WRA

Meet the Team

VOLUNTEERS

To learn more about volunteering at WRA, please visit the Volunteer sections of this website.

Judith Siegert, DVM, Consulting Veterinarian

After coming to Canada from Germany in 1989, Judith and her husband fell in love with the country and decided to immigrate. As a qualified veterinarian, Judith was required to go through the licensing process before being allowed to practice in her adopted country, and early on she decided to volunteer for WRA. However, once staff realized her veterinary credentials, that was the end of just feeding baby birds! With a temporary work permit in hand, Judith was recruited as Wildlife Care Supervisor for a year in 1990, and then assumed the voluntary position of President of the Board of Directors from 1991-1993. By this time, Judith had acquired her Canadian Veterinary Licence and worked at an Animal Emergency Clinic until she opened her own Animal Hospital in Port Moody in 1997. Throughout this time, Judith has contributed to WRA as Consultant Veterinarian, helping to improve the wildlife rehabilitation program, and after almost twenty years, she continues to enjoy being involved in assisting WRA in its work with wild animals.

CARE CENTRE STAFF

Linda Bakker, MA, Team Leader of Wildlife Rehabilitation
linda@wildliferescue.ca

Linda joined the WRA team in February 2008. She has a varied background that includes a degree in surgical nursing, a Master of Arts in Environmental Science, and 5 years working as an environmental consultant in the Netherlands. In her role as Volunteer Coordinator, Linda has already demonstrated the importance of volunteering at WRA, having worked as a Care Centre volunteer since 2006, and been part of the team that rescued and rehabilitated wildlife impacted by the 2007 oil spill in Burnaby's Burrard Inlet. In addition, she continues to volunteer for the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society and resides on the Board of Directors for the Oiled Wildlife Society (OWS).

Crystal Simmons, Care Centre Liaison

crystal@wildliferescue.ca

Crystal joined WRA in 2003 as a Care Centre volunteer and has been heavily involved in our organization ever since. In addition to her work with WRA, Crystal has been a part of the oiled wildlife response team, working to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife impacted by oil spills in BC. Crystal also participates in local conservation initiatives including the Hummingbird Monitoring Network, Purple Martin banding, and Bat and Great Blue Heron counts at Colony Farm. Crystal joined the WRA team full time in the fall of 2009 as the Care Centre Liaison, working with the public on the wildlife hotline, at the admission's desk, and managing the inventory and operational side of the Care Centre.

Marina Langland, BSc, RAHT, Wildlife Rehabilitator

marina@wildliferescue.ca

Marina is a 2011 graduate of the Animal Health Technology program at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in her hometown of Kamloops, BC. In 2008 she received her BSc in Animal Biology, also from TRU, focusing upon wildlife and marine studies. Marina has been volunteering with wildlife since 2002, which has led to short-term employment with the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops, an internship at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska and other volunteer opportunities, including one at the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. After working for a short time at a small animal clinic in Langley, Marina was extremely excited to become a part of the WRA Care Center team as a full-time wildlife rehabilitator in November 2011.

Karen Becker, BA, Wildlife Rehabilitator

karen@wildliferescue.ca

Karen, a geography student from the University of British Columbia has always cared passionately about human impact on the environment and the welfare of wildlife, and in 2009 she started volunteering at the WRA Care Centre. She loved it so much she signed up for a six-month internship the following year and completed several courses in wildlife rehabilitation. She became a full-time member of the Care Centre rehabilitation team in 2011. Karen is a member of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network and participates in an annual purple martin monitoring program.

Ana Mendes, Wildlife Rehabilitator

ana@wildliferescue.ca

Ana, who has a lifelong interest in nature, became a WRA staff member in 2011. She started out as a full-time Animal Care volunteer in 2008; and in 2009 she spent six months working as a senior wildlife intern. Ana originally trained as a dental hygienist in Portugal and she spent several years in London volunteering for an environmental group before moving to Canada to pursue her dream of working with animals.

Chelsea Roberts, Wildlife Rehabilitator

chelsea@wildliferescue.ca

Chelsea Roberts has been working with animals since 2002. She started out as a seasonal forest ranger in provincial parks in Ontario focusing on environmental restoration, and bear and elk awareness and rehabilitation programs. After graduating as an Animal Care Specialist from Sheridan College, she travelled across the country gaining experience in the care of exotic species and marine mammals at a number of CAZA accredited zoos and aquariums. In 2011 she graduated from the Animal Health Technology program at Thompson Rivers University in BC and worked as a veterinary technician and a marine mammal rehabilitator before joining the WRA team in 2012.

