Taoya is retired after working for 25 years as a physiotherapist. She has lived in the Lake Windermere watershed since the 1980s and appreciates the area’s natural beauty and abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Among the outdoor pursuits she enjoys are mountain-biking, backpacking, skiing, kayaking, canoeing and sailing with her husband and two sons. Taoya especially strives to represent the interests of people who appreciate non-motorized uses of the lake. “I hope that through working with the Ambassadors, I will be able to contribute to a healthier Lake Windermere.”
Victoria grew up spending her summers in the Columbia Valley from an early age, she moved to Invermere in 2010 to make the Columbia Valley her full time home. She now lives here with her partner Shawn, where the own and operate a year round Commercial Transport Repair Facility. After Shawn joined the Ambassadors a few years ago, his passion for lake preservation, access and responsible boating inspired Victoria to become more involved. Victoria’s main interested is seeing continued support and commitment to Windermere Lake preservation, as well as access for all individuals to enjoy this incredible lake safely, not just motorized sport boats and lake shore owners. She is excited to become more involved moving forward with the Ambassadors and offering her support to this organization.
Shawn grew up in the lower mainland with his family who enjoyed sailing together. His parents owned a 28′ sailboat, their family would spend summer holidays on the water. After loading up with groceries, ice, a couple Bob Marley cassettes, they would head off exploring the Gulf Islands, the sunshine coast and the eastern coast of Vancouver island. We are short on salt water around these parts, one thing we do have a lot of is pristine fresh water. Shawn hopes it can stay that way for many decades to come. He enjoys spending his time on the lake doing the simpler things, including pontoon boating, relaxing the day away, and fishing when time permits. Shawn believes Lake Windermere is a direct link to the health of our community as a whole, if she is sick, so too is our community. He’s been living in Invermere since 2015.
Bio Coming Soon…
Akisqnuk First Nation Advisor
Shannon grew up canoeing on the lakes of Southern Ontario where she nurtured a passion for aquatic insects and terrestrial plants. She moved to Prince George in 2010 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Recreation and Conservation. When she graduated in 2014, she had gained a great appreciation for the community-based non-profits doing work to protect and educate on our natural world. Following this appreciation, she worked in a variety of fields from recreation to environmental education and found her niche in water stewardship after moving to the Columbia Valley in 2018. She now works for MakeWay to support projects and priorities relating to freshwater. Shannon is based in the Columbia Basin on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc Peoples, Invermere, BC, where you can find her out mountain biking, skiing, or knitting in her spare time.
In October 2020 Richard and his wife moved to the Columbia Valley. They enjoy non-motorized recreation including canoeing, paddle boarding and skating in the winter. For 25 years, Richard was employed as an Environmental Specialist ensuring compliance with provincial and federal regulations in regards to water, waste water, air emissions and waste management. He understands the the life cycle of water and the importance of water stewardship. With him, Richard brings, a diploma in recreation and wildlife, and a degree in physical science. Richard is hoping to use his vast experience to support the Ambassadors. He loves the Valley, and is committed to water stewardship to protect our shared resources.
Born on the sandy shores of Vancouver Island, Buzz was educated at Oak Bay High, then trained to be a Marine Electrician. He spent most of his spare time fishing and hunting. Buzz took several extended courses at the University of Victoria on fisheries, and in 1961 became a Game Warden. He worked in several districts in the province and worked for two seasons on fish surveys for the flood studies on the Laredo preparing for the Duncan Reservoir. Buzz was moved to Invermere in the fall of 1965 to fill the position of District Conservation Officer. He has been in Invermere ever since and retired in the spring of 1989.
Max has lived in the valley since 1994 and works in sales and marketing at Columbia River Paddle and Trappeur Homes, and as a speaker and instructor at Flying Max. Max has a dynamic personality who people warm to easily, he engages people in a way which helps them see the possibilities of life and business. Max has parlayed his success in extreme sports into a business strategy consulting practice, combined with a strategy development and motivational speaking program, and leadership training.
