Team Members – The Starfish Canada

Board of Directors

Julie Reimer

Board Chair

Julie Reimer

Board Chair

Julie Reimer is a PhD Candidate at the Memorial University of Newfoundland whose research looks to the bigger picture of ocean conservation, using marine spatial planning to bring together conservation and sustainability. Her research experience spans the natural and social conservation sciences, holding a Master of Marine Management and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in biology. Her education reflects a strong interest in conducting applied and impactful science to support communities in their conservation and sustainability endeavours. Julie has been active in the New Brunswick and Nova Scotian environmental education communities, from a nature interpreter on the Bay of Fundy to an education specialist developing curriculum-linked programs, for over 5 years. Outside of oceans, some of Julie’s favourite things are the Lord of the Rings trilogy, an at-home yoga practice, and fresh baked bread.
Raaj Chatterjee

Board Director

Raaj Chatterjee

Board Director

Raaj is a leader and mentor for youth environmentalism and social justice in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland. He is a founder of The Compassion Project, an interfaith program to bring nutritious food and clothing to homeless citizens in Whalley. Raaj worked as junior leader with the Metro Vancouver Youth Sustainability toolbox. He studies Mechatronics Engineering at Simon Fraser University, and has worked on recycling technology at Apple Inc. His work in the Divest SFU movement helped SFU to reduce their endowment portfolio’s carbon footprint down by 40% by 2030.
Justin Egert

Board Director and Treasurer

Justin Egert

Board Director and Treasurer

Justin is a Chartered Professional Accountant who grew up in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a special connection to the Big Island of Hawaii, where he was born. He grew up in a family that was full-time involved in international humanitarian aid work, and from here he developed a strong sense of justice.

Justin’s passion is to create pictures out of numbers. Through his experience as a Public Accountant, he has developed the skill to explain complex financial concepts through technology. Being new to the talented Starfish Canada Team, Justin is excited to participate in collective efforts for environmentalism and he hopes to learn more about how to spread the message. Justin has always been drawn to the energy of nature, on any day away from his computer you can find him basking in the radiance of the outdoors, whether it be hiking, camping, winter sports, and so on. When he can’t get away from his computer, he just has to look up at his subtle collection of potted plants that keep him going. Outside of accounting and the outdoors, Justin has been re-exploring his love for classical piano and hopes to learn more about computer programming and game-creation – hobbies he had dabbled in during his earlier years.
Alicia Hayre

Board Director

Alicia Hayre

Board Director

Alicia focusses on making an impact within her community through volunteering for causes relating to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and global financial literacy. After graduating from the Ivey Business School at Western University in 2018, she moved back to her hometown of Vancouver, BC where she works as an Assurance Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada. She also is part of the Girls20 Girls on Boards program; an initiative committed to amplifying the voices of young women by placing them in decision-making roles on non-profit nationwide. In addition to her involvement with The Starfish Canada, Alicia sits on the Sponsorship Committee of Lean In Canada’s Vancouver Chapter. She enjoys giving back to the community and has volunteered with organizations like the Alzheimer Society of BC, Down to the Last Straw, ReForest London, BC Children’s Hospital, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Illuminate Canada, and Free The Children. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, rock climbing, and hiking.
Clarissa Huffman

Board Director

Clarissa Huffman

Board Director

Clarissa is an urban planner and a Master of Environment and Management candidate at Royal Roads University with a strong focus on environmental planning and sustainability. Her role as the Community Development and Planning Officer in Dawson City, Yukon combined with her research experience contributes to community development in the north in a way that strives to meet the three imperatives of sustainable community development: environment, economy, and equity. Clarissa is committed to finding innovative and context-specific solutions that challenge the status quo in order to build and reimagine communities that are vibrant, diverse, and ultimately sustainable. Sustainable community development is increasingly considered by municipalities to implement climate innovations and community projects that are green, multigenerational, and equitable; Clarissa’s vision is for a future generation of Canadians who, with passion, strong leadership, and bold action, can close the gap between the theory and implementation of sustainable community development. In dark Dawson winters, she can be found curled up with a book or knitting project, but her favourite pastime is exploring the sub-arctic tundra under the midnight sun with her Alaskan Husky, Nymeria.
Nicole Lawson

Board Director

Nicole Lawson

Board Director

Nicole is a member of the Tetlit Gwich’in Nation, inspired by the actions of her late grandfather and hoping to become a leader like he was. Motivated by community engagement, youth empowerment, and sustainable and renewable energy, Nicole was a delegate at SevenGen2019, the first Indigenous Student Energy Summit in Canada. By day, Nicole works for the Government of the Northwest Territories as a Human Resource Assistant, in pursuit of her goal to become a young Indigenous Manager within the territorial government. Nicole is also involved in motivational speaking and youth engagement, and maintains a blog (GoalbyMe), which she uses to tell her stories in hopes of inspiring others. In her spare time, Nicole can be found travelling internationally, volunteering including an internship with the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association in Cambodia, skydiving or exploring the outdoors by camping, hiking and fishing. Nicole is a wellpreneur, spending considerable effort on her own entrepreneurship and her wellness journey, and continually seeking personal growth by giving back to her community through volunteer work.
Marie Louise Aastrup