Stefanie Broad, Volunteer Coordinator

stefanie@wildliferescue.ca

Stefanie began her journey at Wildlife Rescue in 2009 as an Animal Care and Transport volunteer, where she quickly developed a newfound love of wildlife. Later the same year, she took on the part-time staff role of Volunteer Coordinator for one year, during which time she contributed to the ongoing development of WRA's volunteer program. Stefanie remained active as a Care Centre volunteer and was able to return to the position of Volunteer Coordinator in late 2011, which she manages to incorporate into a very busy schedule! Stefanie is currently pursuing a BBA majoring in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and she shares a love of domestic animals in her position as the Assistant Manager at the BC SPCA's Port Coquitlam Adoption Centre.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Krystal Brennan, Education Coordinator
krystal@wildliferescue.ca

Krystal joined the WRA team in June 2008. Prior to this, she worked as an Education Assistant and Demonstrator for DRS Earthwise Society, and as a Facilitator with the Boys' and Girls' Club of Delta/Richmond. During Krystal's diploma from the BC Institute of Technology's Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation program, she completed a variety of bird and vegetation surveys and mapping, and a Still Creek invasive vegetation partner project for the City of Burnaby. Her previous environmental activities have included nest box servicing, salmon releases, invasive plant control, and providing naturalist tours. On weekends, Krystal continues to volunteer as an ivy removal team leader with the Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Corporation of Delta.

Johanna Thompson, Education Assistant
johanna@wildliferescue.ca

Johanna joined the WRA in 2012 after graduating from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Geography, focusing on ecology. Her experience as an educator includes volunteering with an Argentine NGO and facilitating science themed day camps at a children's museum in Oregon.

Yolanda Brooks, BA, Communications Coordinator
yolanda@wildliferescue.ca

Yolanda joined the WRA as the Communications Coordinator in August 2010. As well as editing the WRA newsletter To The Rescue , Yolanda will be developing our online activities and finding new ways to raise the profile of the organization. Yolanda, who has a degree in communications and a post-graduate diploma in journalism, moved over from the UK in 2005 and has been working in Vancouver as a freelance writer and communications specialist. Before arriving in Canada she was employed as a writer and editor and spent several years working for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals which provides rescue, rehab and advocacy for wild, farm, domestic and companion animals. As well as editing supporter magazines and writing educational materials, Yolanda was involved in political campaigns for animal welfare issues and volunteering for fundraising events.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Glenn J. Boyle, PhD, Executive Director
glenn@wildliferescue.ca

After relocating (back) to B.C. from abroad in early 2007, Glenn initially joined the WRA as a Care Centre volunteer, and went on to join the WRA Board in November 2007. Glenn has degrees in Marine & Freshwater Biology (BSc), Environmental Technology (MSc) and Zoology (PhD) from the UK and Canada . His international environmental background includes expertise in wildlife rehabilitation and research, and experience in the management of wild animal facilities. Glenn is proud to support and represent the WRA in its ongoing commitment to lead wildlife rehabilitation work in BC.

Anita Cymet, BA, Development Coordinator
anita@wildliferescue.ca

Anita is an animal lover and rescuer who has volunteered for animal organizations, including her local SPCA, for many years.  She joined WRA in July 2011 as the Development Coordinator and comes with over 20 years of experience in development and fundraising.  Anita holds a multi-disciplinary degree in Marketing and Public Relations and combines her passion for rescuing and caring for animals with her forte in raising much needed funding for the wild animals that come through the doors at WRA.  She is pleased to join a dedicated and caring team of staff and volunteers at WRA who recognize the importance of animal care and rescue.

Sheila Gardiner, BSc, VT, Administrator (maternity leave)
sheila@wildliferescue.ca

Sheila became WRA's Administrator in July 2009 after volunteering in the Care Centre for 3 months. A native of Ontario, she moved to BC in 2005 to volunteer at a local wildlife conservation centre before working for an alternative energy R&D company in Burnaby. Sheila has a BSc degree (Zoology) from the University of Guelph and a Diploma of Veterinary Technology from Ridgetown College, Ontario. Prior to joining WRA, Sheila gained valuable experience in administration and animal care, both domestic and wild. She spent 3 years at the Smithsonian's NZP Conservation & Research Center in Virginia working on various research projects studying ungulates and waterfowl, and in the Spatial Analysis Lab where she helped administer a grant for US-based non-profit organizations. Sheila has also worked as an RVT in small animal veterinary clinics in Ontario and BC.