Regional Wildlife Advisory Committees - Kootenay-Boundary Region

The mountains and outdoors of the East Kootenays are a huge draw to Alan and he is always looking forward to his next adventure. Alan has been an active leader with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) since 2014, taking on various roles including his current role as BC Chapter Chair.

Alan also holds a position on the Provincial Hunting Trapping Advisory Team (PHTAT) and has been working with the Fish Wildlife Habitat Coalition (FWH) since inception in 2020. This involvement has provided an opportunity to work collaboratively on wildlife issues throughout the province.

Alan believes we are fortunate to have large wild landscapes and a diversity of wildlife in B.C. but this privilege comes with a responsibility to protect what is remaining. He is happy to advance this work as a member of the East Kootenay Wildlife & Habitat Advisory Committee.

Yvonne has lived in the Elk Valley her entire life.  Her family has had range tenure since 1960 and she has been privileged to live in the middle of the winter range of elk, mule, and whitetail deer. Yvonne worked in the guide outfitting industry for 20 years. She also sat on the Koocanusa Recreation management strategy advisory group for six years. She is passionate about preserving our landscapes and keeping ecosystems thriving for generations to come.

Bill grew up in Trail, B.C. and now lives on an acreage in the Elk Valley with his wife Sue where they have raised their family. He taught high school industrial education for 20 years before changing careers and starting his own woodworking business called Wilderness Spirit Woodworks. He is a hunter, backcountry horseman and wilderness advocate and has been involved with various conservation organizations for over thirty years in the East Kootenay. Bill was the first chair of the BC Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and is presently in his second term on the BHA North American board of directors. He is also co-founder and current chair of the Hornaday Wilderness Society.

A longtime resident of the Kootenay and East Kootenay, Jim has a variety of passions and skills to contribute to the East Kootenay Wildlife and Habitat Advisory Committee. A former B.C. government employee, Jim's years of mountaineering, ski touring and avalanche control are rounded out with his experience as a land surveyor and mediator. Jim is currently a project manager for international government transformation projects. He is a certified master bowhunter instructor, and has been a participant on the Together for Wildlife strategy since its inception. He currently sits on the Provincial Hunting Trapping Advisory Team (PHTAT).

Jenna's passion for healthy ecosystems and wildlife has helped shape her career. She has held various roles including ecological monitoring as a resource conservation officer in mountain national parks and as an environmental educator developing award-winning programs for youth and adults across Alberta. Jenna has a B.A. in ecotourism and a technical diploma in fish, wildlife and recreation. She uses her skills to help with amphibian, bird, ungulate and small mammal projects. She is currently focused on finding solutions to reduce the impacts of individual and commercial recreation on wildlife through education, collaboration and policy changes.

Brian is a Golden-based wildlife ecologist dedicated to wildlife, habitats, and wild spaces. His work spans industry, NGOs, government, and First Nations with a broad focus including breeding birds, ungulates and landscape ecology. As an advocate for wildlife and their habitats, Brian sits on numerous boards and committees supporting conservation-based actions wherever possible. His passion for nature flows into his recreational pursuits and he takes every opportunity to explore new places through hunting, fishing and trail running.

Clayton is a wildlife scientist who lives and works in the East Kootenay. He has studied grizzly bear population dynamics in the Elk Valley since 2013 but also works on elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, caribou, and wolverine ecology in the region. At work, Clayton’s passion is founded on supporting the implementation of evidence-based solutions to support wildlife and their habitat and using science to measure the outcomes of these actions. The goal is to support more effective on-the-ground action in the region. Outside of work, Clayton is a hiker, hunter, skier, fisher, mountain biker, mushroom picker, and hobby farmer.

Juliet is a registered professional biologist with a broad range of conservation experience including invasive plant management, bat conservation, species at risk planning, and environmental education. She has a B.Sc. in ecology and an M.Sc. in ethnobotany resulting from her work in Ahousaht territory focusing on sustainable plant management. Juliet's passion for wildlife has led her to work on projects with chimpanzees in Uganda, orangutans in Borneo, snakes in the Okanagan, and small mammals in northern B.C. She initiated the Kootenay community bat project, BC community bat program and Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee. She is currently the program director for the Kootenay conservation program where she focuses on collaborative approaches to conservation. When not working, she enjoys camping and exploring the beautiful Kootenay region with her family.