Board Director

Marie Louise Aastrup

Board Director

Marie Louise Aastrup is an environmental geographer with a focus on the social and human dimensions of nature conservation. She has research experience working on various conservation issues across North America and Europe and is currently concluding her PhD from Memorial University which focuses on the social implications of establishing a new protected area in Romania. Her educational background includes a B.Sc. in geography and geoinformatics from the University of Copenhagen and a M.Sc. in sustainable resource management from the Technical University of Munich. When not in front of a computer working towards a sustainable future, Marie Louise loves experimenting in the kitchen, painting, and exploring the beautiful island of Newfoundland.
Kelsey Wierdsma

Board Director

Kelsey Wierdsma

Board Director

Kelsey grew up in New Brunswick and spent most of her childhood outdoors, which contributed heavily to her passion for the environment. From a young age, Kelsey knew that she wanted to work in the environmental sector and later completed an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Social Ecology from Saint Thomas University. She continued with graduate education and completed a Master of Environmental Management in Environmental & Public Engagement Policy from the University of New Brunswick. Since 2015, Kelsey has served as the Conservation Coordinator at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society- New Brunswick Chapter, where she manages terrestrial conservation campaigns, among many other things! Kelsey is well versed New Brunswick’s conservation movement, having previously worked for Parks New Brunswick and NCC. When she’s not taking action for conservation, you can find Kelsey spending time outdoors with her husband and two small children, writing in her bullet journal or listening to true crime podcasts.

Editorial Team

Charlotte Lee

editor

Charlotte Lee

editor

Charlotte is a graduate of the Health Information Science program at the University of Victoria, and now works in the healthcare technology sector. She has spent most of her life on the West Coast of Canada, where she enjoys getting out and exploring its scenic beauty. She believes that tackling environmental issues is an essential way to improve the state of many other problems that exist in society, such as inequities in health. Some of her other interests include books, brews (both beer and coffee), cabins, exploring, and hiking.
Dorothy Dinh

editor

Dorothy Dinh

editor

As a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a double major in Biology and Food, Nutrition and Health, Dorothy aspires to educate others on environmental sustainability. In addition to editing for the Starfish, Dorothy is a research assistant, piano teacher and volunteers for several organizations. Moreover, she will be pursuing higher education as she is interested in exploring other educational interests. For leisure, Dorothy adores camping, overlanding, and road trips with her boyfriend.
Ember Dickson

editor

Ember Dickson

editor

Ember Dickson is completing a Biology-Psychology double major at the University of Victoria as an aspiring neuropsychiatrist. Her passionate curiosity surrounding biological systems, creative engineering design, and human nature is paired with her lifetime adoration of the arts. She is a singer, songwriter, pianist, painter, writer, and at her core, an actor. She has performed with The Vancouver Opera in multiple productions and enjoys acting in theatre and film between her studies. Growing up on the West Coast, Ember has always loved rainy Vancouver days and camping by the ocean.
Harleen Parmar

editor

Harleen Parmar

editor

Harleen is an English student working towards her bachelor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She aspires to be a secondary level teacher focusing on English and History. Growing up in British Columbia, she has always felt connected with the environment and the earth’s natural beauty. She is passionate about environmental change and hopes to bring awareness through writing and working with other activists. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, and traveling.
Jaime Terada

Jaime Terada

Jaime is a high school student who is always looking for ways to invoke change in herself and her community. She hopes that her writing nourishes environmental awareness in Canadian youth.
Jennifer Hong

editor

Jennifer Hong

editor

Born and raised in Vancouver, Jennifer is currently studying Forest Sciences at UBC with a specialization in Forest Ecosystem Services. Jennifer, with a passion for health and forestry, is eager to use her research to show how maintaining a close connection with nature can help improve overall health. She is passionate about getting individuals outside to develop their own passions for the outdoors and to spark feelings of stewardship in order to help combat climate change. She has worked for Parks Canada developing community outreach programs for all age ranges and has led a team of high school students in environmental restoration activities for the City of Surrey’s Salmon Habitat Restoration Program. Jennifer also strives to maintain a global perspective in her work which has found her working for Singapore’s National Parks Board and, currently, analysing energy policy solutions for Environment and Climate Change Canada in Ottawa. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys nerding out over movies and tv shows in addition to eating copious amounts of sushi, tacos, and dessert.
Josephine Ling

editor

Josephine Ling

editor

Josephine is a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and Biology. She is interested in environmental sustainability and increasing its accessibility through public education and outreach. In her spare time, Josephine enjoys travelling, reading, and being led fully by her stomach whatever she does.
Kaitlyn Nightingale

