Mission Statement
The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada is devoted to the promotion and conservation of ecosystems by supporting restoration, education. and research projects that enhance the knowledge and stewardship of these valuable ecosystems. We conduct public outreach, publish articles to disseminate current research findings, and leverage supplemental project funding. To ensure the execution of all of the above, we ally closely with Govenment agencies, academia, consultants, industries operating in whitebark pine habitat, other non-profit societies, and in particular our US partner, the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation.
Board of Directors
Currently there are seven directors. They are; Randy Moody (Chair), Alana Clason, Judy Millar, Michael Murray, Joanne Vinnedge, Joyce Gould and Don Pigott.
Randy Moody, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Chairperson of the WPEF of Canada.
Randy is a plant ecologist specializing in whitebark pine recovery, ecosystem mapping, and ecological restoration. Randy holds a Masters degree in Forest Science as well as a Bachelors degree in Natural Resources Conservation from UBC. He is a registered Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology. He has worked on whitebark and limber pine restoration projects throughout BC.
Alana Clason is a PhD student at the University of Northern BC since January 2011. She is supervised by Dr. Phil Burton and Dr. Eliot McIntre both with the Canadian Forest Service. She completed her MSc in summer 2010 at the University of Alberta, in collaboration with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, working on whitebark pine ecology and resilience at the NW edge of its range. Catching the whitebark pine bug, she continues to persue whitebark pine research for her PhD, hoping to focus on the resilience of northern populations in both the coastal and Rocky Mountains under changing climate. Originally from Ottawa, Alana fell in love with the west and has recently put her roots down in Smithers, a beautiful and vibrant community in NW BC. When not behind a computer, she loves exploring the outdoors in her new hometown.
Judy Millar is a registered professional biologist with the Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, Planning and Management Division, Victoria, BC. Judy began her career with the Ministry of Forests in 1974 as a tree planter and continued to work for them until 1988 in various positions including recreation officer. In 1990 she was hired full time with BC Parks as a Resource Officer. In 1999 Judy went to Australia on a one year work exchange and took her two teenage children. In 2002 when Parks and Environment were joined she worked as an ecosystem biologist, and then a mountain pine beetle specialist. Now Judy is back with BC Parks and manages several portfolios including whitebark pine conservation, wildfire management, ecological restoration (including prescribed fire), invasive plant management, range/grazing and ecological reserve management.
Michael Murray is a forest pathologist for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources located at the Kootenay Lake Forestry Centre in Nelson, BC. Michael is a Board Director of both the USA and Canadian Board of Directors for the WPEF. He received his Ph.D in whitebark pine fire ecology-forest health from the University of Idaho, and a M.S degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.
Michael's interest include whitebark pine dynamics and long term monitoring, climate driven tree declines, ameliorating forest root diseases, and fire- pathology interactions.
Michael broadcasts his 1970's music show on kootenaycoopradio.com and is joyfully playing pedal steel guitar.
Joanne Vinnege is an ecosystem biologist working in the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (formerly Ministry of Environment) in Fort St James. She holds a BSc and MSc from the University of Victoria, and is a registerd Professional Biologist. Her work involves input into the management and protection of fish, wildlife, and habitat values. Joanne grew up in the Fort St James area, and for years has been a keen advocate for the management of whitebark pine at the northern limit of its distribution in North America. Her other interest include birding, canoing, and poking around in the bush.
Don Pigott has worked in silviculture within BC, and internationally, for over 40 years. He worked in the Forest Research department of MacMillan Bloedel for 13 years before founding Yellow Point Propagation in 1982. His company is involved in silviculture and tree improvement consulting, gene conservation, and cone and seed collection and processing. For the past ten years Don has been involved in gene conservation of whitebark pine, and several other BC tree species considered to be priorities for both in situ and ex situ gene conservation. If it were not for his young grandson, he would probably be living in the Valdivian rainforest in Chile.
