Fiona is a settler marine ecologist, conservationist, and community leader who attributes her life’s direction to growing up in Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem. Having spent her childhood flipping rocks to search for crabs on Bowen/Nex̱wlélex̱wem’s beaches, Fiona was thrilled to serve as the Guide’s Project Director from 2018-2021. She is now delighted to participate on the project’s Steering Committee. Fiona is currently a PhD candidate in the Zoology department at the UBC, where she studies how climate change is affecting marine life and communities in the Salish Sea. She also coordinates nearshore restoration in Átl’ḵa7tsem with SeaChange Marine Conservation and sits as an advisory for various other regional marine conservation non-profit organizations. Fiona lives in Gibsons, Ch’ḵw’elhp. 

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Charlene Williams is of Skwxwu7mesh, Nuu-chah-nulth and Snuneymuxw decent. She was raised in, and currently lives and works within her Skwxwu7mesh territory, in the Squamish Valley. She has worked as a Skwxwu7mesh Culture and Language Worker in the Sea to Sky School District #48 for sixteen years and is currently working at Aya7ayulh Chet, a Kindergarten to Grade 6 Indigenous program of choice guided by the principle that all learning is grounded in understanding the connected relationship of Language, Land and Culture. Charlene descends from a family and community with a deep connection and commitment to stewardship and protection of the Xay Temixw, sacred lands of the Skwxwu7mesh peoples. Charlene is a lifelong learner of her Skwxwu7mesh language, culture, and history and strongly believes that we can utilize these important knowledge systems to contribute to healthy communities and ecosystems.

Dr. Isobel Pearsall is the Director of PSF’s Marine Science Program. She co-ordinated the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Salish Sea Marine Survival Project 2014-2019, and is the Manager of the PSF/UBC Strait of Georgia Data Centre. She holds a First class degree in Pure and Applied Biology from Oxford University, a M.Sc. in Ecology from the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University, and a PhD. in Ecology from the Department of Plant Science, UBC. Since 1995, she has worked as a scientist on numerous large-scale ecosystem management and conservation programs for government, non-profit organizations, and private industry. She is an adjunct professor at UBC. 

Courtney Smaha (she/her/elle) grew up in Northern British Columbia, and found a passion for the environment at a young age. This early interest led Courtney to pursue a BA in Environment and Sustainability Geography from the University of British Columbia. This degree steered her into the private sector where she has gained extensive experience in environmental management. Currently, Courtney is pursuing her Master’s degree at Royal Roads University in Environment and Management, where her thesis is focused on Ecosystem-Based Management of Marine Protected Areas in Canada. This experience informs her enthusiastic, mindful, and collaborative approach to the Marine Stewardship Initiative. Experiencing the beautiful Átl’ḵa7tsem area by foot, snowboard, and sea, continues to inspire her daily, in creating a sustainable future for all.

ha7lh skwáyel ta néwyap, Myia kwi en sna, tina chen tl’a sḵwxwú7mesh úxwumixw.

Myia Antone is a youth from the Squamish Nation, as well as having Ukrainian and Norwegian roots. She completed her Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability and First Nations and Indigenous Studies at UBC, and is currently learning her traditional sḵwxwú7mesh snichim through the Squamish Language Immersion program through SFU. Growing up in Squamish, she has always felt a strong connect to the ocean and would take any opportunity to be on top of (surfing, kayaking, canoeing) or underneath (swimming) it. Through this project, she hopes to share her love for Howe Sound and work with different people to protect it.

Nikita is deeply passionate in using maps to tell stories of conversations, lives and songs lived out of a place. Her approach to cartography is strategic, holistic and research oriented, her practice is about balancing creativity with practicality. She completed her Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, with a focus on mapping how glaciers and rivers have shaped the landscapes of the South Coast Mountains to the Himalayas. She is skilled in translating questions into geospatial answers with professional experience in ESRI and open-source environments in the environmental, agricultural, renewable energy, and technology sectors. Nikita is delighted to be working with the Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem Marine Reference Guide to highlight local knowledge and work with like-minded communities to protect this wonderful place. When she’s not making maps she can be found exploring Átl’ḵa7tsem with her skis, bike, snorkel or paintbrush.    