editor

Kaitlyn Nightingale

editor

Kaitlyn Nightingale was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley and is currently attending Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia for Communications, New Media, and Global Studies. She has been passionate about the environment from a young age and now hopes to use her communications skills to help educate others about sustainability, ethical consumer habits, and the impacts of climate change. Kaitlyn also enjoys travel, hiking with her golden retriever, photography, camping and reading.
Melissa Ray

editor

Melissa Ray

editor

Melissa Ray is a registered early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience in the field. She possesses a B.A. in English along with various diplomas and certificates and has over five years of proofreading/editing skills. Melissa enjoys reading, listening to music and learning new languages (French at the moment). She fluently speaks two languages and is conversational/beginner level in two.
Tamiza Nanji

editor

Tamiza Nanji

editor

Tamiza Nanji is a recent PhD graduate of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program at The University of British Columbia. She previously attended McMaster University in Ontario where she actively engaged youth through science and residence life. She currently resides in the beautiful British Columbia and enjoys long walks with her adopted dog, yoga, as well as ongoing learning through personal and professional development.
Veronika Lewis

editor

Veronika Lewis

editor

Veronika is currently a Microbiology and Immunology undergraduate student at UBC. Other than school, she works as a high school math tutor for an autistic student and enjoys this position very much! In her spare time she loves being out with her friends or spending time in nature exploring Vancouver’s outdoors. Veronika decided to join The Starfish as an editor because she believes that by working together with other people, our collective small efforts can together make a huge difference especially when it comes to the environment!
Zahra Anwar

editor

Zahra Anwar

editor

Zahra is an undergraduate student at McGill University. She has a major in Sociology and a minor concentration in Education. Zahra aims to guide youth with succeeding in their writing journey. As a mentor, she wants to help young writers expand their writing skills and increase awareness on important environmental issues. Zahra is very excited to learn what topics her writers are most passionate about.

Aaron Hoyle

writer

Aaron Hoyle

writer

Aaron is currently in the midst of a master’s program at Simon Fraser University’s School of Resource and Environmental Management and holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie University. He aims to contribute to informed discussions on sustainable energy and materials policy. Aaron enjoys reading, getting active outside, playing music, and cooking.
Aishwi Roshan

writer

Aishwi Roshan

writer

Aishwi Roshan is a first-year medical student at the University of British Columbia. She is the founder of Vancouver’s Largest Clothing Swap, and has worked for various environmental organizations at UBC including Common Energy, UBC Sustainability Ambassadors, and the UBC Sustainability Student Council. Aishwi is interested in exploring the intersection between health and the environment, and continues to foster a passion for zero waste and community outreach. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing Indian classical dance, hiking, and learning about different cultures.
Alice Zhu

Writer

Alice Zhu

Writer

Alice is a PhD student at the University of Toronto Scarborough studying plastic pollution. She is an avid environmental advocate in her community and beyond, and wants to inspire young people through her writing with The Starfish. Her hobbies include hiking, cooking, and playing badminton!
Aliya Kaleem

writer

Aliya Kaleem

writer

Aliya is an MBA graduate from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. She loves traveling and has been passionate about photography since childhood. Apart from that she enjoys art, music and cooking. Currently, she is transitioning her career and plans to work somewhere she can use her creativity and love for design.
Andrea Neumann

writer

Andrea Neumann

writer

Andrea grew up in a small town north of Edmonton before moving to the west coast to attend university. While studying at the University of Victoria, she was surprised by the diversity of habitats found on Vancouver Island, as well as the number of opportunities to engage with nature in dozens of local parks and beaches. After graduating with a double-major in anthropology and environmental studies, she decided to stay and call Victoria home and was delighted to find work as an environmental educator. She loves to encourage people to use their senses to connect to nature by smelling a citrusy grand fir needle or touching a slimy moon snail. She sees writing for The Starfish Canada as another means of engaging an audience and fostering a connection to the natural world.
Ane Vu

writer

Ane Vu

writer

Ane is taking a post-degree diploma in professional communication at Douglas College. Her career objective is to become a communications coordinator in non-profit and non-government organizations specializing in environment, health, and education. Ane loves to tell compelling stories, to connect people with the environment and education, and to work hard on things that bring social values to people.
Anna Filip

writer

Anna Filip

writer

Anna was born and raised in the lower mainland and has always loved being outdoors amongst the trees (ideally hiking or camping). Before her current career as a paralegal, she came back from a year abroad in Paris and travelling through Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Anna enjoys hiking, travelling to obscure places around the world and reading.
Annika Stensland

writer

Annika Stensland

writer

Annika is a recent international relations graduate from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. During her studies she enjoyed focusing on the ways in which climate change and the environment are becoming a greater force within the global sphere. Born and raised in Calgary, spending time in the mountains allowed Annika to develop a love and appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Annika is currently living in Australia, she has worked on various organic vineyard’s and spends her free time hiking, surfing, camping and admiring the incredible biodiversity down under. In the new year Annika is preparing to complete a masters in environment and sustainability.
Ashley Kim

