Summer Interns
Gill Gawron – Nature Interpreter, 2023
Gill is currently finishing an MA in Environmental Studies at UVic, where she researches green cemeteries. She’s looking forward to getting to know the Gorge better, and helping people connect the land through community programs and new interpretive materials. Gill is passionate about the role of community green spaces in making sure everyone feels like they belong in the outdoors!
Chloe MacGregor – Nature Interpreter, 2023
Chloe is headed into her third year at the University of Victoria. She is majoring in Geography and Environmental Studies with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Throughout her degree, Chloe has loved learning more physical geography topics like hydrological processes and GIS mapping and modeling. Although community engagement within the realm of sustainability as well as decolonizing place are two components she wants to bring with me everywhere she goes. Today she resides and ventures mainly through the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ speaking peoples; this is where she can enjoy hiking, ocean swimming, and bouldering in her spare time.
Lili Munn – Nature Interpreter, 2023
Lili is going into her fourth year at the University of Victoria, on the unceded Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories. She is majoring in Geography with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Within her degree, Lili’s interests lie specifically in placemaking, sustainability, decolonization, and community mapping/organizing. She also loves spending time outdoors on both land and water and enjoys paddling, hiking, and spending time at the beach. With GWAS she is involved in organizing environmental education trips to the Nature House for community groups, as well as collaborating with other streams on community outreach and grant writing.
Claire Taylor – Climate Change Interpreter, 2023
Claire graduated this year from a BA in geography and environmental studies from the University of Victoria. They are part of the new climate program at GWAS that is working to integrate climate change into our everything we do at the organization and spread climate awareness to the community. Some of Claire’s main interests involve creating more sustainable food systems, decolonizing the environmental movement, and re-greening urban spaces.
Nadia Clarke – Climate Change Interpreter, 2023
Nadia is in her final year at UBC Okanagan, where she is double majoring in the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology program and the Earth and Environmental Science program. She is working to expand GWAS’s climate educational programming and foster more connections to local climate organizations. Nadia is excited to develop climate outreach at GWAS and create community resources for exploring the sustainable solutions and impacts of climate change.
Eva Gribbon – Ecological Restoration Technician, 2023
As part of her role as an Ecological Restoration Technician, Eva is completing her Practicum Project as the last component of her Masters of Science. For her Practicum Project, Eva is developing an amphibian monitoring program in the park. Eva has a keen interest in understanding the relationship between the Northern Pacific Tree Frog (a native species) and their terrestrial habitat within the Park. Eva looks forward to applying her experience in flora & fauna monitoring and invasive species project management while collaborating with the other GWAS interns.
Celeste Ramsey – Ecological Restoration Technician, 2023
Celeste is new to the Gorge Waterway Action Society, but has been frequenting Gorge-Saanich Park since she moved into the neighbourhood in 2020. She is completing her undergrad at university of Victoria in Biology and Environmental Studies with a focus in forest ecology, and is a committee leader with the UVic Environmental Restoration Club. She has a passion for Garry Oak associated ecosystems and their ethnoecology, and spends her daytime volunteering with community restoration and permaculture projects, with nightly walks reserved for bat watching.
Hannah Hickli – Ecological Restoration Technician, 2023
Hannah holds a Biology B.Sc. from the University of Victoria, where she performed undergraduate research on the biodiversity and symbioses of local flying insects. Since graduating, they have been involved in field ornithology and habitat regeneration work throughout Vancouver Island. Curious about the possibilities for urban environments to sustain biodiversity and maintain the evolutionary relationships that exist on these lands, Hannah is looking forward to monitoring restoration projects and engaging the public in the current, historical, and potential biodiversity of the Gorge Waterway.
Andrea Kwok – Charity & Administration, 2023
Claire graduated this year from a BA in geography and environmental studies from the University of Victoria. They are part of the new climate program at GWAS that is working to integrate climate change into our everything we do at the organization and spread climate awareness to the community. Some of Claire’s main interests involve creating more sustainable food systems, decolonizing the environmental movement, and re-greening urban spaces.
