MEET THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM

​​Dianne Bersea, Chair

2020-present

Dianne is defined by her deep affinity for nature and the creative process. Simply put, she’s a nature nut and a full time observer of her world. Everything interests her… unusual light, dark clouds, strong colours, odd juxtapositions, bird behaviour.  Dianne mines artistic knowledge from careers in graphic design, fine art, natural history illustration, and exhibit design. She is also an accomplished arts instructor and public speaker. A recent addition - she writes a monthly Nature Wise column in Penticton Western News.

Following eighteen years on Cortes Island in BC’s Northern Gulf Islands, Dianne has logged eight years (seven on a 1500-acre ranch) in the South Okanagan. Known for her painterly interpretations of the Canadian west coast and Interior landscapes, Dianne is now making an almost daily practice of nature photography. She has done freelance self-employment as an illustrator / fine artist her whole life.

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Jennifer Miles, Vice Chair

2022-present

While originally from Summerland, Jennifer has lived throughout the Okanagan and currently calls Kelowna home. When not enjoying a good OSS weed pull, Jennifer works for the City of Kelowna enforcing environmental protection regulations in relation to new development. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Simon Fraser University and Master’s degree in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary.  One of her fondest undergrad memories is of a field school course she took in Oliver on understanding the complex interactions within the ponderosa pine forests and grasslands between the plants, wildfire, and animals (specifically Lewis’ Woodpecker, a blue listed species). Jennifer shares her home with her husband, Robert, and children Emily and Benjamin. 

 

Jill Bisaro, Secretary-Treasurer

2020-present

Jill grew up in the West Kootenays and always had an interest in biology and conservation. She pursued a technical diploma in Recreation, Fish and Wildlife at Selkirk College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries at the University of Northern BC. In the summer of 2016, Jill worked as a Stewardship Assistant with OSS betweem semesters at university, and then again after graduating from her degree in 2019. During these summers, she fell in love with the biodiversity of the Okanagan Valley as well as the stewardship efforts that are being undertaken by OSS.
After completing a research position with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Jill has now settled in Vernon and is a Junior Biologist with Western Water Associates, a small aquatic resource-based environmental consulting company.

 

Margaret Holm, Director

2022-present

Margaret Holm has twenty-five year experience working on conservation outreach and education in the Okanagan. She lead agricultural extension and EcoStudies programs for the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance, and has managed outreach and communication for the Community Bat Program, South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program, and the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. Writing and editing projects included the South Okanagan Wildlife Habitat Atlas, biodiversity conservation documents, and numerous “working in nature” best management documents. She now devotes time to community climate action and citizen engagement.

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Amanda J Miller, Director, P.Ag.

2020-present

Amanda is passionate about stewardship and conservation, with a keen interest in providing ecological tools and strategies for long term sustainable land management. Applied science, extension, and effective communication with stakeholders and land managers are key areas of interest. Amanda has a master’s degree in Rangeland and Wildlife Resources from the University of Alberta and has been a professional agrologist since 2016.  As a rangeland specialist for the Government of Alberta from 2013-2019 she worked to develop ecological tools, applied research, and policy to address emerging rangeland issues, and was a rangeland representative on the MULTISAR Steering Committee. The owner and founder of Palouse Rangeland Consulting, Amanda works largely with the BC Cattlemen’s Association, and is a supporter of sustainable beef and cattle as a conservation tool. In her free time, you can find her exploring the mountains by foot, on skis, or horseback.

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​Melanie Pieorecky, Director

2020-present

Related to conservation and ecology, Melanie is happy to wear her vegetation ecologist hat, and applying that to restoration planning. She is passionate about working towards shared multiple land uses. Through collaboration she works to understand what those uses are, then figure out out best way to support them. This has been possible through her work as an environmental consultant, which began in 2000. Prior to that she worked for the Ministry of Forests as a rangeland manger in the Bulkley-Cassiar. Through her consulting and volunteer work she has specialized in vegetation ecology, botany for rare plant surveys, soil science, agricultural land use, reclamation and restoration planning, beneficial use of organics and climate change implications to project planning. Her consulting work is driven by regulatory requirements, but Melanie capitalizes on opportunities to collaborate between groups for the benefit of all land users, including wildlife!

 

Eva Durance, Past-Chair (ex-officio)

(Director 2018-2022)

Eva grew up in Southwestern Ontario in a family involved in farming and with a strong interest in the natural world.  She studied English Language and Literature at University of Toronto, Western University), University of Virginia and Dalhousie, including advanced graduate studies.  She taught at Carleton University and University of Ottawa before becoming for ten years the Editor for an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture research publication.

Since relocating to the Penticton area in 1990, Eva has been involved as a contractor and a volunteer in a wide variety of environmental, naturalist, agricultural, and community and projects..  Now retired, she volunteers as Caretaker for the Vaseux Lake Important Bird & Biodiversity Area, as a member of the TAC for the Okanagan Conservation Fund, on the BC Nature’s Conservation Committee and for the Burrowing Owl Society of BC  and the South Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society since the last was formed. 

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Past Directors

 

Eva Durance, Chair

Natasha Lukey, Treasurer

Susan Latimer, Secretary

Patrick Ling-Allen, Treasurer

Sara Ashpole, Chair, Co-Founder

Anthea Bryan, Vice-Chair, Co-Founder

Carolina Restrepo-Tamayo, Treasurer, Co-Founder

Mellhina Thibault, Secretary, Co-Founder

Hilary Sampson, Director, Co-Founder

Jen Miles, Chair

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