writer

Ashley Kim

writer

While still currently finishing off her last few years in high school, Ashley Kim is striving to become an environmentalist. She keeps herself busy through her schoolwork and when she has the chance, by hanging out with her friends. Ashley would like to continue her passion through writing with The Starfish, while learning more about environmentalism through the process.
Axelle Lafortune

writer

Axelle Lafortune

writer

Axelle Lafortune is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of British Columbia. Through her concentration in sustainability and social impact, she hopes to expand corporate social responsibility in business. Her love for nature started after taking a high school environmental science class. She hopes that through conversation, media, real-world experiences, and education, others will also feel that “aha” moment.
Badria Almurshidi

Writer
Bodhana Sivagurunathan

Writer

Bodhana Sivagurunathan

Writer

Bodhana Sivagurunathan is a sophomore at Centennial Collegiate & Vocational Institute in Guelph, ON. She is a girl on a mission; to live life to the fullest. Her life revolves around her family, nature, DECA, school, and basketball and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She aspires to start-up her own green business, while pursuing a career in the medical sciences.
Brianne Pamminger

writer

Brianne Pamminger

writer

Brianne is a high school student with an interest in sustainability and preserving the beauty of nature. She enjoys nature walks, photography, and cooking with a farm-to-table mindset. Living on Vancouver Island allows Brianne to enjoy and appreciate the many aspects of nature from her back yard and community. With the opportunity to write with The Starfish, Brianne hopes to share her knowledge of environmental issues and inspire others.
Brynna Kagawa-Visentin

writer

Brynna Kagawa-Visentin

writer

Originally from Toronto, Brynna is currently completing her BSc degree in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University, with a previous degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University. Though it happened later than she liked, her eyes to the gravity of the climate crisis were opened as a result of the global climate strikes in 2019. Ever since, she has been determined to research and work in areas around intersectional environmentalism, climate justice, climate policy, and ecosystem and community health. She is currently devoted to working as the Remote Climate Coordinator for Youth Climate Lab, volunteering as the Chair of the Sierra Youth Executive Committee, and writing for the Starfish Journal. At Sierra Youth Executive Committee, she is overseeing the development and creation of a podcast, entitled “10 Minutes to Change,” to inspire youth-led change through environmental education in just 10 minutes.
Cailin Correia

writer

Cailin Correia

writer

Cailin has recently graduated with a Bachelors in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from McGill University, where she specialized in Applied Ecology. She is particularly interested by the ways in which humans and the environment can positively interact. Cailin loves to share her passion for both people and the environment, in hopes that we can learn from each other and create solutions for the challenges that our world is facing.
Cami Mohn

writer

Cami Mohn

writer

Camille is an environment and sustainability graduate from the University of British Columbia. Aside from writing and editing, she is also a local film and television actress and jewelry artist. Camille has done environmental restoration and raised native plants with the Galiano Conservancy Association in B.C.’s Gulf Islands, volunteered on an organic farm, food forest and vineyard in Italy, tutored children for French and taught an array of art and nature-related summer camps. In her spare time, Camille can be found immersing herself into different cultures abroad, kayaking, hiking and skiing on B.C.’s coast, indulging in tea, growing and preparing her own food, drawing t-shirt graphics featuring birds and trees of B.C. and delving into the craft of acting.
Carol Wang

writer

Carol Wang

writer

Carol is a Grade 10 student studying in Surrey, British Columbia. Even though she is only a high school student but she is passionate about ocean conservation, volunteering and helping to reduce pollution. Lived in Shanghai, ShenYang, Halifax and currently living Surrey, her experience has made her better understand the world and the crisis we are facing as humans today. During her spare time, sweating on basketball courts and enjoying the rhythm of the drums are always her first choices. She really looks forward to getting in University of Toronto in the future to come!
Caroline Marais

writer

Caroline Marais

writer

Caroline obtained her BA in Environmental and Resource Studies and a minor in Geography at Trent University. Through her studies, she found a passion for ocean conservation and the promotion of sustainability. Growing up in Burlington, Ontario, she has always felt a deep connection to the lakefront as it beings her a sense of serenity and an escape from the busy world. During her free time, you can always find her down at the lakefront, hiking along trails or roller skating nearby. She is now working on achieving her scuba diving certification.
Catherlin Lu

writer

Catherlin Lu

writer

Catherlin is a lover of nature and aspiring environmentalist. As she is in her final years of high school, she spends most of her time finishing homework and catching up on sleep. Through writing for the The Starfish Canada, Catherlin hopes to inspire other youth to participate in sustainable activities as well as learn more about environmentalism herself.
Charlotte Taylor

