Todd Hebert, Chair (Cranbrook)

Todd lives and works in Cranbrook in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation and is the Executive Director of Columbia Outdoor School & Blue Lake Camp. He has been involved in environmental education for many years through his work at Blue Lake, as a facilitator for HCTF and a community educator. He is also spearheading the restoration of Joseph Creek and connecting community to the creek and its importance to the area.

Janet Kuijt, Vice-Chair (Fernie)

Janet is grateful for a path that has allowed her to be involved in running Kootenay Mountain Adventures – summer nature camps, Backcountry Pursuits – summer & winter backcountry trips and School District 5  K-9 outdoor educational programming on the traditional homelands of the Ktunaxa. Being and learning in nature is a passion she is honoured to share by supporting the important connections between community, classrooms and the great outdoors. Her current role is Vice Principal at Ecole Isabella Dicken School in Fernie BC.

Faye O’Neil, Director (?aqam)

Faye O’Neil was born on her homelands of ?ama?kis Ktunaxa at the beginning of the headwaters of the micqaqas akinmituk (Chickadee River/Columbia River) where she played in the water and on the land.  She is a community member of the ?aqam and resides in Cranbrook, BC. Faye is an Aboriginal Education Coordinator in School District #5 (Southeast Kootenay) and has been working in the public education sector for 21 years promoting and braiding Indigenous worldviews and perspectives into the classrooms.  When not volunteering sitting on committees and boards for ?aqam and the Ktunaxa Nation, you can find her out on the land exploring and following the footprints of her ancestors, kayaking the many lakes in the area and gathering plants and berries.  Recently Faye was awarded an EE Award of Excellence from CBEEN.

Jill Jennings, Treasurer (Kimberley)

Jill lives in lives in Kimberley, the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation. Jill started her career in environmental education in 2006 as an interpreter with Alberta Parks where she had the pleasure of engaging young and old through interpretive theater. Jill continues to pursue her passion for all things wild through her work as Widsight’s Education Coordinator and her role as an outdoor educator with Wildsight and Mainstreams.

Carrie Rickards, Director (Invermere)

Carrie has been a resident of the Columbia Valley since 1980 when her family moved here. She is proud to work and live within the shared territories of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc People, and the chosen home of the Columbia Valley Metis. She is currently the General Manager of the Eva Joseph Learning and Cultural Society which includes, Little Badgers Early Learning, Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve, and the Indigenous Early Years Certificate Program. She was instrumental in moving Little Badgers Early Learning Programs to a Nature Based program.

Erika Momeyer, Secretary (Edgewood)

Erika lives in the community of Edgewood, where she acknowledges the land, traditions and culture of four nations: the Sinixt in the Arrow Lakes, the Secwepemc to the North, the Sylix to the west and the Ktunaxa to the east. With respect, she continues to grow in her learning and understanding of their cultures. She is a K-3 Teacher, with more than 20 years experience in Environmental Education, known for her Walking Wednesdays outdoor experiences. In her free time, Erika can be found paddling, hiking and photographing the Kootenays and beyond accompanied by her plastic flamingo, Frederick.

Gillian Cooper, Director (Creston)

Gillian lives in Wyndel in the traditional territory of the Ktuxana Nation. She is a classroom teacher with a passion for wetland education and restoration. She has been an environmental educator for many years, and worked previously with the Creston Valley Wildlife Management area and Wildsight. She enjoys spending plenty of time outdoors in the Creston Valley with her husband and two boys.

Kristina Leidums, Director (Creston)

Kristina is the co-founder of the Creston Kids Outside Society. She holds a teaching degree from Lakehead University in Outdoor, Ecological and Experiential Education, as well as a Masters of Arts focused on learning and education. Kristina is passionate about connecting with children through questioning, wonder, playfulness and curiosity. She resides in Creston, in the Ktuxana Nation traditional territory.