Whether it’s the vast expanse of the ocean or a babbling brook, Katie has always been drawn to water. After completing a BSc in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria and working on ecology and environmental education projects with various nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions, Katie’s path led her to work with Living Lakes Canada. 

During her time with Living Lakes as a Biomonitoring Assistant, Katie helped redesign the Biomonitoring Program to better meet community stewardship group goals. Her role involved planning logistics for fieldwork, assisting with the development of educational materials, and supporting the delivery of freshwater biomonitoring training for First Nations communities and community stewardship groups. 

Katie’s experience with Living Lakes reinforced the importance of swift action to protect freshwater sources. “Drought and other immediate climate issues that affect our freshwater bodies have tangible impacts on us all. Strong collaboration and communication between community stewardship groups, environmental NGOs, academia, and all levels of government (including Indigenous governments) is crucial for addressing these issues in a timely manner,” said Katie.

Katie is currently a Resource Management Officer with Parks Canada and is working with the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's resource conservation team to monitor the health of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Part of her work involves actively restoring coastal ecosystems, as well as monitoring the state of important habitats such as coastal sand dunes, eelgrass meadows and salmon-bearing creeks. 

We wish Katie the best as she continues her environmental conservation journey.