Gwen’s fluid adaptability and steady approach to her work greatly supported Living Lakes Canada’s mission to expand and build upon existing aquatic biomonitoring practices nationwide. We are grateful that Gwen was able to bring prior knowledge in environmental restoration and monitoring, along with a positive outlook, to her role as our Biomonitoring Program Manager.

A key component of Living Lakes’ Biomonitoring program is relationship building and connecting with communities around the health of their local waterways. Gwen was able to foster meaningful partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments, community groups, academic institutions, and other environmental nonprofits. She also facilitated a number of Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN), STREAM, and Targeted eDNA monitoring training courses while coordinating program budgeting, fundraising, and reporting. 

Gwen shared that she felt honoured to support and learn alongside partners through her work. “It is important to make aquatic monitoring accessible and inclusive – everyone deserves to know all the different tools out there to study watersheds and inform conservation strategies,” said Gwen. “If different tools, knowledge systems, and worldviews come and work together, I believe that it can accelerate positive change.”

Gwen left Living Lakes to take on the role of Forage Fish Lead Biologist with the non-profit organization, Project Watershed, where her work supports the conservation of forage fish spawning beaches in the Northern Salish Sea.

Thank you, Gwen, for your work to fill data gaps and exchange knowledge to monitor, protect, and restore aquatic systems across Canada.