Joyce Gould is a conservation biologist with Alberta Parks and a member of the provincial recovery team for whitebark and limber pine. She has a PhD in conservation biology from the University of Alberta and is currently an adjunct professor there. Joyce coordinates the conservation efforts for whitebark and limber pine for Alberta Parks and is actively involved in monitoring the health of populations and conducting research related to regeneration.
Randy Moody, M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Chairperson of the WPEF of Canada.
Randy is a plant ecologist specializing in whitebark pine recovery, ecosystem mapping, and ecological restoration. Randy holds a Masters degree in Forest Science as well as a Bachelors degree in Natural Resources Conservation from UBC. He is a registered Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology. He has worked on whitebark and limber pine restoration projects throughout BC.
Alana Clason is a PhD student at the University of Northern BC since January 2011. She is supervised by Dr. Phil Burton and Dr. Eliot McIntre both with the Canadian Forest Service. She completed her MSc in summer 2010 at the University of Alberta, in collaboration with the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, working on whitebark pine ecology and resilience at the NW edge of its range. Catching the whitebark pine bug, she continues to persue whitebark pine research for her PhD, hoping to focus on the resilience of northern populations in both the coastal and Rocky Mountains under changing climate. Originally from Ottawa, Alana fell in love with the west and has recently put her roots down in Smithers, a beautiful and vibrant community in NW BC. When not behind a computer, she loves exploring the outdoors in her new hometown.
Judy Millar is a registered professional biologist with the Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, Planning and Management Division, Victoria, BC. Judy began her career with the Ministry of Forests in 1974 as a tree planter and continued to work for them until 1988 in various positions including recreation officer. In 1990 she was hired full time with BC Parks as a Resource Officer. In 1999 Judy went to Australia on a one year work exchange and took her two teenage children. In 2002 when Parks and Environment were joined she worked as an ecosystem biologist, and then a mountain pine beetle specialist. Now Judy is back with BC Parks and manages several portfolios including whitebark pine conservation, wildfire management, ecological restoration (including prescribed fire), invasive plant management, range/grazing and ecological reserve management.
Michael Murray is a forest pathologist for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources located at the Kootenay Lake Forestry Centre in Nelson, BC. Michael is a Board Director of both the USA and Canadian Board of Directors for the WPEF. He received his Ph.D in whitebark pine fire ecology-forest health from the University of Idaho, and a M.S degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.
Michael's interest include whitebark pine dynamics and long term monitoring, climate driven tree declines, ameliorating forest root diseases, and fire- pathology interactions.
Michael broadcasts his 1970's music show on kootenaycoopradio.com and is joyfully playing pedal steel guitar.
Joanne Vinnege is an ecosystem biologist working in the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (formerly Ministry of Environment) in Fort St James. She holds a BSc and MSc from the University of Victoria, and is a registerd Professional Biologist. Her work involves input into the management and protection of fish, wildlife, and habitat values. Joanne grew up in the Fort St James area, and for years has been a keen advocate for the management of whitebark pine at the northern limit of its distribution in North America. Her other interest include birding, canoing, and poking around in the bush.
Don Pigott has worked in silviculture within BC, and internationally, for over 40 years. He worked in the Forest Research department of MacMillan Bloedel for 13 years before founding Yellow Point Propagation in 1982. His company is involved in silviculture and tree improvement consulting, gene conservation, and cone and seed collection and processing. For the past ten years Don has been involved in gene conservation of whitebark pine, and several other BC tree species considered to be priorities for both in situ and ex situ gene conservation. If it were not for his young grandson, he would probably be living in the Valdivian rainforest in Chile.
Joyce Gould is a conservation biologist with Alberta Parks and a member of the provincial recovery team for whitebark and limber pine. She has a PhD in conservation biology from the University of Alberta and is currently an adjunct professor there. Joyce coordinates the conservation efforts for whitebark and limber pine for Alberta Parks and is actively involved in monitoring the health of populations and conducting research related to regeneration.
