Instructor Bios
Megan Blackmore
Megan is a Learning Coordinator with the Invasive Species Council of BC, certified horticulturalist and passionate naturalist born and raised in Kamloops BC. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners, TRU Friends of the Gardens, Kamloops Naturalist Club, and Living Lakes Canada. She continually strives to find new ways to bring awareness of invasive species and their impacts on those around her.
Fearon Blair
Fearon Blair is a Master Gardener with many years of gardening experience. She is very concerned about our changing climate, and especially about keeping our rivers healthy and available to support us as well as all the other living things that depend on the rivers.
Emily Bootle
Emily is a licensed funeral director in British Columbia who also shares her death work knowledge with Douglas College End-of-Life Doulas. She has served on the board of the Green Burial Society of Canada between 2019 and 2022. Her areas of expertise include Eco-Conscious DeathCare, Family led Funerals, Supporting Deaths in the Margins and DeathCare for Our Little Ones.
Ila Crawford
Ila taught in the Department of Visual Arts at TRU from 1992 until 2018. She holds a BFA BSW and an MFA. She is a member of the Kamloops PrintMakers Society, which has a shared studio that offers facilities in screen printing, etching (intaglio)and relief printing. Ila has hosted workshops in Kitchen Litho, Photo Intaglio Collagraph, Tetra Pak dry point and Bookbinding. She is keenly committed to making printmaking opportunities available to people in the Kamloops region and especially to Visual Arts alumni from TRU.
Danielle Cross
Danielle Cross is the Interior Program Director for Nature Conservancy of Canada’s BC team. This position provides her the privilege of leading a small team that provide exemplary stewardship on NCC’s projects as well as the opportunity to pursue new projects that advance conservation in BC’s Interior. For over 20 years Danielle has worked across western Canada in habitat and species at risk conservation and wildlife management in various government, private industry and not-for-profit roles.
Mike Dedels
Mike is a long time GCC (Grasslands Conservations Council) member, including eight years on the Board, with terms as Secretary and Treasurer. He has been under contract as GCC Executive Director since July 2022. Mike has a passion for increasing knowledge of grasslands through outreach to the general public, and collaboration with First Nations, landowners and other NGOs.
Laura Doan
Dr. Laura K. Doan is a professor of early childhood education at Thompson Rivers University, where she has taught for twenty-five years. Laura holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Calgary. She has been an educator for over thirty years. Laura believes in the power of sharing our stories. Laura is a prolific author in the field of early childhood education with over thirty published articles and book chapters. Her most recent book is entitled, She’s Still My Mom: Navigating Your Loved One’s Journey with Alzheimer’s. You can find out more here: https://www.laurakdoan.com/
Ken Favrholdt
With a BA and an MA, Ken had been curator and archivist at several museums in BC and Alberta. He has also worked as a consultant for various First Nations as a researcher. Ken has authored books and many articles on Kamloops and area.
John Felvinci
John Felvinci was born in Hungary and came to Canada after the 1956 revolution. He studied at McGill University and earned a doctorate degree in nuclear physics. In 1965, he left for the US to teach and conduct research at Columbia University in New York. During his research, he branched out to computers and later worked in industry, installing radiation monitors and security systems at nuclear power plants. In 1990, John returned to Montreal and worked in telecommunications. After he retired in 1994, he joined MCLL (McGill Community of Lifelong Learning), where he has been active in moderating study groups, giving lectures and helping with administration.
Dr. Nancy Flood
Nancy Flood is currently Teaching Professor Emerita at TRU. Although she came “late” to studying birds, she has done so for more than 45 years in Canada, the US and Mexico, and in diverse habitats including tundra, cloud forest, desert, and grassland. She loves birds! She is President of BC Nature, Past President of the Kamloops Naturalist club, and a member of the Transition Kamloops Core team.
Kamloops Freemason
Members of Kamloops Freemasons
Chelsea Gamby
Chelsea is a registered Acupuncturist with 18 years of experience. She studied Quigong as part of professional development both in Canada and China. Qigong can be practiced by anyone.