Writer

Charlotte Taylor

Writer

Charlotte Taylor is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, pursuing an Honours degree in English Literature. She has written a number of short stories, one of which, Calm Before the Storm, won first prize in the 2019 Islands Short Fiction Contest. She also enjoys writing blog posts on her personal website, about environmental and digital sustainability. If you would like, you can read more of her portfolio at: charlottetaylor.work.
Chris Chan

writer

Chris Chan

writer

Chris is an environmentally conscious grade 9 at St George’s school in Vancouver. He enjoys sports, model u.n, and regularly competes at local business competitions.
Claudia Healey

writer

Claudia Healey

writer

Claudia was born and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia and has been an outdoor enthusiast since she can remember. She recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Communications and concentrated in environmental communications, social change, and media studies. She believes that the way we convey, share and spread messages is important for empowering and educating people to make adaptable changes to their lifestyles. Her current professional interests are finding sustainable options, utilizing her voice to shed light on current issues, and inspiring others to care for the natural environment. On her time off she can be found adventuring, snowboarding, hiking, traveling, writing, or reading.
Dolly Cepeda

writer

Dolly Cepeda

writer

Dolly currently attends the University of Ottawa, majoring in Chemical Engineering and Geography. She is an earnest advocate for environmental action through civic engagement since the current world has all possible technologies needed to stop the climate crisis, with the only hurdle being the political will needed to amplify the already invented solutions. Her favourite show is Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and her favourite dessert is the key lime tart from Duchess Bake Shop.
Edris Formuli

writer

Edris Formuli

writer

Edris is a 17-year-old from Toronto with a passion for the life, health and environmental sciences. During his free time, you can catch him reading non-fiction, spending time with his bird or going on long hikes by the Rouge River. He hopes that his writing will bring awareness about the severity of the climate crisis, and inspire the progression to a greener and more sustainable future.
Emily Lai

writer

Emily Lai

writer

Emily is currently an Environmental Engineering student at BCIT. Previously, she worked at UBC’s chemistry teaching labs. After years of forcing students to properly clean up their experiments, she hopes to launch a career in waste management or air pollution management, where she can continue cleaning on a much grander scale. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, solving puzzles, biking, and snowboarding.
Emma Chang

Writer

Emma Chang

Writer

Emma is a high school student in Surrey, British Columbia. Through writing for The Starfish Canada, she hopes to learn more about environmentalism and improve her writing skills along the way. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, volunteering for meaningful initiatives, and spending time with her family.
Emma Frostad

writer

Emma Frostad

writer

Emma is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Environment at Simon Fraser University. Her focus is on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), air pollution mitigation, and environmentally sustainable frame working. She still loves to swim even after being a lifeguard for many years. She tries to not let the fish be aware of her love of sushi when she’s swimming.
Ethan Jasny

writer

Ethan Jasny

writer

A rising high school senior living in Vancouver, Ethan is interested in the relationship between environmental, urban, and economic policy. Heavily involved in Model United Nations and debate, Ethan enjoys considering solutions to environmental problems from a variety of perspectives. Ethan also plays the bass guitar and loves the sport of marble racing.
Florence .O. Agina

Writer

Florence .O. Agina

Writer

I am an undergraduate student of the University of Waterloo, ON, majoring in Biological sciences. I am passionate about creating awareness on the issues that affect the environment, and the importance of protecting the resources nature has provided for us. My curiosity for issues surrounding environmentalism and sustainability started after taking environmental science classes. I hope to write articles that will prompt youths and other age groups in the society to begin to contribute to protecting the environment.
Gareth Wasylynko

writer

Gareth Wasylynko

writer

Gareth is a recent graduate of the Dalhousie Masters of Planning program. He grew up in Surrey, British Columbia and completed an undergraduate degree at Simon Fraser University. He works as a sea kayak guide in the summers, enjoys spending time outdoors and is interested in human-environment relationships. He likes to write in his spare time.
Glennis Ching

writer

Glennis Ching

writer

Glennis is a recent graduate student in Environmental Studies with GIS certificate from York University. Her childhood in the Cayman Islands motivated her to focus on environmental management and advocate for change. Glennis is passionate to find innovative and creative ways to overcome environmental and social issues. She is also interested in photography and captures the beauty of nature and portraits.
Guillaume Courcy