Susan Clovechok is the Area F Electoral Director for the RDEK, elected in 2018. Previous to being elected Susan was the Executive Director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce for eight years and lives near Dutch Creek south of Lake Windermere. Director Clovechok acts as an adviser and resource to the Lake Windermere Ambassadors and appreciates the important role of Lake Windermere and the Columbia River in the Columbia Valley’s socio-economic environment.
District of Invermere Advisor
Jennifer instantly fell in love with Lake Windermere and the surrounding Columbia Valley when she moved to Invermere in 2017. Since then she has been working as an environmental health officer and is passionate about the management and protection of our natural resources and ecosystems. Jennifer is also interested in studying the dynamic connection between public health and the environment. In her spare time, she loves to be outside gardening, hiking, paddle boarding, camping, skiing and exploring.
Candis is married (56 yrs), has 2 adult sons and 4 grandchildren. She and her husband bought their property in Windermere in 1969 and have been full-time residents since June 1999. Candis has been involved in many volunteer positions, her Children’s schools, Director of Kids Help Phone and Calgary Liaison for ABC Television Network before and during the 1988 Olympic Games. She has worked in the travel industry, as well as commercial and residential real estate. Since moving to the Valley, she has been a member of the Cancer Society and a Director of the Valley Fitness Center and Trethewey Beach Society. She spent many years downhill skiing, windsurfing and boating with her family. Activities now are attending classes at the gym, golfing, kayaking, hiking and walking in our beautiful Valley. She feels a strong commitment to help retain the health of our Lake and Environment.
Gurmeet is a retired Professional Engineer with degrees in Chemical Engineering, a career in Petroleum Reservoir Engineering and a keen interest in Environmental Science and Engineering. A Calgarian since 1971, Gurmeet has had a presence in the Lake Windermere area since 1972. He has been actively involved over decades in the protection of lakes, wetlands and precious water resources. Gurmeet is an original founding member of the Lake Windermere Ambassadors.
Ryan appreciates Lake Windermere and the Columbia River year round – from paddling on it in the warmer months, to hiking, ice skating, plogging and photographing it (@mountainlifestories) 365 days a year. He is passionate about supporting responsible community economic development (CED), and its leaders, organizations, and natural resource-dependent and resort communities to achieve their long-term sustainability goals. He shares his skills in strategy, project management, collaborative alignment, evidence-based decision-making, community resource allocation (leveraging UN SDGs) and community engagement.
Along with his volunteer work with the LWA, he serves as a board member on the College of the Rockies; the Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet); and Kenpesq’t, a Shuswap Band-owned company that provides economic opportunities and benefits for the Shuswap Band and its members.
Bio coming soon…..
Manon was raised in Invermere, BC. She has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Victoria in Political Science with a focus on natural resource and environmental policy.
After university, Manon moved to Yukon in 1997 with her partner Marcel Barrault, who was born and raised in Invermere. She began working for the Government of Canada and then switched to the Government of Yukon in 2000. She has held a variety of senior positions in the Government of Yukon public service and was also the director of governance at Kwanlin Dün First Nation in 2009. She became the assistant deputy minister of sustainable resources in 2017 where she led the final approvals of the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan. She then moved into the role as President of the Yukon Liquor Corporation and Lotteries Yukon in 2020. In 2021, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment and the Deputy Minister of French Language Services Directorate. She recently retired in January 2024 from the Government of Yukon so she and Marcel could relocate to the Invermere area to be closer to family and friends. They have two adult children: Aimery and Amélia.
MJ is originally from Nova-Scotia but grew up in the Middle East in Dubai. Having grown up surrounded by desert, the idea of moving out west was particularly appealing, making the mountains, lakes, and rivers all the more refreshing! With a passion for preserving our beautiful BC lakes and an interest in field work, MJ is ready to dive into action. MJ has previously worked as a climate action technician in wildfire mitigation, enjoys initiating her own change maker projects, and holds a bachelor’s degree with a minor in biology. As a highland dancer and instructor, she brings a unique and dynamic energy to our team.