Jacob is a lifelong resident of the Creston Valley and has been a passionate outdoor recreationist since childhood. Over the last decade, he has worked in the lumber industry, the agricultural sector, and the environmental field. In 2022, Jacob received a diploma in integrated environmental planning from Selkirk College. He is currently employed as the wildlife habitat and operations technician for the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. Jacob is excited to have the opportunity to give his voice to the wellbeing of wildlife in the East Kootenays, a place he feels deeply connected to.  

Kari is a professional wildlife biologist with a PhD in forest science and 30 years of experience in the forestry industry in Western Canada. She has an extensive history of successful collaboration and project leadership with federal and provincial governments, First Nations, industry, academia, and interested parties in the development of evidence-based legislation and forest management strategies that conserve wildlife habitat. Some of these collaborative projects include developing a migratory bird strategy for the forest industry in the interior of B.C. She also worked on a fuel reduction project with Parks Canada and a conservation project with the East Kootenay First Nations, local environmental groups, and government. Kari has written numerous scientific publications on wildlife including those on moose, mountain goat, caribou, northern goshawk, and songbirds. She lives outside Cranbrook, BC with her husband and two teenage children. In her free time, Kari enjoys hiking, skiing, and bird-watching.

John Bergenske is dedicated to protecting wilderness and wildlife habitat. He has been engaged in field studies, provincial forest and land use policy, and the protection of wildlands through parks, wildlife management areas, government orders, and forest certification designations in the East Kootenay.  His work is driven by a deep respect for all living things. John is a past executive director of Wildsight and presently serves as Wildsight’s strategic advisor. He is also a member of the Ministers’ Wildlife Advisory Council and represents Wildsight on the British Columbia fish and wildlife coalition.

Suzanne is President of the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners, a group in the Columbia Valley dedicated to conserving the waters, wildlife, and habitats of the area. Dr. Bayley is a retired professor of ecology at the University of Alberta and has spent her professional life focused on the ecology and management of wetlands, shallow lakes and the animals that use those habitats. She is passionate about conserving wildlife habitats and will use her skills and knowledge to help the East Kootenay Wildlife and Habitat Advisory Committee recommend research and policies to improve management decisions and wildlife stewardship.

Growing up in the Elk Valley Sam developed an interest in wildlife very early on. His passion for hunting led to involvement in conservation organizations, and eventually to guide outfitting. It became apparent to Sam that healthy wildlife and habitats require advocacy to ensure that they continue to flourish as we develop our land base. He played a lead role in the Elk Valley elk collaring project and he is currently involved with the Elk Valley west bighorn sheep study. With a strong understanding of wildlife, habitat, and the issues they face, Sam feels that he can bring knowledge and experience to the committee.

As a B.C. conservation officer serving 32 years in Creston, the Lower Mainland, Queen Charlotte Islands, and Invermere, Richard dealt with habitat impact investigations as well as a variety of fish and wildlife issues. Now retired, Richard is involved in natural landscape and wildlife endeavours with the local Rod & Gun Club, Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners, East Kootenay Wildlife Association and Kootenay conservation program. Richard has had a constant personal and working connection with wildlife and habitat his entire life, both professionally and through his volunteer work.  

Melinda and her family are not just farmers at Spring Creek Ranch; they are stewards of the land. Their commitment to organic farming practices reflects a deep respect for nature and a dedication to producing food in harmony with the environment. From cultivating hay to raising cattle, every aspect of their operation is infused with a sense of responsibility towards the land and the community they serve. Beyond agriculture, their ranch is also a sanctuary for wildlife, thanks to the careful management of its forested areas. By balancing the needs of agriculture with conservation, Melinda and her family ensure that their land remains vibrant and biodiverse for generations to come.

Todd is the strategy and community engagement manager for biodiversity pathways overseeing collaboration with indigenous communities, government and industry to use data to support wildlife. When not working, Todd he is generally outdoors on foot, raft, or bike exploring new places in the East Kootenays. He is especially interested in the native species of the area, with mule deer, west slope cutthroat trout, and western larch among his favourites. Todd brings 14 years of strategic planning and engagement experience to wildlife and habitat issue. He also has an outside perspective, having lived in Seattle, Perth Australia, and North Carolina prior to moving to Fernie in 2020. 

Bio to come. 

Bio to come.