Local from the start

Since 1998, we have been working to protect and enhance nature in the Fraser Valley for future generations.

Initially, we were created as the Abbotsford Land Trust. We have since expanded to become the only locally-based land trust to conserve habitat and protect wildlife across the Fraser Valley.

Our Guiding Principles

We are a small group of highly dedicated people who come together around these shared values.

Land

We respectfully acknowledge we work on the territory of the Stó:lō peoples in the Fraser Valley. We value what the natural world provides – the air, the water, the fields, and the forests of the Fraser Valley.

Community

We recognize the people who stewarded the land before us and continue to work alongside us to care for this valley. We value the beliefs and opinions in our community and the diversity of how we all connect with nature.

Integrity

We incorporate sound science, local ecological knowledge, and the experiences of those who live and work on the land into our work. This is done in a respectful, collaborative, and permitted approach.

Collaboration

We strive to build partnerships with all organizations interested in the protection or stewardship of the Fraser Valley.

Responsibility

We believe every member of our community has a shared responsibility to steward the land.

Future

We ensure our properties are protected in perpetuity. We undertake our programs with commitment to their long-term success.

Get to Know Us

Meet the people behind the programs! Our staff and board members come from many different backgrounds. Each contributes something special to our team.

Staff Board of Directors Contractors

Joanne Neilson

Executive Director

Joanne Neilson

Executive Director

Growing up in beautiful BC, Joanne has been passionate about environmental stewardship her entire life.  She joined the FVC as the Executive Director in 2013. In this role she brings over two decades of experience in the not-for-profit sector administration as well as field work on a wide range of conservation initiatives throughout the province. She guides the daily management of our organization, drawing on her knowledge of the local ecosystems and strong conservation ethic. She also oversees the acquisition and management of our conservation properties, builds partnerships with other like-minded organizations, and develops projects that contribute to our mandate. She loves that every day, through her work, she can promote and put into practice stewardship solutions that to make a difference for our special valley home.

 

 

Spencer Peters

Conservation Technician

Spencer Peters

Conservation Technician

Spencer is an avid enjoyer of the natural world, with a passion for all things Herpetology related. He has spent much time in BC and other locations searching for and photographing reptiles and amphibians. As a 2020 graduate of UBC in the Natural Resources Conservation program, he has worked in a variety of locations all over the province. His previous work experience includes all manner of things from tracking rattlesnakes to helping to manage invasive Yellow Flag Iris and verifying commercial fish catch. These experiences have helped Spencer to get a better understanding of the issues in BC. He hopes to apply this knowledge to the projects he works on as a Conservation Technician here at the FVC. 

Emma Bryce

President

Emma Bryce

President

Emma is passionate about bridging the gap between agricultural production and environmental stewardship. Her professional and academic experiences are grounded in sustainable agriculture and ecological practices. Her work focuses on developing community-based sustainable food systems that empower communities, support local farmers, and enhance food security. Emma is the Food-Self Sufficiency Lead for Kanaka Bar Indian Band, and is an agri-ecological consultant working with growers and communities to identify systems and tools to enhance the ecological value and biodiversity of their operations. She believes that sustainable practices not only improve the health of the land but also foster resilient communities.

Marissa Heppner

Vice President

Marissa Heppner

Vice President

Marissa is a Registered Professional Fisheries Biologist working in the environmental consulting industry. Growing up with Vedder Mountain and Vedder River in her backyard, Marissa’s lifelong passion for nature was cultivated at an early age. Motivated by a desire to give back to the community and the natural world, Marissa contributes both professional expertise and personal interest as a FVC volunteer board member. Residing on a small property near Lindell Beach, Marissa remains deeply connected to the preservation of natural beauty and biodiversity of the Fraser Valley for future generations and aims to continue growing this connection to support the Conservancy’s missions.

