Westman Naturalists Inc. is incorporated as a non-profit corporation and organized by a team of volunteers.
Everyone is welcome to our events, but you’ll have to be a member if you want to join the board! Check out our bylaws to see what we’re all about, and feel free to send us an email with any questions.
Board of Directors
Alex Koiter
President
Committees: Speakers
Alex is an Associate Professor in Geography and Environment at Brandon University. Alex enjoys leading trips to explore local Westman landscapes and glacial history.
Jen Wasko
Vice-President
Committees: Financial and Planning
Jennifer Wasko is an Horticulture Instructor at Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment at Assiniboine College. When not experimenting with gardening techniques, and spending time with her family, she loves exploring all aspects of nature and sharing this love of the diverse Manitoba ecosystems with others.
Kathryn Hyndman
Secretary
Committees: Financial and Planning
Hello! Kathryn is a retired registered nurse and former nursing professor at Brandon University. Her passions include scuba diving and travelling. Many of her trips involve watching and photographing birds and animals as well as marine fish.
Sandy Hominick
Treasurer
Committees: Financial and Planning, Outings
Sandy’s mom shared her love of birds with Sandy at an early age. Sandy has been feeding birds for many years, and now that she’s retired, is able to spend more time birdwatching. You can find Sandy out and about in both the prairies and sloughs of Manitoba and North Dakota!
Adrielle Parlee
Committees: Outings
Adrielle’s grandparents on both sides were birders and fostered an early love of birds. Her favourite birds are probably chickadees and black terns and she is hoping to see 600 bird species before 60. Adrielle and her wife are already dreaming of a retirement spent birding and geocaching from a van all around Canada. Besides birding, Adrielle loves reading, walking, and learning. Adrielle currently works at the Westman Regional Library and is pursuing a diploma in Library and Information Technology.
Carson Kearns
Committees: Communications
Carson likes birds and other things. Such as squirrels.
Duane Diehl
Committees: Speakers, Outings
Duane was raised in southwestern Manitoba and has always had an interest in nature. After a BSc in Information Technology, he worked in the field for a number of years in Winnipeg before taking the Manager of Computer Services position at Assiniboine College. Since his retirement, he has spent much more time in nature pursuing knowledge about our ecosystem, but with some emphasis on birding.
Gillian Richards
Committees: Communications (Newsletter, Email), Financial and Planning, Outings
Other: Christmas Bird Counts
Gillian is an avid birder and an eBird enthusiast. Although birds catch her eye, Gillian also spends time brushing up on butterflies and native plants. Her passion is leading trips and sharing her knowledge of Westman nature.
Roger Glufka
Committees: Outings
Roger fostered a love of birding and native plants, especially wild strawberries, hanging out on the family farm with his grandma. A naturalist position with Parks Canada in the 1990s and early 2000s encouraged him to deepen his knowledge of Manitoba plants, animals, geography, and human history. Roger enjoys hiking, camping, and canoeing in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter with his three grown children and their partners, his dogs, and his wife.
Steffi LaZerte
Committees: Speakers, Communications (Webmaster, Events Advertising)
Steffi is an independent biologist and R consultant and avid gardener. Steffi enjoys getting away from her computer to explore Westman nature, taking her cats if she can!
In Memoriam
Glennis Lewis
Glennis Lewis was a retired botanist and lawyer who taught environmental impact assessment at Brandon University. She lead numerous field trips for Westman Naturalists. Glennis was a founding member of Westman Naturalists and was pivotal in the creation and development of our group.
Alumni
Many thanks!
- Erica Alex
- Carson Rogers
- Megan Hamill
- Colin Blyth
- Bill Gallaway