Q - What can you say about the people you work with? What stands out about them?
A - The one thing that stands out the most about my staff and Board of Directors is their kindness and respect for each other. My staff are always ready to offer a helping hand especially during our extremely busy field season that include long hours and hard laborious work. They all go the extra mile to help me out and to make us successful in our stream restoration and educational adventures each year. Even though my Board of Directors all have various backgrounds, they are so respectful of each other and everyone’s opinions and views that it makes for a very productive team. There is so much I can learn from all of them.
Overall the people (landowners, First Nations, Municipalities, agricultural community, fish and game clubs etc.) of Manitoulin Island have been fabulous to work with. They understand the need for our restoration efforts and a lot of them go out of their way to provide a lot of in-kind support toward our projects.
Q - What do you love about the outdoors and life in northern Ontario?
A - I love the outdoors because it is so relaxing. It relieves any stresses that you are feeling. You use all your senses while outdoors - the air smells fresh, you can feel the sun on your face, you can take more time to see things differently. I love the slower paced life in northern Ontario, and the fact I can step out my front door and have access to clean water to swim, fish, or have fun playing with my children. There is less traffic, light and sound pollution, and I feel my children appreciate nature more because they are surrounded by it.