Writer
Hesham El Kassem

writer

Hesham El Kassem

writer

Hesham is an undergraduate at the UBC Sauder School of Business who has a passion for the environment and for those who make it their goal to preserve it. He has made it his life goal to fight climate change one step at a time. Hesham has grown up and many different countries, giving him an international perspective on contemporary issues. He is the President of the UBC Supply Chain Management Club and spends his spare time on the basketball court
Isabel Lara Roque

writer

Isabel Lara Roque

writer

Isabel is a high school student who is passionate about the environment and writing. She hopes to invoke a positive change on the world while thinking of ways to improve herself.
Isobel Griffin

writer

Isobel Griffin

writer

Isobel has an MA in History from the University of Victoria with focus on the relationship between humans and wildlife. She hopes to continue exploring this relationship in its many different forms as a writer with The Starfish. In her free time, Isobel can be found paddle boarding, hiking, or trying to convince her dog, Monkey, to swim with her.
Jack Scher

writer

Jack Scher

writer

Jack is a third-year Environmental Sustainability student at The University of British Columbia and is a varsity athlete competing on the Men’s Rugby Team. He is passionate about climate change and through his undergraduate degree is exploring topics in Resource Management. Born in London, England, Jack moved to the French countryside where he spent his childhood and gained a love of the outdoors and nature. Now, in his home city of Vancouver, he enjoys participating in sustainability volunteer initiatives is excited to contribute to The Starfish Canada as a volunteer writer.
Jacqueline Cheung

writer

Jacqueline Cheung

writer

Jacqueline is currently a first-year Medical Sciences student at The University of Western Ontario. Her love for nature began during the COVID-19 pandemic as she began biking and talking walks in her city. Moreover, Jacqueline is passionate about living sustainably and hopes that by writing with the Starfish, she can invoke environmental awareness in Canadian youth.
Jaime Terada

Jaime Terada

Jaime is a high school student who is always looking for ways to invoke change in herself and her community. She hopes that her writing nourishes environmental awareness in Canadian youth.
Jamie Chiam

writer

Jamie Chiam

writer

Jamie Chiam is an aspiring environmental engineer and currently studies at UBC. Jamie enjoys exploring new places and cultures, but she finds solace in nature most of all. Her goal after graduation is to work in the clean energy or water resources sector. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamie keeps herself busy with reading and writing.
Jessica Lee

writer

Jessica Lee

writer

Jessica writes to connect her audience to meaningful stories she finds in articles, books, graphic novels, film and television. Her love of stories sprouts from her studies in english literature and creative writing for her Bachelor of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She is currently working on her editing certificate at Simon Fraser University to improve her skills as a writer and editor. When she is not writing, Jessica spends time catching up on a television show or film, researching high-intensity interval training workouts to try, or learning Japanese.
Jordan Fish

Writer

Jordan Fish

Writer

Jordan is an environmental educator with years working at Ocean Wise and facilitating sustainability workshops to empower folks to take climate action. When she wasn’t in the classroom, she worked in eco-tourism ranging from being a marine naturalist on whale watching excursions to rigging participants at the UBC Ropes course. She currently resides on Vancouver Island where she can be found exploring the wilderness, reading on the deck or (trying) to teach her parents how to use technology.
Joshua Wilson

writer

Joshua Wilson

writer

Writing is Joshua Wilson’s life. Though, with a Bachelor of English Language Arts Creative Writing, it would be a surprise if it wasn’t. He’s happiest when writing articles, whether it’s about games or the arts, but he prefers his work to have a meaningful impact whenever possible. Ideally, he’s helping inspire ways to protect and nurture both the environment and people in need. He’s currently writing a novel and hopes to become a professional writer. That way he can put his passion and talents to a good cause.
Joyce Yue Zhu

writer

Joyce Yue Zhu

writer

Joyce is a third-year undergraduate at the University of Toronto, studying Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and philosophy. Having grown up in the beautiful city of Vancouver, much of her personality and values have been shaped by the nature around her. Joyce is dedicated to improving the accessibility of scientific research and factual evidence underlying environmental issues through writing and communication. She is also enamoured with the rain — catch her with her ear against an open window during every storm.
Julia Jo

writer

Julia Jo

writer

Julia is an aspiring environmentalist with a budding passion for sustainability. Currently in her last two years of high school, most of her time is spent working hard (or hardly working?) on schoolwork and catching up on her favourite Netflix shows when she has the chance. As a writer for The Starfish Canada, Julia seeks to inform others about the importance of having eco-friendly lifestyles while also learning more about environmentalism herself.
Julia Kropivny

writer

Julia Kropivny

writer

Julia is an eco-conscious student seeking to make a change in the way we and our systems treat the environment. A freelance writer for many platforms, she loves slow fashion, science, and astronomy. On clear nights, you can find her out on the roof with her telescope, complaining about light pollution.
Julia Moioli

writer

Julia Moioli

writer

Julia has a BA in Communications and is currently working towards a degree in Tourism Management at Capilano University. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she recently moved to Vancouver to live closer to nature and pursue a career in Canada. She is committed to contributing to environmental protection in every way she can. In her spare time, Julia enjoys travelling, exploring the outdoors, reading books of multiple genres, singing rock and roll, and going to live music concerts.
Katie Applegarth

writer

Katie Applegarth

writer

Katie Applegarth is a grade 11 student at Crofton House School who loves the outdoors. Her interest in the environment was sparked at a young age and grew with her love of nature. Living in Vancouver, you can frequently find her walking her dog in the woods, running and biking down the green streets, or playing her guitar on a rocky beach, singing to the ocean and the sky.
Kieryn Matthews

