Catherine holds a Bachelor’s in International Studies and Modern Languages from Université Laval, specializing in sustainable development, which sparked her interest in merging human sciences with the physical territory. She then pursued a Master’s in Geographical Sciences, focusing her research on alternative food systems in Panama. Before joining the EIS, Catherine worked as a research professional in agroforestry. She is currently completing a Certificate in Restoration of Natural Systems at the University of Victoria.

Catherine was drawn to the EIS mission of promoting ecoforestry, which perfectly aligns with her professional goal: fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the land. Besides, is there any better office to work in than Wildwood Ecoforest?

If she were a plant at Wildwood, she’d be an orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa): a versatile, food-bearing climber who is never far from the forest, and loves attracting hummingbirds.

Rachael initially earned a Hospitality Management diploma from Camosun College, and after a few years’ break now holds a BSc. in Forest Ecology and Management from the University of Northern British Columbia. She fell in love with environmental education while working at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre in the Okanagan, and continued on in this field with jobs in the Comox Valley, Southern Gulf Islands, and Vancouver, before landing with EIS at Wildwood where she was able to merge the knowledge from her degree with her skills as an educator.

She is eager to contribute to Wildwood’s growth and looks forward to developing new programs, helping with restoration projects, and further promoting Wildwood.

If Rachael was a plant at Wildwood, she would be a western yellow pond lily (Nuphar polysepala) as she comes alive in the summer and is happiest by the water.

.A lifelong learner, Kathy has made the rounds of Victoria area academic institutions.  She received her double major in Political Science and Psychology from UVic, a Diploma in Criminology from Camosun and later, a Masters in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University. She completed her thesis on sustainable community forestry and had the honour of interviewing Merv Wilkinson himself during that process. Somehow her life experience has led her to a life in forestry. Retiring from government as an economic development policy analyst, she used that knowledge to help acquire Wildwood and then built a business model that allows EIS to steward Wildwood in a financially responsible manner.  

Kathy has long been interested in climate change and the role of forests, particularly Old-Growth forests, as the lungs and givers of life on Earth.  She hopes to help guide Wildwood into the next chapters of building a value-added wood processing centre and a raised profile in the worldwide forest community.

If Kathy was a plant, she would be a licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) thriving high in the bough of a bigleaf maple tree, celebrating the wind and the rain and the sun. 

With a background in horticulture, woodworking, youth mental health, program development, and environmental education, Ben brings a broad array of skills and experience to the EIS team.

As a nature lover, stewardship advocate, and neighbour to Wildwood, volunteering with EIS provides him with the unique opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with the land he lives on while supporting a vibrant future for forestry and the ecosystems it impacts.

If he were a plant at Wildwood, Ben would be a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): tall, well-rooted, generous, and versatile.

After a stint working for the Capital Regional District, Sharon received a Planning degree from the University of North Carolina and worked briefly in Prince George, followed by working for the Saanich Municipality as a planner. 

While volunteering for the Sierra Club, Sharon was invited to join the Ecoforestry Institute by founding member, Dr. Alan Drengson.  She was happy to oblige to put her unique experience  and skills with non-profits to good use. 

Sharon is particularly attracted to the Twinflower (Linnaea borealis), named after Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus, as her husband is a direct relative of his.  

Nancy is an ethnobotanist and ethnoecologist, with a PhD from the Botany Department at the University of British Columbia. She has worked for over 50 years with Indigenous knowledge keepers in the province, documenting their knowledge, practices, and teachings about plants and their environments.

As a professor in Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, she brought her ethnobotany and traditional land and resource management classes to Wildwood for many years and got to know Merv Wilkinson and Wildwood very well. She joined EIS as a founding member, with Sharon Chow, Dr. Alan Drengson and others.

Nancy’s favourite flower is Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana), with its beautiful fragrance, its attraction to bees and other pollinators, and its brilliant orange hips, which are used in our Wildwood tea mix.

Peter is a Registered Professional Forester in both BC and Austria (from where he immigrated). He is also a certified Arborist, tree risk assessor and faller. Prior to immigration, Peter worked in Forestry research. In BC, he has been active as a forestry and arboriculture consultant and also as a hands-on arborist.

Peter has designed and instructed several ecoforestry courses. For him, practicing forestry only has legitimacy when driven by a sincere forest stewardship ethic, such as that embraced by the EIS.

If Peter was a plant at Wildwood, he would probably be an orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) as he also likes to climb trees.

Kegan is a managing lawyer with Ecojustice, Canada's largest environmental law charity. His legal practice focuses on issues of forestry management, ecosystem and species protection, and major infrastructure development. He has represented Ecojustice and clients in regulatory proceedings and at all levels of court, including at the Supreme Court of Canada. 

Kegan was motivated to join the EIS Board after a decade of litigating under and working to reform BC's forestry laws. For Kegan, EIS and Wildwood represent a sliver of hope and a model for addressing mismanaged forestry regimes and associated ecological collapse. 

If Kegan were a plant (fungi) at Wildwood, he would be the lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): elusive and also known as old man (with a) beard.