Our Team

President

Marja is a biologist, and her passion for the natural world is an inherent part of her character. She has her Master of Science in Zoology. Upon graduating from the University of British Columbia, she was employed as a biologist, researcher, and writer for the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. Eventually, assuming the role of Assistant Curator in Education and Interpretation. Although her education and early work had a strong marine focus, her interests and activities have always been directed by an awareness and knowledge of the vulnerability of natural systems to human impacts and solutions to such both locally and globally. The combination of her academic background, lab, field, and 40 year teaching experience at Capilano University, along with her years “underwater” at the Aquarium, and more recent environmental stewardship and citizen science projects, have reinforced her field skills and knowledge of local species and ecology. Marja was recognized for her environmental stewardship work with a Heritage Award from the Municipality of West Vancouver and the Frank Sanford award for outstanding community achievement from the Vancouver Natural History Society. She is presently enrolled in the Restoration of Natural Systems Diploma program at the University of Victoria. She is a member of the Metis Nation of BC.

Vice President

Bill practices law in Edmonton AB in the areas of Indigenous law, resource regulatory law, expropriation law and surface and mineral rights law.Bill first arrived on Valdes Island in 1978 to scope out the siting of a cabin. However, the family involvement started much earlier with his grandfather surveying the island in the 1950’s. In the 1960’s Bill’s father’s best friend, Lloyd Detwiller, spearheaded the original leases which were established in 1964. Together with his sons, Bill tries to spend as much time on Valdes as possible and looks forward to his ongoing education from other islanders and the Lyackson First Nation on the flora and fauna and surrounding ocean in and around the island.

Treasurer

Doug Cochran is an Adjudicator on a Provincial Government Board as well as being appointed as the Lay Member of the Ethics Committee of the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C. Doug was in private practice as a lawyer in Vancouver, B.C. for thirty years, has published two legal text books and taught in the Institute for Paralegal Studies at Capilano University for nineteen years. He was a Member of the Immigration and Refugee Appeal Board of Canada for six years. He is currently concentrating on writing and publishing books for children of various ages.

Secretary

Christina has enjoyed spending time on Valdes her whole life. Her parents, Doug and Shirley Campbell, took over the property in Noel Bay in 1981. As a child, her happiest memories were summers with her parents and sister, Georgia, at the cabin. Now Christina and her husband, Allan, are delighted to share the magic of Valdes with their daughters, Norah and Emma. Christina loves the outdoors and jumps at any chance to hike, paddle, forage, swim and bask. Working with young children for close to 20 years, Christina strongly believes in supporting children in following their interests and nurturing a love and respect for nature.

Graham and his family became co-owners of their Valdes Island property a few kilometres north of Starvation Bay about 8 years ago. He, his family, and property co owners built a cabin nestled in the trees near the foreshore using sustainable materials such as recycled windows, reused plywood, and milled-on-site timber. Now that his cabin is ‘finished’, Graham has been enjoying exploring Valdes’ amazing natural beauty with his wife and two daughters.

Graham is a practicing professional engineer. His work encompasses a range of projects that center on natural water resources – lakes, rivers, and coasts. Graham has worked on small and large projects from California to Alaska, with most of his current work in the coastal BC region. Graham has extensive experience with hydrologic studies, river hydraulics, sediment transport, and environmental restoration. His environmental restoration projects are focused on fish and wildlife habitat in riverine and estuary ecosystems.

Graham’s interests include family time, a variety of sports (pandemic-era pursuits are trail running and mountain biking), ‘building things’ (such as structures and furniture), and adventures (especially if there is a boat involved!).

Mika Livingston has been coming to Valdes Island with the Livingstons of Detwiller Point since the May long weekend of 2003. She is married to Andrew, and they and their two seven-year-old children, Marin and Archer, love spending summers and weekends on Valdes, exploring, adventuring, learning, and connecting. Mika has been an educator for 15 years, and is currently an administrator in the Richmond School District. She is professionally and personally focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion, and engaging meaningfully with Truth and Reconciliation. You can usually find her poking around the beaches and tidepools, and leaving a trail of “beach rainbows” wherever she goes!

Mark has been coming to Valdes Island for most of his life, beginning as a visitor at the McElhanney cabin. More recently Mark hands joined those of his parents Sue and Dave Bonar as the family honoured a bit of history and embraced and renovated Gord and Barb Detwiller’s cabin on Detwiller point. Mark works as a naval architect designing tugboats and other commercial vessels. He lives in Vancouver and spends his free time in the outdoors cycling, fishing and hiking on and off the island.

Sarah has been enjoying the family cabin at Valdes since 1975, and along with husband Hayden, is happy to now bring her children, Carter and Avery, to experience all the island has to offer. When not at the Cabin, Sarah works in management in the Video Game Industry. Her parents Bill and Jeannie Ferguson are members of the early cabin community. Sarah looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm for Valdes Island’s natural world to other young families on the island.

Dan resides on Valdes Island where he is raising a family. His wife Brenda works part time as a school teacher on Galliano Island. Dan currently operates a freight and passenger service around Porlier Pass.

Anne is a science journalist who reports for outlets like The Walrus, National Geographic, The Globe and Mail and BCBusiness magazine. She lives in East Van with her husband Josh Dunford and two children, Martha and Arlo. When not in the city, their family can be found at their cabin on Valdes, located around the Northern corner of Starvation Bay. She served on the Valdes Island Conservancy as Secretary for the 2018/2019-year and looks forward to joining the Conservancy again this year.​

Warren first started making frequent visits to Valdes Island in 1989 after meeting his now wife at UBC while completing degrees in biology. Warren and Valerie live in Campbell River after moving from Tofino. After moving to Campbell River Warren became a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) adding to his Forest Resources Management diploma. Warren pursued his biology passion, first by being a co-founder and biological adviser of the Central West Coast Society (Now Redd Fish Restoration Society) resulting in a provincial award of Excellence in Coastal Forest Ecosystem restoration in 2002 and accepted a BC Ministers award for Central Westcoast Forest Society in 2011. In 2011 Warren was granted the Bill Young Award for excellence in integrated forest management and in more recently he received the Animal Ambassador Local Hero award by the Campbell River Mirror in 2002. Warren currently works as a biological contractor which includes over the last year species at risk surveys and training bear den surveys, grizzly Bear habitat assessments and Bald Eagle assessments. Warren is currently self employed as a biology contractor.

Ann and her husband Rob live in New Westminster on a floating home on the Fraser River. Her parents, George & Marilyn Elvidge, started building the cabin in 1980, with Rob doing renovations and extensions from the 1990s onward. Ann is a retired CPHR & spent many years as Director of Human Resources for a large, multinational company. Ann retired in 2017 and now volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross. Ann enjoys all outdoor activities, especially walking, hiking, biking and kayaking, is a passionate reader and loves to travel. They spend as much time as they can at the cabin – sharing this beautiful place with many family and friends.