Kristen Gardner
Kristen is the interim Educator and Public Program Director for the Kamloops Art Gallery. Prior to this role, she served as the School and Youth Programs Coordinator for over three years. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from TRU(2022) and a Diploma in Digital Art and New Media from Selkirk College (2017). Passionate about arts education, she believes in the power of art to build meaningful connections and create transformative spaces for learning and engagement.
Claire Garson
Claire is a devoted backpacker who is all about doing things on a shoestring budget. She is passionate about mountaineering, trekking and hiking. She has a fix it mentality for anything that comes up on the road. She is the kind of traveller who enjoys long-haul bus rides as well as local transportation. There is a certain kind of soul that comes from roughing it and a place where she feels right at home. You might also find her slipping into a fancy hotel lobby just to play the piano for a bit of fun. When it comes to sleeping and eating she is all about street food and ultra budget hostel dorms she might share with a few cockroaches. Overall, Claire is an outdoorsy person who is here to share some real down-to-earth travel stories '
Jane Gingrich
Jane Gingrich (she/her) was born and raised in BC. Her undergraduate studies were completed at UBC (BA); then Masters degrees with Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon (MDiv) and University of Calgary (MEd). However, Jane credits some of her greatest education with global travel in settings where the intersectionality of Roman Catholicism, Islam, and traditional Voodoo religious expressions cohabitated within families. Joy in learning from experience and deeply listening to folk of all expressions drew Jane from her more-than-ten years as a Lutheran pastor into the role of Spiritual Health Practitioner with Royal Inland Hospital. When not at work, Jane is playing with her children, gardening, organizing community programming, volunteering with newcomers, hiking, sipping tea, or playing board games.
Penny Haggarty
Penny Haggarty is a retired professional librarian who maintains a keen interest in research. She is enthusiastic about lifelong learning and currently serves as KALS secretary and as a member of the Publicity Committee.
Rob Hanlon
Rob is an associate professor in the department of Philosophy, History, and Politics. His research explores the links between corruption, human security and corporate social responsibility in emerging Asian economies.
Karen Harvey
Karen is a passionate biker and can often be spotted on her pink Suzuki V-Strom in and around Logan Lake. She has been involved with the Rolling Barrage since 2018. Karen has joined the ride every year and has also been part of the safety crew. This past summer she drove the merchandise truck from coast to coast crossing the country with the riders engaging with the hosting communities along the way. Karen also rides with local groups, The Logan Lake Litas and the Christian Motorcycle Association. She might stretch your definition of a "biker chick".
Bob Haywood-Farmer
Aside from ranching, Bob is a member of the Interior Panel for the Agriculture Land Commission, the BC Cattlemen’s Association, and the BC Livestock Association. He represents the BCCA on the Canadian Intermountain Venture, bringing an important voice to the organization’s projects. He is also past president of the Grasslands Conservation Council, and a strong advocate for responsible stewardship of this valuable resource.
Sylvia Henderson
Henderson Driving School is owned and operated by Sylvia Henderson who is a licensed instructor with over 10 years of experience. Her goal is to build knowledge and instill confidence in her students of all ages.
Greg Houghton
Greg Houghton is a horticulturist, ISA Certified Arborist, Tree Worker, and qualified Tree Risk Assessor. He recently retired after 19 years with the City of Kamloops as a Municipal Arborist. He now says he is “retreaded” to practise his trade as a self-employed arborist. He has been in the horticulture/arboriculture business for over 40 years and has observed both changes in the landscape of the urban forest. When the opportunity arises, he helps others learn to prune, plant and care for trees. Greg is married, with 4 children and 5 grandchildren.
Rick Jones
Rick Jones holds a Master of Science degree and an MBA from McGill University. Until his retirement, he worked as a meteorologist at Environment Canada for close to 35 years. He also managed the Nav Canada Aviation website. Passionate about learning, upon retirement, he began taking courses with McGill Community for Lifelong Learning and later became its vice-president and then president.
Madelene Kajusa
“Anzoa” Madelene Kajusa is a first-year MEd (Master of Education) Student at Thompson Rivers University. She is a first-generation South Sudanese Canadian, and her roots are from the Madi people of South Sudan. Her research interests include research about South Sudan and intergenerational trauma among South Sudanese people now living in Canada. She is also interested in revitalization, language, migration, intergenerational trauma, Indigenous ways of learning, and knowledge and much more. In her free time, she likes riding her bike, watching movies, fashion design, and arts and crafts.
