Meet 17 amazing women who work at BC Parks
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International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the achievements of women. We are thrilled so many incredible women bring their unique perspectives and passion to BC Parks! We interviewed 17 of the amazing women who work here, so you can learn more about the important work they do. You can get a sense of the breadth of work that happens behind the scenes at BC Parks by reading these mini-interviews.
Brett is a business information analyst. She writes and sets standards for content on bcparks.ca. She also helps to improve the digital systems that support the website.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I got to be really involved in the redesign of the park pages. I like the creativity in figuring out how to make information more accessible, how to make it easier to find and understand, and how to better keep it up to date. The goal is always to help folks find what they need to enjoy their time in parks and understand their role in park stewardship.
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Sydney is the acting executive director of the stewardship, planning, and infrastructure branch. A big part of her job is to support the 70 plus staff in the branch – making sure everyone has what they need to be successful in their jobs. This includes allocating resources, making decisions, communicating direction, removing barriers, connecting with partners, etc., and most importantly, taking care of the team.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I’m trying to think of one that sounds cool! My kids tell me my job is boring because I sit at a computer all day. In 2024 I worked closely with my executive colleagues to support our ministry’s reorganization of BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails – coming together as one “Parks and Recreation Program”. I think it’s cool, and I am happy to be a part of this work ?.
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Kim is the park enhancement advisor at BC Parks. She focuses on the Park Enhancement Fund and programs supported by BC Parks licence plate sales. She also works closely with the BC Parks Foundation on their donor program.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: The BC Parks Foundation has a donor, Greg Goodwin, who helped with a few park projects in memory of his daughter Kira, who tragically passed away while backcountry skiing in the Kootenays. Her legacy supported a number of projects, including land purchased at Cowichan River Park, an area where the Goodwin family had lived. On a hot summer day, BC Parks staff and I got to spend the afternoon with Greg at the park to look at potential construction options where we will place the plaque to honour Kira and the donation.
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Heather is the director of Indigenous Relations at BC Parks. She provides strategic direction and coordination for a broad range of provincial policies, programs, tools, engagement, negotiations, and Indigenous partnership activities to further reconciliation and joint stewardship on the land, while maintaining a balance between protecting natural environments and outdoor recreation within the province’s protected areas system.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: A favourite recent project of mine has been working on the BC Parks/Guardians Shared Compliance and Enforcement Pilot project with Kitasoo Xai’xais and Nuxalk Nations. This pilot project designates Indigenous guardians with the same legal authorities and responsibilities as BC Parks rangers within the provincial protected areas located in the Nations’ traditional territories. To my knowledge, this is the first project of its kind in Canada and a tremendous step forward in the journey to reconciliation!
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Erica is a protected area applied ecologist. Her work focuses on broader conservation level policy, programs and support that applies to the whole province. She works closely with regional conservation specialists and other staff. She has been focusing on reviewing BC Parks’ long-term ecological monitoring program, building partnerships with other government agencies and conservation groups, providing an ecological lens to visitor use management, and developing training videos to assist staff to better understand how to use the Protected Areas Resource Catalogue web-based mapping tool.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: In 2024, I was fortunate to have collaboratively planned and implemented a bio-inventory of Tatshenshini-Alsek Park where 25 scientists from BC and Canada, Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Guardians, and Yukon government staff came together over four days and surveyed the park on foot, by vehicle and by helicopter to learn more about the ecological values in this remote and understudied park.
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Ashley is the administrative coordinator of regional operations. She assists the executive and administration in regional operations, making sure everyone is supported and helping with items that occur in the background across all spectrums of BC Parks.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: In 2024 I got to attend the provincial park ranger training to assist with awarding their badges and certificates of completion. I sit behind a desk 99% of the time so it was great to interact with field staff and see things from outside of an office. The experience reinforced why I love my job and the people I work with!
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Kate is the community engagement specialist. She works closely with colleagues at the BC Parks Foundation to help them run all of the amazing Discover Parks interpretive programs and experiences. She also provides provincial support for the BC Parks volunteer program.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: In 2024, we launched a project to build two brand new amphitheatres in the Kootenays. These will be the first new amphitheatres built in BC Parks in many, many decades, so it is very exciting. Construction is slated to start soon, and I can’t wait to see the finished product!
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Octavia is a community liaison officer. She serves as a vital link between BC Parks and communities, supporting engagement, education, partnership, and conservation efforts.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I had the opportunity to spend the day in beautiful Golden Ears Park while participating in the filming of Camper’s Code content, which is a pledge promoting responsible camping.
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Terra is a policy analyst. She reviews and updates BC Parks’ policies about specific programs, and helps assess and create documents and guidelines for park operations.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: In 2024, I’ve been working on analyzing the SSCFE (social services camping fee exemption) Program. I have been talking with park operators, BC Parks staff, and the public to see how we can make the program better. I have enjoyed being able to speak with members of the public who have been using the program to hear about their experience first-hand.
