MEET THE TEAM
Sam, President:
As a Wildlife Rehabilitator, I saw human-wildlife conflicts first hand and learned that the key to coexistence is awareness and education. I began giving educational talks about wildlife in the spring of 2018, I joined Wild Wise Sooke and took on the role of Community Coordinator.
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I have a degree in Animal Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation and have worked with and studied wildlife in Ontario, New York, Virginia, Oregon, B.C. and South Africa. Every experience has taught me something new that I hope to share with the Wild Wise community.
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Lisa:
Lisa was born and raised on the Westshore and has lived in the community for over 50 years. She has worked in management in both grocery retail and the public sector in government relations. Lisa has been instrumental in delivering improved transportation to communities across British Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Royal Roads University. Lisa is passionate about community service and is a past board member of Community Living Victoria. Lisa is proud to volunteer with Wild Wise Society and is thrilled to see expansion to the Westshore Communities. She is dedicated to educating others on the benefits of living with our wild neighbours and is an avid animal advocate and lives her values everyday by consuming a plant based diet. Lisa recently founded Westshore Candles, a small business focused on hand poured vegan and cruelty free candles, and $1 from every purchase goes to Wild Wise Society!
Tracey:
Tracey has been a resident of Vancouver Island since 1977 and a westshore resident since 1981. Former IT project manager from the University of Victoria, Tracey is now enjoying retirement and finding time to explore new opportunities through volunteer work. Tracey is an avid traveller and has had the opportunity to visit several countries. Every time she returns home to Vancouver Island, she is deeply appreciative of the spectacular island we live on. With a keen interest in the natural environment, she looks forward to working with Wild Wise Westshore as it gets established in the western communities of Victoria.
Mike:
My name is Mike and I have an immense passion for the forest and all the animals who inhabit it. I have lived in Metchosin for the past 38 years and through that time have raised 4 wonderful kids, volunteered at the fire hall for 17 years and love the sense of community that goes with volunteering. With the growing number of people, and habitat reduction happening around us, it is so important that we learn to coexist with the wildlife. So when I became aware of this opportunity to contribute my time to an organization that strives to educate people for the betterment of all, I had to sign up!
Shane:
Shane and (camera shy) wife Kelly have been dedicated volunteers with us for several years and have been dedicated volunteers in our community long before Wild Wise. As volunteer fire fighters and volunteers at Wild Arc their community service never ends. Shane is the owner of Sooke Gutter, a local company that Shane ensures participates in giving back to the community, in fact recently donated all the lumber for our Purple Martin project!! From seal rescues, racoon proofing their chicken coop, writing wildlife children’s books and putting up bear and deer crossing signage, they are huge advocates for wildlife and we are grateful to have them on our team!
Jill & Paul:
Paul and Jill are recent retirees who moved from Ottawa to Sooke in September 2019. Avid backcountry canoeist and nature lovers, the pandemic put a spin on how they could help out their new community. In 2020, Paul took a virtual summer program with Wild Wise and Jill joined the Sooke Girl Guides. Their partnership resulted in a virtual Pathfinder bat house build with Paul designing and cutting the materials for the bat houses and Jill leading the online build. Jill and Paul also volunteer with the Sooke Backyard Garden project, yarn-bombing in the community and are part of the Poplar Drive Pot-Bangers
Lynn:
Hi, my name is Lynn and I’ve lived in Sooke for 3.5 years now. I moved here from Vancouver and honestly, I was nervous about moving here due to the amount of wildlife in the area. I met Sam Webb (the coordinator of Wild Wise Sooke) at the fall fair and started asking questions re: attractants and best practices. I then asked about volunteer opportunities and there are so many ways in which to help out this amazing organization.
I’ve always had a love of animals, I currently have 3 dogs, one which is special needs. I volunteered for a dog rescue while in Vancouver for a couple of years but found I wanted to keep most of them. Hence the move to Wild Wise, no chance of new family members. No room for a bear as cute as they ar.
I see on social media that the “city folk” get a bad rap when they move to a rural area and wanted to make sure I was not one of those that caused habituation in any wild animal. I now love seeing all of the wildlife and have learned how to co-exist with them all. If you see me out and about popping up those “BEAR IN AREA” signs, please say hello!
Jennifer:
Jennifer Davison moved to Sooke about 10 years ago to get closer to her favourite hiking spots and beaches.
After a bear got into her neighbour's garbage, she immediately got involved with Bear Aware. She continues to volunteer with Wild Wise to help support both people and bears in our beautiful community. After all, that is why we all moved out to Sooke in the first place!
Gary:
I've been around the block a few times and got lost here and there. Worked in everything from video and audio to a government computer network system to writing scripts and paperbacks, doing art, and even dabbled in acting a few times. I played the lead in a docu-drama in my twenties, which I've never seen, but I heard I did good. But, my real love is animals. Ever since I was little I've looked out for critters large and small. I've volunteered here and there including the SPCA's Wild Arc, transporting wild patients and helping critter, trying to make a difference in saving lives, saving our wildlife and the living world. And I'm very excited to join Wild Wise and help humans co-exist the wildlife I love.
