Provincial Staff:
• Bill Turner, Executive Director and Founder
• Ian Fawcett, Deputy Executive Director
• Kathleen Sheppard, Director of Operations
• John Keller, Director of Development
• Connie Pedersen, Provincial Administrative Assistant

Agriculture:
• Ramona Scott, Manager, Agricultural Programs

Development:
• Heather Skydt, Manager, Communications
• Wendy Innes, Manager, Member Care 
• Anne Armstrong, Planned Giving Coordinator & Regional Manager, Okanagan Region
• Alison Spriggs, Campaign and Projects Development Officer
• Jennifer Hobson, Graphic Design Specialist
• Valerie Jane Watkins, Production Coordinator

Enterprises:
• Nick Morley, Manager, TLC Enterprises
• Dianna Stenberg, Project Officer, TLC Enterprises & Web Developer, IT

Vancouver Island/Coast Region:
• Christina Waddle, Regional Manager, Vancouver Island/Coast Region & Acting Site Manager, Abkhazi Garden
• Deborah Hudson, Area Manager, Vancouver Island/Coast Region
• Irene Ambeault, Abkhazi Garden
• Cuyler Page, Site Services Manager, Craigflower National Historic Sites
• Nicole Haddad, Project Officer, Keating Farm Estate & Conservation Holidays
• Tara Todesco, Coordinator of Volunteer Development
• Sharon Cutris, Site Manager, Sooke Potholes
• Anton Low, Campground Attendent
• Jay Rastogi, Site Manager, Wildwood

Kootenay/North Region:
• Barry Booth, Regional Manager, North Region
• Emily Nilsen, Terrestrial Stewardship Advisor, Kootenay Area

---

Provincial

Bill Turner – Executive Director and Founder

Bill Turner puts his belief in the protection of natural areas, heritage sites and agricultural lands for future generations into action every day. In August 2005, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his work in saving special places. In 2007, Bill was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Victoria.

As an Accredited Land Consultant and Realtor, Bill has been working to protect B.C.’s special places for 16 years. Prior to his founding of TLC, he worked with the Nature Conservancy of Canada for several years.

Bill also served with the Saanich Police Department, both as a constable and as a detective. He later went on to work with an Emergency Equipment Company and was instrumental in helping to evolve that company into a Computer Development business.

In addition to his work with TLC, Bill volunteers in many other capacities. He currently sits as a member of the Executive Committee of the International National Trusts Organization (a coordinating body for the National Trust of the World). He also is a founder and board member of the American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts, and the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia.

Kathleen Sheppard - Director of Operations

Kathleen Sheppard has been with TLC since 2001. She has worked extensively in the non-profit sector, including time with the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition and the Cows and Fish Program. From 1997-2001, she worked as a Research Assistant with the Medicine River Wildlife Centre in Alberta. Kathleen has a B.Sc in Geography and Biology from the University of Victoria. She lives in Duncan, B.C. with her partner Rob, two cat, Sophie, Abbey and her dog, Casey.

Agriculture

Ramona Scott – Manager, Agricultural Programs

Ramona Scott oversees TLC’s agricultural Conservation Partners Program, Education and Outreach Programs, Community Farms Program, and plays a major role is acquiring new farms. She is committed to TLC’s mandate to protect the future of the farming for local food production and conservation of its natural biodiversity. Ramona has 40 years’ combined work experience in park planning and management; eco-tourism; nature conservation; natural foods retail; producer co-ops; native plant landscaping; and agriculture. She has a BA in Geography; graduate studies in Forestry and Outdoor Recreation Resource Studies, and an MA in Culture and Geo-Justice. She is a certified B.C. Environmental Farm Planning Advisor. Ramona feels very fortunate to be able to apply a combination of all her work experiences into one job at TLC: wildlife and farmland conservation, agri-ecology, agri-tourism, promotion and public education.

Development

Heather Skydt – Manager, Communications

Heather Skydt is responsible for strategic communications, public relations, marketing, advertising, and overall branding for TLC. She works with staff throughout the province to create awareness for TLC’s campaigns, programs and projects. Prior to her time with TLC, Heather held several contracts with CBC Television in their Communications Department, and was employed with both REALM Magazine and The Langley Advance Newspaper. Accomplished in her field, Heather holds a diploma in journalism from Kwantlen University College and a degree in Applied Communications from Royal Roads University. In her spare time, Heather can be found pursing her passion for photography.

