Speakers' biographies
Tim Clermont
Tim J. Clermont has over 30 years’ experience in fisheries and wildlife management and the restoration of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. For 15 years he coordinated the Vancouver Island Wetlands Management Program and was responsible for the management of over 50 conservation areas owned by The Nature Trust of BC (TNT). In the past 6 years, Tim has focussed on the securement of Crown and private lands containing high biodiversity throughout BC. In total, Tim has helped the province establish 10 Wildlife Management Areas and TNT to acquire 24 properties which now protect 22,500 ha of estuary, intertidal foreshore, beach, salt marsh, wetlands, stream, mature forest and riparian habitats.
Dr. C.S.”Buzz” Holling
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Kim Recalma
Has spent much of her life learning, teaching, interpreting and preserving the Kwagiulth/Pentlatch culture, heritage and history of her people. She served as elected chief to the Qualicum Band from 2002 to 2006. From childhood she was trained in ethnobotany, indigenous food gathering and preparation practices. She has spent a career making this knowledge available to her people and the wider community.
Michele Deakin
Michele Deakin started mapping eelgrass in 2004 with the Seagrass Conservation Working Group. Since then she has coordinated the mapping of most of the intertidal and subtidal eelgrass in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area, as part of the nearshore ecosystems of this area - about 17 linear kilometres. She also trains other communities to do the same. Not just a mapper, Michele has delivered many school programs, presentations and other public education over the years.
Ken Kirkby
Ken Kirkby well known, as an artist with work displayed in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, now lives on Vancouver Island. He is Past President of the Nile Creek Enhancement Society, a non-profit, non-governmental organization recognized for the restoration of salmon habitat in the local rivers and estuaries. The Society is engaged in the volunteer operation of a Pink salmon hatchery, restoration of habitats supporting native salmonid species, such as Pink, Coho, Chum, and Cutthroat Trout, stream rehabilitation, kelp replantation, eelgrass mapping and monitoring, and public education.
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Brian Kingzett
A marine biologist with twenty-two years experience in aquaculture. He spent 10 years as owner/operator of a shellfish enterprise on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Now Manager of the recently completed Deep Bay Marine Field Station which was constructed by the Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR) at Vancouver Island University. He is considered a leading expert on the Canadian shellfish culture industry. He specializes in bringing together business development, sound science, and responsible aquaculture production practices, and works with First Nations. He is a regular contributor to Northern Aquaculture Magazine.