Linda Kehoe
Linda Kehoe is an avid Geocacher (with over 12,000 finds and 190 hides), a cyclist, and an outdoor enthusiast.
Ernie Kroeger
Ernie Kroeger is a retired instructor from TRU. After a long career as an artist and educator, he has become an avid traveler. His interest in art history, literature and photography have inspired these travels. He was recently honoured with the designation Professor Emeritus.
Whitney Mahar
Whitney was born and raised in Kamloops, attending high school here and completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Thompson Rivers University in May 2015. She attended law school at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, obtaining her law degree in May 2019. Whitney articled with Cates Ford Soll & Epp and continues to practice there as a general practise solicitor. Her practice focuses on Wills & Estates Law, Real Estate Law, and Business Law.
Michelle McGauchie
Michelle (Machii) holds a MFA, PG Diploma and an OCAD. As a neurodivergent, Machii takes delight in having her fingers in many pies. Her background includes work as a visual artist, filmmaker, teacher a qualified psychosynthesis therapist. She is also an accredited energy healer, medical intuitive and somatic bodyworker. Although nomadic by nature, Machii has made Kamloops her home. In her years of wandering, she lived for twelve years in the Spiritual Ecovillage of Findhorn in northeast Scotland—revelling in the magic and mischief of nature.
Dave McKinnon
Dr. McKinnon holds B.Sc. (Hons.) (1960) and Ph.D. (1963) degrees in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. From 1965-2001, he was a faculty member in the Chemistry Department at the University of Manitoba. He maintained an active research program and authored or coauthored 74 refereed papers, two reviews and three book chapters, and presented papers at international conferences. He has taught courses, mainly Organic Chemistry, at all university levels and received the Stanton Teaching Award from the University of Manitoba in 1995. He has a continuing interest in scientific education and a wide range of hobbies, including travel, playing the clarinet, woodworking and genealogy.
Rod Michell
Rod has a Masters degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford University, and has had a lifelong interest in classical music. In 1970 Rod joined the newly opened Cariboo College as Chair of the English Department and taught for a further 38 years. Retiring in 2008, Rod joined KALS and has taught many multi-session courses on the classics of Western literature, including the Ancient Greek and Roman periods and the Middle Ages. The "Come to the Concert" series grew from Rod's work writing programme notes for the Kamloops Symphony concerts.
Roland Neave
Roland and his wife, Anne, are passionate community advocates who aim to preserve the natural world through philanthropy and education. Together they received honorary degrees from TRU in 2022. Roland was a Cariboo College student from 1970 to 1972 then transferred to Simon Fraser University. During the summers, he organized bus tours to Wells Gray Park, a business which grew over fifty years into the largest outbound tour company in BC.
Frank Nicholson
Frank Nicholson lives in Toronto where he earned a PhD in British history. Since retiring, he’s been very active in Canada’s later life learning movement, leading 20 peer-learning groups, one in Toronto, the other in Montreal. Frank was an early advocate of using internet videoconferencing to collaborate across provincial and international borders. For the past 6 years, he has mounted a monthly transatlantic public affairs discussion forum with participants from Canada, the UK, US and Ireland. Frank has led many classes for KALS and we are grateful for his generosity. You may watch this zoom class in the comfort of your home or in the company of others in Kamloops Sports Council
Rabeya Shikdar Orpa
Rabeya Shikdar Orpa is an early career researcher and storyteller exploring how science can help heal the land. She studies ecological restoration with a focus on using soil amendments to bring life back to post-mining landscapes. Her work reflects her curiosity about the invisible world beneath our feet with a deep respect for the resilience of native plants and ecosystems. Beyond research, Rabeya is dedicated to connecting people with nature through outreach, education, and storytelling. Rabeya is excited to take on her new role as an outreach and stewardship co-ordinator for Grassland Conservation Council of BC where she will support the organization’s mission to conserve, restore, and promote the stewardship of BC’s grassland ecosystems through collaborative outreach, education, and community engagement.
Helen Parkyn
Born in England and trained as a nurse and midwife, Helen Parkyn spent 3 years working her way around the world and could find nowhere better to live than BC. After various postings, two years of university work, and a posting with the BC Health Service, she retired from work but not from travelling Helen is one of the few people who has visited over 100 countries and still loves to travel.