 

Valerie Jane Watkins – Production Coordinator

Valerie coordinates and schedules outside and in-house printing, collects estimates and works on ways and means for complex projects; she maintains the 100% post consumer waste mandate for all printed materials; operates the in-house Xerox Docu-Color printer; liaise with Canada Post for large volumes of membership mail, the LandMark Newsletter, and fundraising catalogue parcels. Successful services are due to wonderful regular and on-call volunteers.

Valerie has forty years experience in the graphic design and printing trade. A graduate of Geo. Brown College of Arts and Technology in Toronto (Graphic Arts); Fanshawe Community College in London, Ontario (Supervisor Studies); The University of Western Ontario (Anthropology & Teaching ESL) in London, Ontario, Val earned ‘with distinction’ in all programs. She owned and operated a community newspaper in rural Ontario; The Byron Advocate was awarded a commendation from the Optimist Club for Community Interest. Valerie has travelled and lived overseas; worked as a graphic artist in the Caribbean for several years. Her special interests include boating, building, gardening – being outside!! Valerie and her husband own three wooden boats here in British Columbia, and have four others stored in Ontario. It’s a labour of love!

  Alison Spriggs – Campaign and Projects Development Officer

Alison Spriggs is responsible for fundraising and event coordination to support the purchase and protection of specific properties in the Victoria Capital Region. For the past 15 years as a passionate advocate, fundraiser and media spokesperson, Alison has championed many campaigns aimed at preserving the natural beauty of our surroundings. Her accomplishments include rallying community support to protect such precious places as the Sooke Hills and Sea to Sea Greenbelt, Matthews Point in the heart of Active Pass, new parklands along the Galloping Goose Trail, additions to Horth Hill, Thetis Lake and Mt. Work Regional Parks and the protection of Sooke Potholes.

In 2000, she led the public initiative to establish a $17 million Capital Regional District Parks Acquisition Fund for the purchase of important greenspace. By actively encouraging the community to vote for the parks levy, Alison helped to ensure the completion of the region’s very enviable parks and trail system.

In 2001, Alison was nominated for the YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Award. She received a Vancouver Island Human Rights Award for Community Environmental Work in 1999. In that same year, she was given the Provincial Capital Commission Greenways Achievement Award on behalf of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee Victoria Chapter in recognition of a tireless commitment to the creation of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park.

Born and raised in Saanich, Alison loves being in the wild and can often be found in hiking boots or on her bike enroute to one of her so many favourite spots.

 

TLC Enterprises

Nick Morley – Manager, TLC Enterprises

During Nick’s undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Victoria Nick volunteered for Ross Bay Villa. During this time he got to know TLC at a much greater depth. As he became more familiar with TLC sites and projects his passion for TLC’s directive increased. He has also worked at Craigflower historic site as a heritage interpreter before moving to TLC enterprise.

Nick grew up in Toronto and needed a change so he decided to move out to British Columbia to pursue a college education at The College of the Rockies in Golden BC. The course was a ten month certificate program in Adventure Tourism Business Operations and incorporated aspects of the tourism and business industry as well as the adventure industry. Through TLC-Enterprise Nick has been able to continue his love for tourism, British Columbia and TLC.

Vancouver Island/Coast Region

Christina Waddle – Regional Manager, Vancouver Island/Coast Region & Acting Site Manager – Abkhazi Garden

Christina has worked with The Land Conservancy of BC in various roles in 2002/03 and since 2005. For the last three years, she has been Regional Manager for the Vancouver Island/Coast region, where her responsibilities include the management of Vancouver Island properties and over 200 conservation covenants. Christina works with regional staff and land trust partners to deliver TLC’s mandate in the region. In 2005, Christina spent three months on an exchange with the National Trust in Northern Ireland, learning about the management of an historic estate and countryside properties around Strangford Lough. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, from the University of Manitoba, and she is happy to be working to protect special places in this beautiful province she now calls home.