Writer

Kieryn Matthews

Writer

Growing up on Coast Salish Territory fueled Kieryn’s love of the outdoors and passion for conservation. This led her to get a degree in Environmental Science from Simon Fraser University. Since then, she has been dedicated to building a better world as an environmental educator. Kieryn is working towards being zero waste and her favorite activity is curling up with a good fantasy book.
Lily Nordgren

writer

Lily Nordgren

writer

Lily is a high school student with a passion for writing. With the opportunity to volunteer at The Starfish, she hopes to engage people with local and global environmental efforts. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the library, hiking with her cat, and learning about herbalism.
Linda Clarke Harter

writer

Linda Clarke Harter

writer

Linda is currently studying Applied Animal Biology at the University of British Columbia, and hopes to work in wildlife rehabilitation one day. She has loved writing since a young age, as she grew up in the school library her mother worked in. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, reading, running and walking her dogs.
Lindsay Barnett

writer

Lindsay Barnett

writer

Lindsay spends most of her free time exploring the south coast of BC by kayak or on skis. She is a graduate student at the University of Victoria studying Community Development and leads the fundraising efforts for the Invasive Species Council of BC. Lindsay is a big fan of croissants, a voracious reader who never passes on the opportunity to go for a swim, no matter the temperature. As a Writer with the Starfish she looks forward to further exploring the connection between environmental and social issues.
Maheep Mahil

writer

Maheep Mahil

writer

Maheep Mahil is an author and a high-school student. He wrote his first book, The Dagger at Jackson Drive, at age 14, and he continues to write on his personal website. He is passionate about the climate and, with his love for writing, he advocates for environmental responsibility. In his free time, Maheep reads fiction novels and enjoys the company of his family.
Maryann Watson

writer

Maryann Watson

writer

Maryann is inspired by exploring and learning in the natural world, both above and underwater. As a scientific diver, she has worked on marine conservation research in some incredible ecosystems, including coral reefs in the Republic of Kiribati and the Philippines, and kelp forests of New Zealand and her home waters of British Columbia.

Maryann studied Marine Biology at the University of Victoria, Marine Management at Dalhousie University, and she is currently starting her Ph.D. in marine ecology. Her work has focused on combining her passions for marine sciences with conservation and management solutions, and she is motivated by communicating and engaging with people on conservation initiatives. Twitter: @mrynnwtsn
Maya Ng

writer

Maya Ng

writer

Maya is a driven environmental activist working through her final few years of high school. With her long-held interests of social reform, natural science, and storytelling under her belt, she is eager to contribute the conversation on climate action as a writer on The Starfish. During her off-hours, Maya can be found enjoying long bikes in the rain, crafting, baking, and going out for rows on Vancover’s Fraser River.
Nabiha Khan

writer

Nabiha Khan

writer

Nabiha is a telecommunication engineering management professional with a flair for writing and travelling. She runs her travel blog to share her anecdotes through her words. She has a deep fascination for space science and her love for it cultivates her interest to protect our planet, which she believes is the only place humans can call home in this vast universe.
Nadja Smith-Hanson

writer

Nadja Smith-Hanson

writer

Nadja is passionate about inter-cultural ways of knowing and bridging the gaps in communication between culture, science and other forms of knowledge. Studying biology and environmental science at Dalhousie University, her passion to learn about the inter-connections of plants, ecosystems and communities can be found in her everyday life. Through her work, play and other forms of study, she was awarded a grant to study ethnobotany at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nadja has held different positions across Turtle Island that work with local youth, engaging them in various outdoor contexts & are inter-governmentally funded & managed. She hopes to continue in this area of important work. Haawa!
Samantha Mills

Writer

Samantha Mills

Writer

Samantha Mills has been writing for many years now. Officially, she has been writing since attending the University of Waterloo but unofficially, she has been writing since she was ten years old. She lives in Guelph but spends her holidays on Manitoulin Island, surrounded by lakes, forests and mountains.
Sarah Johku

writer

Sarah Johku

writer

Sarah Jokhu holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto with a double major in biology and psychology. It was during that time she discovered her passion for sustainability purposes through leadership roles with Oxfam and Help Fight Ebola Canada. She is a member of ECO Canada as an Environmental Professional in training (EPt). Her passion for the outdoors is often experienced through runs in the park and biking.
Sarina Clay-Smith

writer

Sarina Clay-Smith

writer

Sarina is a born and raised west coaster, growing up on Vancouver Island and in Vancouver. She did her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at UBC specializing in marine conservation and working with the IUCN and Project Seahorse during her final project. She finished her Masters in conservation and biodiversity at the University of Exeter in the UK, and her thesis was focused on building a statistical model to predict the conservation status of data deficient mammals as outlined by the IUCN. She has worked as a field biologist tagging red squirrels in the Yukon, and collecting insect larvae in the cloud forest of Costa Rica. She is committed to conservation, and believes that the greatest asset to the success of any conservation project is the cooperation and engagement of the public, especially youth.
Selina Powszedny

