Joyce first became interested in park stewardship when she joined the Bristol University Conservation Group during her undergraduate studies in the UK. When she returned to Canada in 2013, she joined EcoTeam, then known as the Holly Haulers, and she has been an integral member of the group ever since. During her time with the society, she has also been involved with the EcoWatch program, where she enjoys witnessing the evolution of past EcoTeam sites previously over-run by invasive plants. Joyce is passionate about sustainable pest management practices, and when she’s not out on weekends pulling invasive plants, she is helping tackle the challenge of reducing pesticide usage by practicing good integrated pest management practices on a cranberry farm.

Miku is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia and is pursuing a Honours Bachelors of Science: Environmental Science. Miku started volunteering with the Pacific Spirit Park Society in 2016 and loves spending her time outdoors connecting people and nature. Miku has been a member of the Camosun Bog Restoration Group for five years and has helped out with the social media page and hands-on work within the bog. She is an avid photographer and loves taking photos of the beauty within Camosun Bog and the Pacific Spirit Park. Miku has participated as a volunteer and leader in PSPS’s Invasive Mapping Team and EcoTEAM events; she has also been a long-term member with Catching the Spirit Youth Society. Through her volunteer and leadership work, Miku hopes to connect more youth with nature and to encourage all citizens of the world to become environmental stewards.

Mike Jerowsky is a past-president of the Pacific Spirit Park Society and also current Vice-president of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation. Professionally, he hold his doctorate in Geography from the University of British Columbia where he researches how emerging technologies can help to promote access to green space and enhance environmental education. As a sessional instructor, he teaches environmental justice, water policy and the history of environmental thought at UBC. He also works as an Educational Technologist for the Facutly of Arts where he conducts research alongside other faculty members to enhance teaching and learning, Currently, he is investigating how artificial intelligence interacts with student writing and academic integrity.

Mike loves the outdoors, particularly Pacific Spirit Regional Park where he often goes to escape and let his mind wander. He wants to ensure that as many people as possible can access such areas of the city.

Jenny has lived near Pacific Spirit Park for much of her life and its proximity has been a formative force. This is especially true as she grew up in Tokyo and had limited opportunity to experience wilderness.

Jenny is a volunteer with the Camosun Bog Restoration Group and is an eagle nest monitor. She jumped at the opportunity to become involved in PSPS as soon as she retired from a long career in health care, most recently as a bioethicist and formerly as a social worker and health care manager. Although Jenny does not have formal training in environmental science, she believes that there are important similarities between health care ethics and environmental work, both offering a voice and assistance to those individuals/life forms/systems who do not have a voice or whose voices are not heard.

Jenny is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the PSPS Community and looks forward to many years of “giving back” to the Park she treasures and visits daily.

Ian has lived near to what is now Pacific Spirit Park for the last 40+ years, enjoying biking and walking the many trails and observing the myriad wildlife and plants. For the past number of years, he has regularly volunteered with EcoTeam removing invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Ian continues to volunteer with the Jericho Stewardship Group doing similar restoration work in Jericho Park.

As climate change will continue to adversely affect both us and the environment, Ian strongly believes that it is important for each of us do our part to mitigate those effects. Protecting and enhancing our green spaces will be ever more important in the future, so they can continue to benefit everyone.

Since 1995 I have been fortunate to live beside Camosun Bog and recreate in Pacific Spirit Park. The bog and forest provided the impetus for me to expand my environmental activism with a keen interest in wildlife habitat and understanding the importance of ecosystem education and park access for the public.
Serving 9 years as a Vancouver Park Board commissioner gave me valuable experience and insights in the stewardship of a diverse city wide park system.

My approach is best described as strategic and collaborative with an eye on long term protection of parkland and the wildlife that relies on it, and to benefit the people who recreate in it.

Geordie has been a director with the Pacific Spirit Park Society for a year, but a dedicated volunteer for much longer. He particularly enjoys participating in EcoTEAM, removing invasive species, and photography! Pacific Spirit Park has been very important to Geordie and his family for as long as he can recall, and he wants to protects this urban oasis so that it can be enjoyed by future generations.

“You carry a forest inside you,“ quotes M. Amos Clifford, the founder of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. I am a person who is inspired by the Natural world and values the treasure that is Pacific Spirit Park. I benefit from the ability to access well-kept trails and educational programs in my back yard, and I have experienced great joy from volunteering in Camosun Bog, on EcoTEAM, and in EcoEDUCATION walks. One of my PSPS highlights was being the volunteer coordinator for Forest Harmonies. Lately, I have spent some time in the Pollinator’s Meadow which is such a lovely area. I bring to the board organizational skills, teaching skills, and a love for Pacific Spirit Park. I have a background in Psychology, Music Performance (oboe), and Education (Elementary Music and Band). I have had a successful career in the Vancouver School Board, and am now teaching music privately. I enjoy contributing through my volunteering weekly at Covenant House, Happy Herd Animal Sanctuary, and Phoenix Perennials (seasonal). Being a Certified Forest Therapy Guide has provided me with some special opportunities in PSPS with “Forest Muses” and volunteer walks with Tapestry Seniors.

Mr. Steven Seewald, AScT, PTech, EP, CRSP, P.L.Eng, CIH is the President of ALARA Environmental Health and Safety Ltd and has been consulting in the fields of environmental engineering and occupational hygiene for over 25 years. His educational background stems from a bachelor degree in Environmental Engineering and a three-year diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering. Mr. Seewald was additionally educated at UBC in the Environmental and Occupational Hygiene MSc. program.

Steven grew up with the UBC Endowment Lands on his back step and has ever since enjoyed walking, jogging, and cycling throughout the trails. Steven also voted for the name Pacific Spirit Park back in the day. The park has significantly changed throughout the years and would like the opportunity to participate in positive future changes. Steven has experience with not for profits in so far as being the President of the Vancouver Westside German School and Board Member of the Vancouver Alpen Club. Steven is also a director of several for profit companies.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park (PSRP) has and will continue to be a part of Dr. Laura Super’s life. Laura went to daycare and school adjacent to PSRP, volunteered as well as studied in the park and published science on vegetation data. Laura is now an early career (PhD UBC, 2023) botanist, ecologist and sustainability researcher who is interested in a lot of things (science and data literacy, education, art, social justice, diversity, etc.) but the park has had a huge personal and professional impact. In 2024, Laura is volunteering doing phytobiome nature walks in PSRP with input from Laura Cottle.

Dave McKenzie received his bachelor of recreation administration at UBC, then went on to work for 35 years with the Vancouver Parks Board, developing community recreation programs. He is an avid windsurfer and burgeoning wing foiler, was a founding director of the Squamish Watersports Society, and developed the Wind Surfing Instructor program for Sail Canada.

Since retiring in 2011, Dave has been running a home-based business (Serenity Hoops), producing hoola hoops and components and shipping them worldwide. He also enjoys photography (at which he excels!), playing guitar with his band, bike riding, and spending time either outdoors in the beauty of nature, or at home with his two cats.