Notice of TLC’s 2021 Annual General Meeting

With July being moments away and temperatures rising, we are casting our minds to the next season full of programming. TLC’s Passport to Nature has been a great success thus far with free virtual events, workshops, and tutorials aimed at helping you connect with nature. This month you can watch our Environmental Technician & Land Manager, Karen Iwachow, in a three-part series on nature journaling. Sign up on our website anytime to receive links when her videos go live!

The next few months are bound to pass quickly as covenant monitoring season is upon us. Be sure to mark your calendars today with TLC’s 2021 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, Sept 25, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. I hope that you will be able to join us as members of our Board of Directors and staff report on TLC’s initiatives from the last fiscal year. For those unable to attend, TLC’s Annual Report and Financial Statements will be available in September on our website or in hard copy by request.

In keeping with TLC’s bylaws, a Nominations Committee was struck to recruit and put forward candidates for the Board of Directors for your consideration. The maximum number of Directors is 13. Directors are elected for a three-year term with a limit of three consecutive terms.

There are currently eight Directors. Four Directors (whose terms are not ending) will be continuing. They include Jeff Sheldrake, Andrew Stewart, Tom Watson, and Sara Wickham. There are nine positions open to nominations. Marika Smith has completed her term and will not be standing for re-election. Mel Lehan, Lori Roter, and Frances Sloan Sainas have reached the end of their terms and will be standing for re-election. Kelly Fretwell and Paleah Black Moher have been nominated by our Board and stand for election for the first time.

Please keep in mind the following election procedures and timetable:

• Following receipt of this letter, members may nominate other candidates. Further nominations are welcomed and must be received by TLC no later than August 1. They must be signed by five TLC Members and include a written confirmation from the nominee that he/she/they agrees to stand for election. A short biography of the nominee must also be included.
• If we receive more nominations than vacant positions, an election will be held. If the same number or fewer nominations are received than vacant positions, nominees will be elected by acclamation.
• Should an election be required, election materials and ballots will be sent to all TLC Members in good standing. Ballots will be sent by email to each member for whom we have a valid email address and by mail to all others. Ballots will be sent by August 22. Ballots must be returned in the manner set out in the election materials. Successful candidates will be announced at the AGM.
• Please note that to be eligible to vote you must be a member in good standing by August 12.

The Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the following candidates for your consideration:

Kelly Fretwell

Kelly Fretwell works on science communication and community science with the Hakai Institute. Her initial love of B.C.’s coastal ecology came from exploring shorelines and forests while growing up on the Saanich Peninsula, followed by inspiring field-based courses focused on biodiversity and restoration during her BSc in biology and environmental studies at the University of Victoria. Kelly also has a Masters of Marine Management from Dalhousie University, with a focus on the environmental assessment processes and cumulative effects issues surrounding shipping impacts on focal species in the Salish Sea. Prior to working for Hakai, Kelly’s employment experience was similarly focused on biodiversity and connecting people to their local nature in non-profit and academic settings: she was a citizen science project coordinator with the B.C. Parks Foundation, an ecosystems technician with the Mayne Island Conservancy, and a research assistant with the Starzomski Biodiversity Lab at UVic—where she developed a species identification website for B.C.’s central coast.

Mel Lehan

Mel is a long time community activist who is interested in preserving and protecting special places. Some of his successful projects include; saving a heritage church from being torn down and then turning it into a thriving community space – St. James Community Square; preserving the character neighbourhood of West Kitsilano by getting a bylaw to stop demolition of houses in that area; helping to have part of the Point Grey Foreshore declared a natural foreshore in perpetuity and thus not allowing development in this oasis of urban nature. Mel was also instrumental in bringing a Farmer’s Market to Kitsilano.

Paleah Black Moher

Dr. Paleah Moher has more than a decade of experience in the field of environmental toxicology and human health risk assessment. She has detailed knowledge of conducting human health risk assessments in multiple routes of exposure, such as air, water, and food, for various types of contaminants and pollution. Paleah sits as a scientific advisor for the Federal Government’s pesticide management agency, has chaired various working groups and advisory teams, and often lectures at various universities. She is a UN recognized global expert on the health impacts of artisanal gold mining, mercury, with many years of experience developing and implementing successful occupational health and safety programming. As someone from the Canadian Arctic with strong familial ties to the Inuit, she has a deep appreciation for the value of community engagement and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Lori Roter

Occupation: Senior Policy Advisor, Provincial Government of British Columbia
Skills, Knowledge and Experience: I have over two decades of experience developing environmental land, water and public health policy for BC. My experience ranges from leading, coordinating and administering projects of varying sizes and scope, researching and analyzing issues to stakeholder engagement and overall human resources empowerment. I have a Masters Degree in Resources Management (Geography), Project and Risk Management Certifications enhanced with financial and accounting training from the Certified General Accountants of BC. I have been the Board Treasurer for TLC since December 2014.
Interest and Vision for TLC: I have always had a strong interest in preserving our wild spaces and the fauna and flora that occupy it. I am also keenly aware of fiscal management needs for Not-for-Profit organizations, and would like to maintain attention to ensuring that operations are managed in a fiscally prudent and responsible manner for long term sustainability. During my tenure with the Board, I drafted financial oversight policies and reformulated accounting information on a quarterly basis to help with financial forecasting, reporting and monitoring of cash for operations. My hope is to continue with this important oversight role and to revisit policies on a regular basis to ensure they are up to date, and to work with staff to see that they are appropriately referenced and applied.
Other Organizations: Director, UpCycle the Gyres (2013); Board Member/Chair Awareness and Development – Greater Victoria Police Victims Services (2010-12); Past President/Public Relations Director of the Vancouver Island Project Management Institute Chapter (2005-06). Current/past member of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO), World Parrot Trust, World Wildlife Fund and the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Frances Sloan Sainas

Occupation: Retired Educator, former manager in the hospitality industry.
Involvement with TLC: My relationship with TLC began in 2001 when I was working at the Open Learning Agency and completing my Masters Degree in Leadership and Training at Royal Roads University. TLC sponsored my major project, Building an Educational Strategy for TLC. Since 2001, I have been an active member, TLC Lower Mainland Committee representative, financial supporter of TLC and a member of the Board since 2015.
Interest and Vision for TLC: I applaud the past and especially the current TLC Board for their service and work to make TLC once again a leader in conservation. I am invigorated by the positive growth and direction of TLC and want to continue to be part of the leadership team. It is an exciting time to be involved with conservation. TLC has an opportunity to be part of the federal government’s commitment “to protect 30% of our territory by 2030” with TLC’s covenants program and land protection initiatives. TLC is also part of the solution with First Nations reconciliation through projects like SISȻENEM (Halibut Island) with the WSÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Finally, linked to my Masters degree, TLC has become a leader in naturalists education with TLC’s Deertrails program. I want to continue to serve on the TLC Board and work with TLC’s devoted and competent staff to ensure that TLC’s future remains sustainable and impactful.

Thank you for your continued support of TLC’s conservation projects and programs. I hope to see you virtually at our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, September 25.

Sincerely,

Cathy Armstrong
Executive Director

P.S. This spring we have been fundraising to support our work on SISȻENEM (Halibut Island). The project requires restoration at the northern-most section of the island and the registration of a conservation covenant before we transfer title to the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Thanks to a very generous donor, current gifts made toward the projects – up to $15,000 – are being matched dollar for dollar! You can make your gift go twice as far by donating online today at www.conservancy.bc.ca or calling 1-877-485-2422. Donations are eligible for 2021 tax receipts. Thank you for your support of this important act of reconciliation!