BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard Carton, Chair
Richard’s love of nature was triggered by childhood visits to Georgian Bay, Ontario. His passion for athletics led him to UBC where he completed a masters degree in sport science. After working as a fitness consultant, Richard landed on the Sunshine Coast as a leader in the national youth program (Katimavik) before becoming a school teacher.
Richard's most rewarding volunteer experience has been working for the SCCA. He has served the organization in a variety of roles since 2012. It has been a pleasure for him to be able to partner with people who are dedicated to protecting the natural world and who are making a difference.
Mary Louise Hendry, Secretary and Treasurer
Mary Louise lived on the Sunshine Coast from 2015 to 2020 and has now moved back to Vancouver Island where her son lives. While on the Sunshine Coast Mary Louise volunteered with Hospice, the Green Party, Community Services’ Bellies and Babies and Parent and Tot programs and was an ESL tutor, as well as serving on the SCCA Board as Secretary and as volunteer coordinator. Mary Louise has a B.A. in Political Science, a graduate diploma in International Development and an M.A. in Canadian and Women’s Studies. She was formerly an MP’s Assistant at the House of Commons where she worked for a time with Jim Fulton, Environment critic for the NDP who later became the first Executive Director of the David Suzuki Foundation. Mary Louise volunteered on Elizabeth May’s first and subsequent campaigns in Saanich Gulf Islands and for a time drafted correspondence and processed donations for Ms. May.
Robyn Schell, Director and Volunteer Recruitment
Robyn grew up in the Maritimes, moving to attend SFU in the distant past.
Dan Bouman, Director
Dan grew up hunting, fishing and bird watching. In 1969 he graduated from Grand Valley State College in Allendale, Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in biology and went on to complete an internship at the Butterworth Hospital School of Medical Technology. After a few years of working in clinics and one incredible summer touring remote BC with a mobile medical clinic, Dan moved up to Narrows Inlet to work a cedar claim. Subsequently he got involved in the tree planting industry, eventually earning provincial certification as a silvicultural surveyor. Dan says “My life changed radically again when I began working with the Tetrahedron Alliance for the purpose of creating a Class A Park over the Tetrahedron plateau and the upper Chapman Creek Watershed”. The park was designated in 1994.
Dan was one of the founding members of the SCCA in 1996 and was also a founding member of the SC Water First Society. Dan was the SCCA’s Executive Director from 1999 until 2011 when he resigned to serve on Gibsons Town Council. Dan is also the current Chair of the Friends of Gospel Rock Society. Dan says “I’m so grateful that the SCCA is such a good home for an extended family of people who want to effectively pursue environmental protections”.
Lee Ann Johnson, ex-officio chairperson
Lee Ann Johnson brings a lifelong commitment to the preservation of wild places and sustainable human settlement practices to the SCCA. She has several decades of experience in land-use planning, as a developer of non-profit co-op and rental housing in Victoria and the BC Lower Mainland, as a Municipal Councillor in Gibsons for three terms, and as an Alternate Director at the SCRD. She has served on the Executive of many non-profit Boards, developed and taught workshops on various non-profit organizational topics, and was a Library trustee for eight years. Since climbing Mt. Olympus in Washington at the age of 15, she has persistently worked in many volunteer capacities to encourage and support both individuals and groups in honouring relationships with the natural world and a sustainable human presence within it.
Jef Keighly, Director
Jef Keighley grew up on rural Burnaby Mountain and developed his love for the earth while rambling the wilds of the mountain with neighbourhood friends.
Jef spent 2 years teaching Land Surveying and Building Construction at a technical high school in Jamaica in the early 1970s with CUSO – Canadian University Service Overseas. Returning to Canada he was significantly involved in international development education and progressive political organizing, which led him to trade union activism.
Jef worked as a National Union Representative with CAIMAW – Canadian Association of Industrial, Mechanical and Allied Workers union - for 12 years followed by 13 years with the CAW – Canadian Autoworkers union - which included 4 years as the CAW Vice-President of the BC Federation of Labour.
Jef served as the Executive Director of the World Peace Forum 2006, which convened some 5,500 people from 78 countries for a 6-day peace forum held at UBC that year.
Throughout his adult life Jef has been committed to progressive political organizing and activism on both domestic and international issues of social, economic and environmental concern.
Jef and his wife Jill Wight put down roots on the Sunshine Coast in 2005 and currently live in Kalpalin - Garden Bay.
Theressa Logan, Director
Theressa Logan is the Executive Director of the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, Board member of Sunshine Coast Tourism and owner of The Castaway (vintage clothing and furniture store in Sechelt). Theressa joined the SCCA with hopes to help create more awareness on the importance of protecting the land and waters in which we depend on to survive as well as ensuring that more Federal, Provincial and Municipal policies are put in place to better protect wildlife from the effects of climate change.
STAFF
Suzanne Senger, Executive Director
For the last 20 years, Suzanne has worked with local, regional and provincial non-profits, First Nations and government to understand, develop and advise strategic solutions for complex environmental issues. She joined the SCCA as a volunteer in 2007 and has supported the organization in various ways, since. Suzanne was recruited as our Executive Director in 2020.
Suzanne is a co-founder and Secretary of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, (2016-2020); founder and former President of the Gibsons Alliance of Business and Community Society (2008-2020); and Director of the Friends of Gospel Rock Society (2008-2020).
Committed to "being the change” and inspired by a deep love of the natural world, Suzanne is keen to share her skills, experience and passion working with the SCCA to protect biodiversity on the Sunshine Coast.
Ian Hunt, Administrator
Ian joined the SCCA to lend his experience at working in an administrative role with non-profits. Currently on the board of One Straw Society as Treasurer, he values the work done by organizations to make the world a better place for all of us.
A resident of the Sunshine Coast for over 25 years, Ian loves to explore the wild spaces and lend his voice as an advocate for conservation. Working with the SCCA provides him with a greater opportunity to make change here at home.
Formerly the owner of the Roberts Creek Health Food Store, Ian greatly values the health and wellbeing of all, and feels that the natural world is a reflection of our health as a society. As we take care of the world around us, we take care of ourselves.
Sophie Cheshire, Communications Director
Sophie joined the SCCA in 2022 after leaving behind a previous career in Merchandise Planning that she felt lacked purpose for her in her life. She is passionate about working in the non-profit industry, particularly working with organisations that are focussed on biodiversity conservation. Sophie grew up close to the Sunshine Coast in Australia, and after visiting the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, she fell in love. When not working, you can find Sophie forest bathing amongst the trees or hiking across Canada for days at a time.