Ray Pillar
Ray Pillar is a retired Thompson Rivers University administrator and Political Science instructor and former teacher assistant at University of Victoria and York University. He continues to be a political commentator and a keen follower of Canadian and international politics. Various political science topics include China and public policy. Ray has facilitated the News and Views class for 15 years; he has received KALS volunteer reward for dedicated service.
Lindsay Harris and Miles Pruden
Lindsay Harris is a community developer and researcher living in Kamloops, BC. She has a PhD from UBCO and a background in agriculture and food systems, affordable housing, community economic development, rural and small city resilience and grassroots community decision making. She is a co-owner of Tapestry Collective Co-op and the Executive Director of the Propolis Cooperative Housing Society, which aims to build affordable, sustainable housing in the Kamloops region. Miles Pruden is a construction project manager with a talent for designing and building high performance buildings at costs at or below conventional construction costs. Miles is the owner of Nexbuild Construction. Miles recently completed construction of a net-zero 4-plex on Schubert Drive, which is Kamloops’ best performing multi-family building for energy usage. He also built a childcare facility, which achieves net-zero energy and also significantly outperformed the average construction cost per childcare space in BC ($27,000 compared to $40,000).
Ginny Ratsoy
Ginny Ratsoy, TRU Professor Emerita, has been teaching for KALS since 2007. She has presented and published widely on the subject of Canadian Theatre – in scholarly articles in books and journals and in programme notes for Western Canada Theatre.
Norm Reed
I am a recently retired associate professor from TRU, where I taught chemistry for 35 years. I initially became interested in the topic of healthy eating so I could present some information to my students not only on disease treatment with drugs (my specific background is drug development chemistry), but also be able to give them some ideas about disease prevention.
Emily Rothbart
Emily Rothbart is a student in the Natural Resource Science program at Thompson Rivers University. Her passion for wildlife and the natural world led her to the BC Community Bat Program where she has embraced her role as the Thompson Region Coordinator. Although still learning, Emily is eager to share her enthusiasm for these incredible animals and to help raise awareness about the importance of bats in our ecosystems.
Sunnie Rothenburger
Sunnie has worked as a writer, editor, and university instructor. Her previous teaching for KALS has included courses on children's literature, Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, and the hand in fiction and culture. She is currently a researcher and writer for the CEO of a software company, where she muses about whether her role will one day be performed by AI.
Kyle Schlitt
Kyle Schmitt earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Alberta in 2017. After teaching Adult Basic Education for two at Camosun College, he returned to central Alberta to spend four year teaching post secondary courses at Red Deer Polytechnic. In 2022, he moved to Kamloops, where he now works as Assistant Teaching Professor at TRU. He enjoys sharing the beauty of mathematics through his teaching and outreach.
Sandi and Doug Schwab
Seniorloops is a City of Kamloops sponsored program held twice weekly, Tuesdays at Colombo Lodge from 11 to 1:30 and Thursdays at Heritage House in the Upper Lounge from 12:30 to 2:30. Delicious lunches are offered on Thursdays (soups, sometimes sandwiches, cake or cookies and beverage) for $8. The instructors for the Mahjong are Sandi and Doug Schwab.
Brenda Smith
Brenda Smith is the Open Education Librarian at Thompson Rivers University. She supports the MA in Human Rights and Social Justice program and works with the Philosophy, History, and Politics and the Environment, Culture, and Society departments. Brenda is passionate about open education, making learning resources accessible to everyone, and protection the freedom to read.
Renee Stein
Renee serves as the Executive Director of the Out of the Cold Shelter Society. With more than 33 years of experience as a Psychiatric Nurse, Renee's career has spanned a diverse range of care environments. Under her guidance, the Out of the Cold Shelter Society has grown from operating a two-day-per-week shelter to a full-time , comprehensive support facility. Notably, she spearheaded the development and construction of Kamloops' first Seniors Shelter program, underscoring the society's dedication to innovation and inclusivity in social services.
