BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee Ann Johnson, Chair
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.
Mary Louise Hendry, Secretary
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.
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”.
Richard Carton, Director
Richard’s love of nature was triggered by childhood visits to Parry Sound, ON, where he was inspired by the beauty of Georgian Bay and the Canadian Shield. His preoccupation with athletics led him to Western University (BA, Physical Education) and the University of BC (MPE, Sport Sciences). After a few years of working as a fitness consultant, Richard landed on the Sunshine Coast in 1983 as a leader in the national youth program, Katimavik. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Education degree and spent two decades teaching elementary school. Richard has served in a number of roles for the SCCA.
Robyn Schell, Director and Volunteer Coordinator
Robyn grew up in the Maritimes, moving to attend SFU in the distant past.
Jef Keighly, Director - Waiting on text and photo.
Theressa Logan, Director - Waiting on text and photo.
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.