Dear TLC Members,

Amidst Passport to Nature events, restoration activities, welcoming guests to Abkhazi Garden, and seasonal covenant monitoring, we are looking ahead to what is bound to be a fully scheduled fall. I’m writing today to ask that you mark your calendar with TLC’s 2022 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, September 24, at 1:00 p.m. This year our AGM will be held in person at the Mary Lake Nature Sanctuary, located at 1772 Millstream Road, Victoria. In celebration of TLC’s 25 years of conservation, we will be hosting a BBQ prior to the meeting at 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP to admin@conservancy.bc.ca.

In keeping with TLC’s bylaws, a Nominations Committee was struck to recruit 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 nine Directors. Eight Directors (whose terms are not ending) will be continuing. They include Kelly Fretwell, Mel Lehan, Paleah Black Moher, Lori Roter, Frances Sloan Sainas, Jeff Sheldrake, Andrew Stewart, and Tom Watson. There are five positions open to nominations. Sara Wickham has reached the end of her term and stands for re-election.

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 candidate for your consideration:

Sara Wickham

Sara Wickham is a PhD student at the University of Waterloo. Her research tests the hypothesis that in B.C., historical Indigenous land management techniques (specifically trading and transplanting) have influenced the range-wide dispersal of culturally important plant species, thus affecting patterns of biodiversity across the province. This research is informed by genetic techniques and analysis, which can discern between natural and intentional dispersal events. Although the “wilderness” is often considered a pristine landscape, free from human influence, there is compelling evidence (across multiple disciplines and worldviews) that displays how place-based humans steward biodiversity, which provides many ecosystem services. It is her hope that this research may contribute to that narrative and provide novel evidence for historical land use. In the past, Sara has done research to inform restoration efforts in Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island and led research on marine-terrestrial ecosystem connectivity in the Great Bear Rainforest and Barkley Sound. Her interest in TLC stems from attending the Deertrails Naturalist Program and experiencing TLC’s dedication to providing opportunities to foster place-based connections.

I hope to see you in person at our AGM. 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. Thank you for your continued support of TLC’s conservation projects and programs!

Sincerely,


Cathy Armstrong
Executive Director

P.S. TLC’s 2022 Passport to Nature and our Naturalist Activity Books are FREE resources for nature enthusiasts looking to get outside and learn a bit more about our beautiful province. You can find digital copies on our website or request a hard copy by emailing membership@conservancy.bc.ca.