Denis Thompson
Major-General (retired) Denis Thompson served 39 years in the Canadian as an infantry officer deploying at home and abroad in Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Egypt. He was in command of NATO’s Task Force Kandahar (2008/09), Canada’s Special Operations Forces (2011-2017) and the Multinational Force & Observers in the Sinai (2014-2017). Since retirement, Denis has lectured at various Canadian universities, and he is a Senior Mentor and Instructor at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. He remains engaged in veterans’ charities including the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada and Aman Lara (resettlement of Afghan interpreters).
Bruce Thomson
Bruce is a retired instructor from TRU. He has an entrenched case of wanderlust and loves to travel both on and off the beaten path (but prefers off the beaten path). He has been fortunate in his to have life travelled to visit or to work in many countries in Asia, the Americas Europe and Africa. In the past few years, Bruce has shared his travel adventures with several KALS classes.
Nico Torchia
Nico Torchia is the Project Manager at Hummingbird Drones. Nico is a certified drone operator in both Canada and the United States, with over four years of experience heading hundreds of drone operations across Canada. His work spans from wildfire response, search and rescue, training programs and much more. He has played a key role in Canada wildfire incidents, Search and Rescue and more. Nico brings a unique blend of technical expertise and real-world experience to every mission, and today he'll be sharing how drone tecnology is transforming emergency response and wildfire management
Nancy Van Wagoner
Nancy is a professor of geology at TRU and an accomplished artist. She has led a number of KALS geology field trips and classes, and as well, she has provided a guided tour through an exhibition of her art.
Tori Verkaik
Tori Verkaik is a Registered Professional Forester and Forest Stewardship Specialist with the Ministry of Forests. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UBC and a master’s in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University, with a focus on community-driven wildfire recovery. Tori previously worked as a Restoration Forester with Skeetchestn Natural Resources, where she led post-wildfire recovery projects, including a culturally significant planting program in the Elephant Hill Fire zone and a multi-disciplinary watershed rehabilitation effort following the 2021 Sparks Lake Fire. She also co-developed the innovative Morel Mushroom Program in partnership with the Skeetchestn Indian Band. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ecological restoration, Indigenous collaboration, and innovative disaster recovery strategies.
Hari Vyas
This event is organized by the Hare Krishna community, represented by Hari Vyas. Born and raised in India, Hari completed his degree in electrical engineering. However, an inner inspiration led him to dedicate several years to a monastic life. He spent around five years leading a simple life of austerity and celibacy, traveling to preach and share the message of the Bhagavad Gita. Hari later left the temple and immigrated to Canada to pursue his master's degree. He has since worked in the banking industry as a financial advisor for over eight years, currently with Edward Jones in Kamloops. In addition, Hari serves as a Hindu chaplain at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and teaches the ancient traditions and culture of India.
Janet Whitehead
Janet is a professional life and creativity coach who has helped numerous authors worldwide get their written works completed and published. She is the author of her own published memoir, Beyond All Imaginings, and several unique memoirs created within her family. Janet was also the owner/curator of Writerly Kits- a subscription box service for writers, and she hosts weekly writing sessions wth her Damn Book Done group.
Rob Wright
Rob has worked in the social service field since 1997. During his youth, his family owned a small farm in the Fraser Valley, and generations on both sides of his family have been farmers. Those two parts of his life came together at Open Door Group's program, Gardengate. Since Rob began working at Gardengate in 2006, he has seen the program undergo huge changes – in the community development work they do, in mental health awareness, and in the construction of their new building. Rob has a passion for growing, and eating, and hopes to ensure others in our community can do the same. He was involved with the Kamloops Food Policy Council as a board member from 2015 to 2021 and remains connected to the community food action programs they currently operate. He hopes to see the next chapter at Gardengate, continue to meet dynamic people through Gardengate's programming, and see an increase in local, sustainable food production and processing.
Dora Xie
Dora is the Regional Humane Educator for Kamloops and District BC SPCA, which is under the Social Change Umbrella. Her role includes giving school presentations and community workshops in the Thompson Region, running spring and summer camps, and writing the Bark! a magazine for kids. Outside work, Dora is a volunteer for the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association. She also enjoys spending time with her two guinea pigs, Miso and Onigiri, whom she adopted during Covid.
Justin Yacoboski
Cpl. Yacobowski is a Kamloops based RCMP dog master. He has been stationed here for two years, and four year old Potter is his first full time canine partner.