Sydney Robertson – Charity & Administration, 2023
Sydney has recently finished her third year at the University of Victoria, studying environmental studies and history with a focus on environmental history. During her time with the Gorge Waterway Action Society, Sydney hopes to combine her interests in environmental education, community outreach, and fundraising to support the GWAS team. This Summer, Sydney will be working on a variety of projects, including assisting with grant writing, planning local educational and fundraising events, and taking part in team restoration events at the Esquimalt Gorge Park.
Berg Ellis – Charity & Administration, 2023
Berg has recently completed the first year of their undergrad at the University of Victoria in psychology and computer science. They have been involved in many projects supporting environmental conservation in Alberta, and are excited to work with the community and GWAS since moving in 2022. Berg is interested in exploring how technology can be used to monitor environments, create more publicity about conservation, and plan ecological restoration. They look forward to working on multiple projects with GWAS including grant writing, website improvement, planning local events, and digital outreach!
Alex Pinch – Environmental Biologist, 2023
Alex holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria where he focused on evolution and population genetics. Esquimalt Gorge Park has experienced significant environmental transformations over the past 50 years, which has sparked Alex’s interest in how species populations change over time. During his time at GWAS, Alex is evaluating the pollinator meadow’s biodiversity and monitoring the European Green Crab population.
Conner Nelson – Environmental Biologist, 2023
Connor is an ecologist, entomologist, and university lab instructor with a Master of Science in conservation biology from the University of Alberta, where he studied forest pollinator communities in northern Alberta. He is deeply passionate about conserving terrestrial invertebrates and their habitat, especially Canada’s many species of native pollinators. Connor is primarily working on monitoring the insects that visit GWAS’ pollinator meadow!
Michelle Wood- Ecological Restoration Technician, 2021
Michelle has been involved with the Gorge Waterway Action Society since 2018 when she was hired as a Nature House Interpreter Summer Student. She continued to serve GWAS as volunteer Webmaster while completing her Bachelor degree in Statistics and Environmental Studies, then left the island for a season of remote field work in the Alaskan Arctic. After returning to the island and GWAS, Michelle assisted in leading the winter 2021 YCP Program as Education & Outreach Advisor. She is excited to return to field work for the 2021 summer and to help restore ecosystems in a park she loves!
Vanessa Brownlee- Ecological Restoration Technician, 2021
Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Sociology from the University of Victoria (UVic). She is currently completing a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems at UVic while working with GWAS. She started with GWAS in January of 2021 as a participant in their YCP program, and is continuing her work as a restoration technician this summer. Vanessa enjoys gardening and learning about native plants, so she is excited to be working on GWAS’s Pollinator Meadow this summer!
Liam Baron-Preston- Environmental Biologist, 2021
Liam holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria where he focused on forest biology and restoration ecology. He is interested in community ecology, conservation biology and nutrient cycling and exchange between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Liam is excited to join the GWAS team and more closely examine urban-adjacent ecosystem dynamics this summer. He will be focused on expanding on existing biodiversity monitoring projects and developing field guides for future research.
Ernest Wu- Environmental Biologist, 2021
Ernest holds a Masters of Sciences from the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is interested in plant ecology and biogeography, such as the importance of plant biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem resilience. He is also interested in the conservation of rare moss species. In his spare time he likes to take pictures, hike, and beachcomb. He is assisting with many of the ongoing environmental monitoring projects and also developing new protocols for biodiversity inventories.
Erin Hogan- Nature Interpreter, 2021
Erin holds a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration from the University of Waterloo and an Adventure Tourism certificate from Westcoast Adventure College. During her time with the Gorge Waterway Action Society, she hopes to combine her interests in science communication, youth outdoor education, and collaborative design. This summer, Erin will be running environmental education programs in the nature house, assisting with grant writing, and joining the other summer students on their biology and restoration projects.
Kate Assenheimer- Nature Interpreter, 2021
Kate is currently in her final year at the University of Victoria, studying geography and environmental studies. Her key interests lie in ethnoecology and exploring the relationships present between people and nature. Kate hopes to bring her studies to the Nature House as a Nature Interpreter where she will be working on a variety of projects to support the Gorge Waterway Action Society. Kate has recently found some new interests in identifying birds, learning how to rollerblade, and canoeing. Whether it be through a cultural, scientific, or explorative lens; Kate is eager to continue learning and sharing with the public at the Nature House this summer!
PROJECTS COMPLETED BY SUMMER STUDENTS SINCE 2016