From backyard forests to provincial environmental action: My journey to protect New Brunswick’s nature

My parents were passionate about conservation and ran a small woodworking business using local wood.

From a young age, I learned what it meant to care for the land and rely on it in return.

I didn’t know it then, but those childhood experiences — tending our garden, raising animals, thinning our woodlot and walking through the hardwood stands we managed — gave me a lasting connection to nature.

That connection has shaped so much of my life, creating a strong work ethic and a belief that we can make a difference. It’s why I became an environmental scientist and am now proud to be the new director of freshwater and forest conservation at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Over the past two decades, I’ve worked across New Brunswick in many environmental roles, including as a wetland biologist, restoration manager, educator and as executive director of Nature N.B., among other roles.

I’ve worked on restoration projects for the Wolastoq (Saint John) River, led ecological monitoring programs and worked on organic farms. I’ve also led water quality programs with the Nashwaak Watershed Association and the Keswick River Society, collecting data, training volunteers and analyzing results.

Through all of this work, I’ve seen how critical it is to understand the health of our ecosystems.

But right now, we don’t have a clear picture of how healthy our waterways are, and without a proper understanding of the threats we face, it’s harder to protect the species, including people, who rely on these areas.

I’ve also seen how the environment suffers when decisions are driven only by economics. That’s especially true for our forests, which are often treated as resources first and ecosystems second.
However, throughout my career, I’ve seen how powerful local action can be, especially when backed by sound science and caring people.

That’s where you come in.