he worked as a forest professional and was involved in several ecology projects in the mountainous regions in the western part of the country. He obtained a bachelor degree in silviculture… Read more about Marius Boldor

Tamara MacLeod

Research Program Assistant

Tamara MacLeod is a Cree/T’su T’ina metis from central Alberta whom decided to live in B.C. after a memorable road trip up to the Queen Charlotte Islands in 2000. After graduating from the University of Alberta in 1992, Tamara created various social programs throughout Alberta and British Columbia working closely with at-risk and/or marginalized communities. Tamara’s interest in the outdoors began shortly before working with Rediscovery International at various camps such as Ghost River, AB,… Read more about Tamara MacLeod

Marie-Lou Lefrançois

Researcher

Marie-Lou was a Researcher with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre. Marie-Lou obtained her B.Sc. in Physical Geography at the University of Montreal, where she became passionate about forest ecology after being introduced to biogeography and palynology. She pursued her studies at the Centre for Forest Research (UQAM) where she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biology (Forest Ecology), studying light interception and crown architecture of temperate forest trees (with the model SORTIE), as well as working… Read more about Marie-Lou Lefrançois

Aaron Trowbridge

Junior Researcher

Aaron was the Junior Researcher with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre. Aaron grew up in the Bulkley Valley and started working in the field of forest ecology as a high-school summer student. He went on to work with a multitude of BC consultants in the ecology and terrain sciences, most recently providing ecosystem and soils mapping services on Environmental Impact Assessments within the mining industry. Biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification and mapping, and soil classification and mapping,… Read more about Aaron Trowbridge

Laurence Turney

Board President

Laurence is an RPBio who graduated from the University of Victoria in 1983 with a B.Sc. in zoology and has worked for consulting firms and government in a wide variety of disciplines and geographic areas. Early in his career he spent time in the Queen Charlotte Islands and Beaufort Sea working on seabirds and marine mammals. From 1986 to 1991, he worked for the Department of Renewable Resources in Yellowknife, NWT in the areas of… Read more about Laurence Turney

Don Morgan

Board Vice President

Don Morgan is a natural resource management and systems researcher with the BC Ministry of Forests Research Branch, where he is the Team Leader of Wildlife Habitat Research. His main research area focuses on methods for describing and analyzing socio-ecological systems with an emphasis on wildlife habitat supply. He applies innovative methods to explore uncertainty, particularly the impact of climate change on ecological processes and its interaction with resource management decisions. He is a Registered… Read more about Don Morgan

Irene Ronalds

Board Secretary

Irene is a Consulting Biologist who focuses on Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC), and Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM). She also writes extension, planning and management reports which synthesize ecological research and inventory information. She moved to the Bulkley Valley in 1993 to work on the Protected Areas Strategy conservation analysis. She is the mother of two young boys who spend a lot of time in the outdoors. She weaves a variety of ecology projects into her… Read more about Irene Ronalds

Brian Edmison

Board Treasurer

Brian Edmison, born in Ottawa, obtained a BA degree from Queen's University in 1967 and a Chartered Accounts degree with Pricewaterhouse, Toronto in 1970. In 1972, he joined a CA firm in Smithers BC, becoming a partner in 1977, and remains with that firm, now called Edmison Mehr, CAs. His public practice includes financial statement preparation for corporations, not-for-profit organizations and individuals, auditing government entities, Canadian and international taxation and property management. In addition to… Read more about Brian Edmison

Alison Beal

Board Member

Alison M. Beal is the former executive director of the Fur Institute of Canada (1991-2000), in that capacity developing strong working relationships with the trapping community, including First Nations, across Canada; she has a strong background on local, national and international issues related to trapping, trapline management, humane trap research and development, and the establishment of international humane trap standards. Alison has served on the board of directors of the BC Wildlife Federation, the BC… Read more about Alison Beal