writer

Selina Powszedny

writer

Selina is an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria, studying environmental studies and geography with a focus in urban, health, and development studies. She has spent her whole life living in different towns on the west coast, which has inspired her passion for environmentalism. Selina is passionate about social and political change, so you can find her quietly participating in related initiatives. You can also find Selina walking along beaches, in forests, up mountains, reading, drinking coffee, or any combination of those things.
Shannon Otruba

writer

Shannon Otruba

writer

Shannon is sister, an avid reader and writer, a cyclist, an animal lover, an amateur baker and a passionate learner. Like many environmentalists, she loves to experience the outdoors in as many ways as she can. She hopes to build a life where she can combine her many interests with her ambition to fight for environmental and social justice.
Shelley Sanghera

writer

Shelley Sanghera

writer

Shelley is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria with a B.Sc. in Biology. She is particularly interested in environmental law and believes that we should take advantage of our access to technology to raise awareness about environmental causes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and travelling.
Sicellia Tsui

Writer

Sicellia Tsui

Writer

Sicellia Tsui is a recent graduate from Simon Fraser University‘s communication program with experience in community engagement and writing for social change. Her interest in environmentalism—or what many call “sustainability” today—began at a young age, when she developed a deep sense of connection to the curious lifeforms that surrounded her townhome, from trees to snails to beings she could neither name nor know. Frustrated and disappointed by the inertia of transnational capital—and its utter disregard for democracy, animal, human-animal and planetary wellbeing–she began exploring ways to mobilize people towards dialogue and positive social change. From participating in civic innovation, digital democracies, to sustainable development efforts, she’s yet to find anything more powerful and enabling than a good story. At The Starfish, which is founded on the premise of a similar belief, Sicellia hopes to empower others through honest and contextually-rich storytelling, often using personal stories to highlight her own connections to the dilemmas, struggles, and contradictions in the issues that permeate “sustainability”.
Stephanie Blain

writer

Stephanie Blain

writer

Stephanie is a grad student at UBC. She studies natural selection and the formation of species in the threespine stickleback, which is a small fish that lives in lakes along the coast of BC, among other places. More generally, she is fascinated by biodiversity and how it is maintained. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, and being outside.
Tanis Flemons

writer

Tanis Flemons

writer

Tanis is a recent graduate of McGill university, working in education in Vancouver. Tanis is a budding environmentalist, passionate about reducing waste and transitioning Canada to clean energy. She is happiest when spending time in nature, swimming in the ocean, or hiking with her family dogs.
Taylor Koel

Writer

Taylor Koel

Writer

Taylor is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Royal Roads University pursuing a BSc in Environmental Science. She is passionate about local initiatives which enhance the land and engage the community with eco-social improvements. She hopes to use her education to work within the environmental planning and monitoring realm on projects which support sustainability.
Victoria Ciupac

Writer

Victoria Ciupac

Writer

Victoria is a young writer with a general focus on nature in her written pieces, in both creative and non-fictional writing. She is passionate about marine conservation, and enjoys playing beach volleyball, dancing, swimming, planting, sewing, and trying out water sports. She is fluent in English, French and Russian, and would like to deepen her knowledge of other languages, with time.
Victoria Lim

writer

Victoria Lim

writer

Victoria is a recent graduate of the International Bacalaureate diploma program and will be heading into her first year in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. As former President of World Wildlife Fund and UNICEF clubs at her school, she maintains her passion for humanitarian work and wildlife conservation. She hopes to continue learning more about what it means to be an enviromentalist and to share that knowledge through her posts
Yoko Lu

writer

Yoko Lu

writer

Yoko Lu is a B.Sc. Environmental Science graduate of Spring 2014. Interested in the environment, especially in biodiversity and conservation since childhood, she hopes to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Her current goal is to travel the world volunteering and taking part in internships where she can learn wildlife conservation through hands-on experience before embarking on a longer-term career. During her free time, Yoko enjoys nature by participating in outdoor activities such as camping and hiking regardless of the season.
Zara Khurana

writer

Zara Khurana

writer

A creative and content writer by profession, Zara is also an avid baker, painter and heavily invested in nutrition and fitness. Zara is the creator and founder of a baking and art page called “Bites & Brushes”, a page where all her creations are displayed. She also has passions in brand management, marketing, content marketing and advertising. She finds figuring out strategies to get more traffic to a business, a company or a product mentally stimulating.
Zhaleh Esmaeili

Writer

Zhaleh Esmaeili

Writer

With a Master’s degree in English Literature, it is only natural to love reading, writing and editing. I also believe in leaving the world better than we found it and I will do my share by living conscientiously or maybe writing about things that I am passionate about including the environment. I aspire to learn more everyday and be a better human and writer.