President’s Report from Our Annual General Meeting, April 19th 2026
Since its founding as The Friends of Mount Parke in 2003, the Conservancy has been working to protect land on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island. This long-term project is now focused on conserving 30% of the island by 2033. When our organization arranges for the protection of piece of land, the process may involve purchasing a property which is often transferred to another land trust while we take on responsibility for the management and restoration work. This was what happened with Edith Point. At other times, property may be donated or bequeathed to the Conservancy, along with ideas for how it can best contribute to land conservation.
In order to do this work, we rely on, and greatly appreciate grants, donations and volunteer efforts from the local community. And in this spirit, we continue to build and maintain partnerships which include:
- A second year of active collaboration with the Galiano and Pender Islands Conservancies on habitat restoration, native plant propagation, and youth education.
- Partnerships with Parks Canada, CRD Parks, the Mayne Island Parks and Recreation Commission, along with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and private land stewards.
- Participation in the Southern Gulf Islands Bull Kelp Monitoring Program and the Hakai Institute’s light trap project which monitors Dungeness crab larvae.
- Joining the W̱SÁNEĆ community to advance their Land Stewardship & Food Security Project.
- And sharing knowledge about the Tsartlip Nation’s traditional approaches to deer management.
11% of SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island is formally protected today, and this number will increase over the coming year as a result of projects that are underway. Our Executive Director, Amy Kamarainen took on the development of the Land Protection Program when she joined the Conservancy. To complement and support this core activity we continue to develop and expand our education programs, with an emphasis on youth so new generations of islanders understand the importance of healing and protecting our natural ecosystems.
Amy leads a group of full-time and seasonal staff that currently includes Biologist Rob Underhill, Stewardship Coordinator Justine Apostolopoulos, Ecosystem Specialist Ethan Heckrodt,and part-time administrator Shelley Melville.
Michael Dunn is now our Land and Species Specialist, a volunteer role which offers him the chance to share his extensive knowledge of natural history and so much more. And in February, Jessica Wood led our annual board retreat, which greatly benefitted from her knowledge of leadership, governance, and change management.
And it is time to thank Alison Martin, who in December stepped down from the role of bookkeeper after eight years of volunteer service. Thank you, Alison!
Our dedicated group of directors provide leadership at a governance level while also working to keep various aspects of the organization running smoothly. As Treasurer, Rob Percival manages the books and chairs the Finance Committee. Malcolm Inglis, Past President and Secretary offers his considerable institutional memory and wise counsel. Peter Robinson plans and oversees events such as the Speaker Series and the Christmas Matching Campaign as chair of the Fundraising Committee. Deb Foote and the Events Committee stage a broad array of presentations and community events. And Jennifer and Meg Iredale work together to lead the Indigenous Relations Committee, planning activities and programs that build our relationship with the W̱SÁNEĆ community. Meanwhile, Helen O’Brian, while formally retired from the board, remains active on a number of fronts which include leadership of the Warblers: a group of islanders with an interest in the Conservancy that meets several times a year to discuss current issues and contribute their points of view.
Finally, I am happy to announce that Gary Robinson, Megan Coyle, and Ken Brock all joined the Conservancy’s Board of Directors. And finally, I must emphasize the importance of the work our staff and volunteers have done over the past year. Our 2026 activities are underway, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you over the summer months!
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