Denise Bustard

Seasonal Staff 2007

Denise recently completed her BSc from the University of Calgary in Cellular Molecular & Microbial Biology while on exchange in Australia. Following her graduation, she worked and travelled around Australia for a year before returning to her hometown Smithers in September. During her time off, Denise enjoys cross-country skiing, cooking and board games. She plans on returning to the University of Calgary in January 2008 for graduate studies. Read more about Denise Bustard

Tlell Glover

Summer Staff 2007 and 2005

The Centre hired Tlell Glover as its first summer employee under the UNBC coop education program. Tlell grew up in the Suskwa Valley, graduated from Smithers Secondary School in 1997 and currently lives on a rural property outside Telkwa. She is studying Physical Geography and Plant Biology at UNBC with an eye towards teaching and or research and is a member of the UNBC Varsity Nordic Ski Team. Tlell brings to the Centre a strong… Read more about Tlell Glover

Matthew Bryan

Summer Staff 2007

Matthew Bryan, 21, worked as a research assistant at the Bulkley Valley Research Centre in summer 2007, before heading into the third year of his biology undergrad at the University of Victoria in the fall. Matthew is originally from Victoria and says his first co-op placement reaffirmed where his career is heading: “It just solidified my own interest in research,” he says. Read more about Matthew Bryan

Phil Burton

Board Member

Phil Burton is Manager of Northern Projects for the Pacific Forestry Centre of the Canadian Forest Service, based in Prince George, B.C., where he is also an adjunct professor in the Ecosystem Science & Management Program at the University of Northern British Columbia. Phil has written several dozen papers and book chapters on vegetation dynamics and forest regeneration, and he currently researches various aspects of forest disturbance ecology. A common theme of his work has… Read more about Phil Burton

Debbie Cichowski

Board Member

Deborah Cichowski is a wildlife ecologist with a keen interest in the ecology and landscapes of northwestern BC. She has been involved with research and management of woodland caribou in west-central BC since 1985 and is currently conducting research on the effects of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on caribou habitat use and lichen dynamics. She has also worked on other research projects including a predator/prey study in Spatsizi Park with the Spatsizi Association for… Read more about Debbie Cichowski

Sybille Haeussler

Board Member & Past President

Sybille Haeussler is a forester and research scientist whose work focuses on the effects of human activities on the diversity, resilience and complexity of terrestrial ecosystems and plant communities, and on improving ecosystem-based forest and rangeland management. She is an adjunct professor with the University of Northern BC and currently works with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, UNBC and other partners on several projects including whitebark pine ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation and non-timber forest… Read more about Sybille Haeussler

Greg Knox

Board Member

Greg Knox was hired as the Executive Director of Skeena Conservation Trust in October of 2007, and is responsible for the overall management of the Trusts activities. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Northern BC in 2000, after which he became a certified Fisheries Technician and Field Supervisor with the Nisga’a Fisheries program. In 2003, Greg also partnered in an ecotourism business based out of Terrace where he specialized… Read more about Greg Knox

Andrea Kosalko

Board Member

Andrea Kosalko is the School of Exploration and Mining manager at Northwest Community College. The school is built on partnerships between industry, the college and First Nations, backed mainly by funding from the provincial and federal governments. Andrea has coordinated the school since its inception in 2005 and it has won several awards for its partnerships, program design and contributions towards building sustainable communities. Andrea would like to see communities maximize benefits from exploration and… Read more about Andrea Kosalko

Tony Pesklevits

Board Member

Tony and his wife Lisa moved to the Bulkley Valley in 2008. His work with the First Nations Initiatives Division of the Integrated Land Management Bureau involves building collaborative agreements between government agencies and northwest First Nations on land use and resource management, shared decision-making, resource revenue-sharing, and governance. Prior to joining the provincial government in 2007, Tony spent nine years in Nova Scotia, where he led an environmental field research program at Acadia University… Read more about Tony Pesklevits