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Lindsey is a conservation specialist. She leads the conservation program in the North Coast Skeena region that overlaps with many First Nations traditional territories. She plans and develops conservation projects, and provides guidance to the regional team on how to maintain ecological integrity and function within the region’s big and beautiful parks.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I was elated to spend time in Tatshenshini – Alsek Park. In July, I worked with a team of experts on a large-scale biological inventory in the park, collectively documenting almost 500 species from valley bottoms to mountain tops. In September, I joined a team on a trip down the Tatshenshini River to conduct a human-bear interaction risk assessment of commonly used riverside campsites. The information gathered from these projects will inform future management planning to conserve ecological values and promote visitor safety.
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Brittny is the project and program support on the Engagement, Education, and Enhancements Team. She supports the social media content team, and accessibility and inclusion work. She is supporting the development of an adaptive recreation program to build capacity for more inclusive recreational experiences in parks for people with disabilities.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: We have a few exciting projects lined up to celebrate the opening of a new adaptive-friendly mountain bike trail in Alice Lake Park that I’ll be supporting! And I’ll be building more awareness about adaptive recreation on our website and social media channels to highlight inclusive recreation experiences in parks.
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Joanna is a planning section head. Her job mainly includes park management planning, land administration, and collaboration with First Nations. She works with amazing people including park rangers and other BC Parks staff, many First Nations, and other governments and community partners.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I’ve worked for BC Parks for many years, but am new to the planning section head job. A cool project already in progress that I recently joined is a collaboration between Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and BC Parks to develop a stewardship and management plan for S⨱ótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake Park. The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe has done amazing work on the draft plan and I’m grateful to be able to work with them on finishing the plan.
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Anni is a web and information specialist. She answers public inquiries via the Park Info inbox. She also supports web, social media, branding, and signage related projects- a little bit of everything in the information services realm.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: Stewarding the new signage standards that were launched in late 2023! Supporting the delivery of consistent and clear signage in parks, making it easier for park visitors to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Regardless of how you explore, consistent signage helps folks navigate with confidence and make the most of their time in nature. The updated sign standards provide clear directions and important park information, ensuring everyone has what they need for a great visit.
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Melanie is a protected areas applied ecologist. She helps coordinate and execute provincial-level conservation work including representing BC Parks on provincial wildlife-related initiatives, drafting policy, guidelines, and strategies, as well as providing support to regional staff in various wildlife conservation program areas. The main focus of her work is terrestrial wildlife such as bears, wolves and other carnivores, as well as caribou recovery.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: One of the coolest projects I’ve been able to work on in my time with BC Parks was co-leading the development of BC Parks’ Human-Bear Coexistence Strategy. An awesome team of experts from many different BC Parks program areas came together and created a strategy for making BC Parks a leader in human-bear conflict prevention. The strategy focuses on improving facilities, developing visitor education and awareness programs to foster coexistence, bringing the BareCampsite program principles to BC Parks, and operational objectives like human-bear conflict prevention training for staff, better reporting and information management, and more attention on ensuring visitors are appropriately managing attractants. After a year and a half of brainstorming and writing, the final strategy was approved in the summer of 2024. It was an honour to work with such an amazing team, and we’re now gearing up for the implementation of the strategy!
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Brita is a land and resource coordinator. She plans and manages fuel management and prescribed fire projects within parks and protected areas, with a focus on reducing wildfire risk to communities and parks values. She collaborates with area supervisors, conservation specialists and other regional operations staff on developing projects that meet parks objectives and wildfire risk reduction objectives.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I worked with the area supervisor and conservation specialist on a fuel management project in Kalamalka Lake Park. This project incorporated wildfire risk reduction and ecosystem restoration by helping reduce fuel loading as well as forest encroachment onto grasslands that many threatened species rely upon. Previous fuel management projects have been completed in the park, and this was an opportunity to adjust treatment strategies and put adaptive management into practice.
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Hailey is a recreation services specialist. She supports the park operator service delivery across the province. Park operators (PO) are the amazing staff and businesses that manage front and backcountry campgrounds and day use areas. If you see someone in a park, it is most likely a PO!
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: I helped streamline communications between BC Parks, park operators and the public by organizing in-person and virtual training, implementing opportunities to connect online, writing content for newsletters, and filming some info videos with POs that we shared on social media, like the Scoop on the Poop and Closing a Park for Winter!
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Diana is a scrum master. She facilitates the many moving parts involved on a digital team, both on the people side of things as well as the technical and design/research side. She also connects people across the organization, translates complex problems, and strives to create comfortable work environments.
Q: Tell us about an exciting project you worked on in 2024.
A: At the end of October 2024, we pulled off a 2.5-day hybrid inception workshop. It was a very collaborative effort between eight facilitators, three support staff, and 60 plus attendees. An inception workshop is meant to bring all parties together at the beginning of a project – this was designed to kick off the Parks and Recreation Digital Transformation Project. We had about half of the attendees join online, and half join in-person, and we facilitated activities in each ‘reality’ simultaneously. The workshop increased awareness of the project scope, building relationships, and aligning goals and opportunities.