Growing up on Southern Vancouver Island, Eleana (she/her) was constantly inspired by the environment around her and always outdoors. Eleana channeled this passion and pursued a Bachelors of Science with Honours from the University of Toronto in Biodiversity & Conservation Biology and Environment & Health. With a background in environmental monitoring and wildlife rehabilitation, Eleana joins our team through the Ocean Wise Direct Action program this summer. In her free time, Eleana can’t wait to explore more of the beautiful Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound area and get to know the community.

Kyla has worked as a professional photographer for 14 years, as a Park Manager of a marine protected area (Porteau Cove), and is currently studying at the University of British Columbia to complement her experience in the fields of Marine and Conservation Biology. She is especially interested in conservation genetics, and marine ecology. She has a Citation in Environmental Studies from Langara College, is a certified sailboat skipper, a scuba diver, and a CABIN (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network) field technician. Her work has brought her to many regions of the world, which have inspired a sense of wonder and awe in the ocean and earth, but also an awareness of its fragility, and of the vast reaches of human impacts. She now feels a deep sense of urgency to protect the richness and wild beauty we have right here at home in Howe Sound.

A co-founding partner at 1stPlace, a design agency that supports and activates regional initiatives, Jody has a BFA from the University of British Columbia and Studio Diploma from Capilano University. Phillips developed dynamic skill sets and agility as a designer before becoming the Director of IDS Vancouver and eventually resigning from the larger position of IDS National Director in 2021. A proud, long-time Vancouverite, Jody grew up swimming, sailing and exploring Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound. Now with 3 children in tow, she can still be found out on its waters and up in the mountains. Phillips is a forever advocate for the region. Stewardship, curiosity, and a profound responsibility to communities and future generations have always run through Phillips’ projects and have fuelled her work. She has made a career of conceiving and executing opportunities that promote and highlight the coast’s talent and culture, both regionally and internationally.

Connecting people to ideas and community, Jody Phillips has developed, produced, and secured funding for programming and exhibitions and has built relationships with designers, foundations, associations, and governments. A sought-after design jurist, moderator, and panelist, Phillips is also the author of Currents: Contemporary Pacific Northwest Design, © 2018 by The New Heroes and Pioneers.

Growing up on the southern coast of British Columbia, Cassidy (she/her) developed a passion for sustainability and wildlife. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree for a Combined Major of Biology and Oceanography at the University of British Columbia. With a background in wild bird rescue and rehabilitation, she hopes to be an advocate for BC’s wildlife and promote a more sustainable way of living.

Dr. Andrew Day is the CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. He has a law degree and Ph.D in resource and environmental management. He has developed and led some of the first and most widely endorsed oceans and wild salmon strategies in Canada. He grew up near Howe Sound and his vision and work producing Ocean Watch: Howe Sound Edition formed the origins for the Marine Reference Guide.

Dr. Andrew Day is the CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. He has a law degree and Ph.D in resource and environmental management. He has developed and led some of the first and most widely endorsed oceans and wild salmon strategies in Canada. He grew up near Howe Sound and his vision and work producing Ocean Watch: Howe Sound Edition formed the origins for the Marine Reference Guide.

Darcy is the Principal of the wabe consulting, where she works at the intersection of ecosystem protection, Indigenous rights, and sustainable economic development. She has founded and played leadership roles in non-profit organizations form local to national scales, and provided support and advice as we launched the Howe Sound Marine Reference Guide initiative. Darcy also serves on the Boards of Directors of Coast Opportunity Funds, Ocean Networks Canada, and the BC Parks Foundation. Darcy lives in Vancouver with her family.