Paul Wojdak

Board Member

Paul Wojdak obtained B.Sc (Honours) in chemistry and geology from McMaster University and M.Sc. in economic geology from the University of British Columbia. He joined Cominco Limited in 1974 as a mineral exploration geologist and worked throughout western Canada and USA with Cominco and subsequently with Westmin Resources. In 1992, he joined the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines as Regional Geologist. Key components of the position are to track and document mining and exploration… Read more about Paul Wojdak

Megan Adams

Summer Staff 2007

Megan Adams, 20, is a double major in biology and environmental studies at the University of Victoria. During her three months in Smithers as a BVRC research assistant, Megan became a known face around town through her volunteer work and community involvement. She returned to Victoria in the fall for the third year of her undergrad. Originally from southern Alberta, Megan inherited her love of nature from her parents: “I’ve always been interested in outdoor… Read more about Megan Adams

Board of Directors, 2007-2009

Back Row: Anne Harfenist; Brian Edmison; Laurence Turney; Brian Fuhr; Don Morgan

Front Row: Jim Pojar; Sybille Haeussler; Rosemary Fox; Jim McCormack

Missing 2007-08 Board: Phil Burton; Debbie Cichowski

Missing 2008-09 Board: Phil Burton; Debbie Cichowski; Bob Mitchell

Olivia Pojar

Summer Staff 2006

Olivia Pojar assisted on various research projects throughout the summer of 2006. Raised in the Bulkley Valley, Olivia graduated from McGill University in 2003 with a degree in English Literature. In September 2006, Olivia returned to do a second degree in Biology. Olivia spends her summers in Smithers, hiking, horseback riding, and going to garage sales. Read more about Olivia Pojar

Irving Fox

Founding Director

Born and raised in Michigan, Irving received a BA from the University of Michigan in Political Science, and MA in Public Administration. After several years in the US Department of the Interior working on water basin management, he joined Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C., where he was a researcher and Vice-President from 1955-66. He was professor of Urban and Regional Planning and associate director of Water Resources Research at the University of Wisconsin… Read more about Irving Fox

Jeff Anderson

Climate Change & Geosciences Researcher

Jeff’s main research area is ecosystem response to climate variability. He uses instrument records and paleo-climatology to describe the atmospheric component of observed ecosystem behavior. Jeff received a B.Sc. from the University of Victoria, focusing on both geosciences and terrestrial ecology. He then received a M.Sc. in geosciences from the University of Victoria, where he was part of a team exploring the vulnerability, of coastlines in Haida Gwaii, to current climate change models. Over the… Read more about Jeff Anderson

Board of Directors, 2009-2010

Back Row: Brian Edmison; Brian Fuhr; Don Morgan; Anne Harfenist; Laurence Turney; Bob Mitchell; Jim McCormack

Front Row: Rosemary Fox; Sybille Haeussler; Irene Ronalds

Missing: Phil Burton; Debbie Cichowski Read more about Board of Directors, 2009-2010

Board of Directors, 2010-2011

Back Row: Brian Edmison; Anne Harfenist; Don Morgan; Tony Pesklivits; Phil Burton; Bob Mitchell; Sybille Haeussler

Front Row: Debbie Cichowski; Irene Ronalds; Rosemary Fox

Missing: Laurence Turney; Andrea Kosalko Read more about Board of Directors, 2010-2011

Erica Lilles

Soil & Vegetation Scientist

Erica first worked in the field of forest science during her undergraduate years at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, where she was an intern in the forest dynamics lab. She gained more experience in temperate and boreal forest ecology during field jobs in Washington, Alaska, and interior British Columbia. It was her interest in soil-plant interactions and native plant restoration that led her back to school for an M.Sc. degree in Land Reclamation at the University… Read more about Erica Lilles

Board of Directors, 2011-2012

Present: Debbie Cichowski; Irene Ronalds; Brian Edmison; Sybille Haeussler; Laurence Turney; Alison Beal; Andrea Kosalko; Greg Knox

Missing: Phil Burton; Don Morgan; Tony Pesklivits; Paul Wojdak Read more about Board of Directors, 2011-2012

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