I'm a keen naturalist who currently lives in the Columbia Valley near Invermere, the unceded traditional lands of the Akisqnuk, Shuswap, Sinixt, and Sylix First Nations, the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation and Secwepemc people, and the chosen home of the Metis. I volunteer for BC Parks as an Ecological Reserve Warden at the Mount Sabine ER above Columbia Lake and help out with the Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival. I'm a member of the Victoria Natural History Society, Bow Valley Naturalists, and the Friends of Ecological Reserves. Along with others in the Invermere area, I would be keen to see a Columbia Valley Naturalists Club established.
I love being in Nature and learning more about the other organisms with which we share the planet. I appreciate having others review and ID my observations.
In 2012, I retired from a 12-year career as a manager with the BC Ministry of Environment preceded by a 23-year career coast-to-coast with Parks Canada. I started out as a park naturalist in Mount Revelstoke & Glacier, Waterton Lakes, and Kootenay national parks and ended up as the Chief of Interpretation, Environmental Education, and Co-operative Activities for Western Region (B.C. & Alberta).
My husband, wildlife biologist Ian Hatter, and I do some contract work under our business name Nature Wise Consulting. I also teach yoga through Nature Wise Yoga.
I have an Honours BSc in environmental biology, minor in geography (1973), a Masters in environmental science (1995), and a PhD in natural resources geography (2000), all from the University of Calgary.