Our 2023 Field Crew!
June 9 2023
Our 2023 field crew is working hard across Greater Victoria. This year they will be doing environmental restoration on HAT covenants, and in partnership with local Indigenous nations! You will certainly be able to meet them during volunteer events hosted with HAT. Invasive plant removal and native plant installations are two ways this crew will be healing the land. While there are new faces, our team lead Vanessa has returned.
Vanessa is of German and Irish descent and grew up on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Tsleil-Waututh territory. She moved to Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territory in 2015 to pursue a BA in Environmental Studies and Sociology from the University of Victoria, and recently completed a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems. Vanessa first became involved with HAT working on the restoration crew in 2022 and is thrilled to be returning to the crew again this year. When she isn't working, Vanessa enjoys gardening on her apartment deck.
Neal is a settler of Irish and French descent, who grew up on the unceeded territory of the K'ómoks First Nation. Neal is currently completing his fourth year in a Bachelor of Science double majoring in Geography and Environmental Studies, at the University of Victoria. His past summer employment as a Biology Assistant at Swan Lake and Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary developed his passion for restoration and plant identification. In his spare time, Neal is an avid skateboarder and enjoys backpacking in the outdoors.
Nina is of Polish Jewish and Danish descent, and grew up on the territories of the Patwin and Miwok peoples in California. She has worked in conservation, restoration, and community education for the past five years after studying biology and environmental engineering. When not working on the HAT restoration field crew, you can find her spending time with her animals, camping, or canoeing.
Lauren is of Scottish, Italian, and French descent and grew up on the unceded territories of the Anishinaabe and Algonquin People (currently known as Ottawa). She spent several years travelling/working abroad and small-scale organic farming before moving to the Island. Lauren is currently completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria double majoring in Geography and Environmental Studies. Lauren’s favourite aspects of working on the restoration team with HAT is enhancing her identification skills, connecting with local communities, interacting with plants and ecosystems, digging in the soil, and laughing with her co-workers. In her spare time you can find her in her garden, biking around town, exploring the outdoors, or racing sailboats.
Aislyn grew up on W̱SÁNEĆ territories and comes from Scottish and Irish descent. She just completed a BSc. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria. She comes to HAT with conservation and restoration experience through her time with the Pender Islands Conservancy and the Islands Trust Conservancy. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, caving, kayaking, and supporting the local farmers markets.