 

Tara Todesco – Coordinator of Volunteer Development

Tara Todesco is responsible for volunteer program development and recruitment for southern Vancouver Island, as well as producing best practice models and polices in volunteer management for the province. Tara works with many stakeholders to recruit volunteers and develop community engagement opportunities, including service projects with local high schools and institutions of higher education and the development of volunteer internships for international volunteers. She is also the coordinator of the Gonzales Hill Park Restoration Project in partnership with CRD Parks.

Tara has 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector and has developed and coordinated numerous successful volunteer driven projects and events, ranging from environmental stewardship programs to professional conferences and committee development. Tara is currently a second year Master of Arts candidate with The School of Environmental Studies (SES) at The University of Victoria where she is studying community based environmental education. When not working and studying Tara enjoys hiking, biking, travel and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Lower Mainland Region

Tamsin Baker – Regional Manager, Lower Mainland Region

Tamsin Baker has been with TLC since 1998 when she was first hired as part of the Environment Youth Team program. She is a Vancouver native who has a BSc in Animal Biology from UBC and has done fieldwork in the Yukon and Southern Interior of B.C. Since opening TLC’s Lower Mainland office in 1999, she has gained extensive knowledge and experience regarding land trust activities and helped to protect over 1,000 acres of land in the region. When not busy with TLC-related activities, Tamsin can be found attempting to jog, bike or ski.

Okanagan Region

Anne Armstrong – Regional Manager, Okanagan Region & Planned Giving Coordinator

Since first starting as a Development Officer in 2004, Anne’s role has grown to include management of local heritage conservation projects such as the Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village in Grand Forks, partnership development with the nature conservation program, TLC’s Planned Giving portfolio and some corporate relations. Before coming to TLC, Anne was the Operations & Human Resources Manager at the Hudson Bay Company, and was the Executive Director of Junior Achievement’s South Saskatchewan office. Anne holds a Human Resources certificate and Business Administration diploma from The Bay through UBC. Outside of duties at work, Anne is a foster parent, and in her spare time enjoys cooking and reading.

Alyson Skinner – Area Manager, Okanagan Region

Alyson came to TLC in 2005 and is responsible for overseeing Nature Conservation and Agricultural programs and properties in TLC’s Okanagan Region. She coordinates the South Okanagan-Similkameen Stewardship Program- one of the longest running and most successful landowner contact programs across Canada and represents TLC in regional nature conservation partnerships, including the South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program. Prior to coming to TLC, Alyson worked and volunteered with other NGOs in landowner contact and outreach roles. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology from Simon Fraser University. Outside of TLC, Alyson can be found spending time with her husband and son, enjoying everything the beautiful south Okanagan has to offer.

Kootenay/North Region

Barry Booth – Regional Manager, Northern Region

Barry Booth is responsible for managing TLC’s affairs in the northern region. This ranges from spearheading restoration efforts in the Horsefly River Riparian Conservation area, to digging ditches at Talking Mountain Ranch, to working with partners on a variety of provincial-scale conservation issues. Barry worked as a consultant for government, industry, and the not-for-profit sector on examining the impacts of commercial activities and development (e.g., forestry, urban development, tourism) on a wide variety of wildlife, but mostly birds, throughout B.C. for over 15 years before coming to TLC. He has a B.Sc. in Zoology and a Masters of Science in Forestry/Wildlife Management, both from UBC. When not at his desk, or in the field on TLC properties, he can usually be found cross-country skiing, mountain biking, canoeing, or hiking in the just about anywhere in western North America with his partner, Loraine. Oh, and at times you may see him singing, and some times dancing on the stage in Prince George.

Emily Nilsen – Terrestrial Stewardship Advisor, Kootenay

As a Stewardship Advisor, Emily Nilsen works in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust assisting with the Environmental Initiatives Program (brainstorming ideas for community ecosystem restoration, assisting with fundraising applications, providing technical assistance and resources). Emily also promotes land stewardship and conservation to the public through community workshops, newspaper articles and school presentations. Since obtaining her degree in Writing & Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria, she has worked with both urban and rural communities reminding humans about their intrinsic connection to nature. As a result, she spends most of her free time actively pursuing her love of the forests and mountains in which she lives.