About Us
Mission statement
The purposes of the society are:
- To develop environmental research and training programs in the field of resource management and environmental stewardship.
- To distribute literature based on research findings in the fields described above.
- To promote sustainable living practices and responsible resource management among businesses and households.
Board of directors
Kevan Bracewell
Director & Foundation FounderOriginally from the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, Kevan Bracewell is a third-generation guide outfitter, cattle rancher and wilderness tourism operator. Kevan has extensive experience in all aspects of logging and forest management, sawmill operations, staff training and most government regulations related to resource-based industries. Having developed his family’s ranch into a four-season wilderness tourism operation in the 1980s, while building a 10,000 square foot all-log lodge from logs harvested and milled onsite, Kevan went on to create a year-round wilderness tourism business called Chilcotin Holidays in Gold Bridge, BC.
Clive Ashworth
Born in Durban South Africa, Clive is a self-taught prospector/geotechnician with 40 years of experience in the field and in business dealings throughout North and South America and Africa. From 1980 to the present, Clive has been involved in almost every major staking and commodity “rushs” spanning four continents, and has a reputation as an outstanding commodity specialist. Fifteen of these years included wilderness mining exploration in BC and the Yukon including the South Chilcotins which Clive believes to be the most impressive area of his travels. For Clive, the spectacular geology/topography, mountains, alpine meadows, good climate and remote ecology of the Chilcotin Mountains should be nothing less than a world heritage site and support a grizzly habitat.
Bruce Morton
Bruce grew up in BC’s Okanagan fishing all the lakes with his father and a dream of being a fish and wildlife biologist. Studying for a degree in Plant Science, Bruce conducted wildlife and range management studies while a university summer student in the areas of Burns Lake and Williams Lake. He started a hybrid nursery which he ran for 25 years growing seedlings for reforestation. In the 1980s Bruce purchased a remote fishing lodge in Chaunigan Lake and got his commercial flying license and float plane to continue his love of fishing and exploring BC’s remote lakes. Bruce is currently involved in farming sable fish in captivity.
Bernard Schelberg
Australian born, Bernie is a software engineer by profession with a passion for environmental responsibility and sustainable living practices. Having become an experienced horseback rider and hiking trail guide in Canada, he enjoys spending time in nature and travelling. He sees a need to make a difference in the way we live at an individual level especially in the areas of food supply and electricity generation.
Leyla Tekul
Turkish award-winning host, director and emcee (Master of Ceremony), Leyla has had a career in TV and the performing arts and education for over 30 years. Being a passionate environmentalist and animal activist she was the well-known face of World Wildlife Fund Turkey. Leyla currently teaches communication skills to international students in Vancouver, BC and prefers to spend her spare time getting back in touch with nature in the South Chilcotins.
Russell Floyd
Raised in the Cowichan Lake area of Vancouver Island, Russ took Canadian Wilderness Tourism Training Centre’s horse-based Wilderness Guide Training programs at the age of 18. He went on to became a professional farrier, is an archery champion and has avalanche skills training for snowmobiling in the backcountry. Combining his appreciation of the outdoors for sport and leisure, his wilderness safety skills and knowledge of wildlife, Russ regularly guides horse pack and wildlife viewing trips into the South Chilcotins for Chilcotin Holidays and teaches the guide school and horse logging courses at the Canadian Wilderness Tourism Training Centre.
Helen Williams
Born and raised in BC’s lower mainland, Helen is a freelance copywriter and communications consultant writing for government, large- and small-sized business, the educational community and non-profit sectors. Raised in the country with horses and self-sufficiency practices, she is an amateur photographer of nature with a lifelong interest in organic farming practices, habitat conservation and historic preservation of buildings from a purely personal interest and respect of history, flora and fauna.
Alison Beierlein
Alison was born and raised in Toronto Ontario and moved to Germany at the age of 18 to learn the language and attend university. She completed a degree in Horticultural Management and went on to work as a Quality Manager at a produce wholesale firm in southern Germany. In addition, Alison worked as a consultant with the Lake Constance Fruit Marketing Association to help growers attain and maintain compliance with a variety of international qualityand product safety standards. In 2008 Alison moved back to Canada and worked in sales and marketing for a wilderness ranch in the South Chilcotins. Since 2010 she has been living and working in Pemberton, BC.