Harley Gordon

Treasurer

Harley Gordon

Treasurer

Harley, a professor of plant biology at the University of the Fraser Valley, holds a PhD in Forest Biology and an MSc in Agriculture. With a long-standing dedication to environmental advocacy, conservation, and biology, Harley brings both expertise and fervor to the Fraser Valley Conservancy. His research delves into the microscopic world, exploring how plants and fungi utilize various molecules to adapt to their environments. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he can often be found hiking, climbing, hunting, or skiing in the Coast Mountains.

Jillian Stewart

Secretary

Jillian Stewart

Secretary

Jillian works as the Team Lead of Natural Resources & Referrals and Registered Professional Biologist with the Seabird Island Band in Agassiz. She completed her diploma and undergraduate degree at BCIT and has worked in government, private sector, and NGO’s completing tasks in fisheries monitoring, habitat restoration, environmental monitoring, fish and wildlife salvages, and biological sampling. She enjoys camping, boating, swimming, volunteering, and wildlife photography. She grew up recreating in the Fraser Valley and is happy to call this area home now and contribute her efforts to the FVC as a Board & Habitat Protection Committee Member.

John Vissers

John Vissers

John has been a resident of Abbotsford for over 30 years, and is well-known throughout the valley for his tireless dedication to protecting the environment. In addition to serving on the FVC board for the past 10 years, he is the past chair of the Abbotsford Environmental Advisory Committee and currently serves on the Abbotsford Development Advisory Committee. His commitment to the environment has earned him the Order of Abbotsford, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, as well as the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship. He lives on a rural property on Sumas Mountain where he appreciates the natural values of his surroundings.

Stephen Head

Stephen Head

Check back soon for more info on Stephen!

Tim Neufeld

Tim Neufeld

Tim is a retired-ish Parks professional who has made Abbotsford his home for over 3 decades. He holds a BSc in Biology with concentrations in molecular genetics and photosynthetic mechanisms. Tim has a life-long curiosity and concern for the health of our planet and the array of plants and critters we share it with. His working life has been dedicated to reconnecting people with the outdoors and raising awareness about our natural environment. He concluded his career as the manager of Park Planning, Research, Design and Development for the City of Surrey. Tim can now be found playing outside in his garden, exploring trails and nature, and consulting on public park projects from time to time.

Andrea Long

Andrea Long

Check back soon for more info on our newest board member!

Tamsin Baker

Stewardship Coordinator

Tamsin Baker

Stewardship Coordinator

Tamsin Baker, MSc, is a nature stewardship specialist with over 20 years of land conservation experience in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Her work with the Fraser Valley Conservancy involves stewardship and outreach program coordination, focusing on the Nature Stewards and Nature Stewardship School programs. She also provides support for the FVC’s land conservation, species at risk recovery, and partnership building activities. As a long-time Lower Mainland resident, she can usually be found enjoying one of the many parks in the region on the weekends.

Sofi Hindmarch

Project Biologist

Sofi Hindmarch

Project Biologist

Sofi is a wildlife biologist who has been studying species at risk in the Fraser Valley for over 10 years. She completed her Master’s degree at Simon Fraser University in 2010 where she studied the impact of changes in land use on Barn Owls, a threatened species in BC. Since then, she has continued her research on the species and focuses on conservation issues affecting Barn Owls such as the loss of habitat and nest sites, road mortality, and the risk of secondary poisoning from rat poisons. Sofi has a passion for outreach work and understands how important it is to create awareness and facilitate habitat stewardship for vulnerable species in the valley. She has worked with the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, UBC, SFU, Environment Canada, and the Fraser Basin Council. She presents regularly to naturalist groups and municipalities in the region. Sofi joined the FVC team in July of 2016 and has been sharing her extensive bird knowledge with us ever since.

Olga Grunlund

Program Coordinator

Olga Grunlund

Program Coordinator

Olga is a species at risk environmental professional with a passion for local amphibians such as the Oregon Spotted Frog. Since graduating from UBC in 2013, with a bachelor’s degree in the Environment and Sustainability Program, she has gained extensive experience in environmental monitoring, fish and amphibian identification and salvaging, species at risk assessment and management, as well as aquatic and terrestrial assessments through her work in the consulting field.

In 2022, Olga became an independent contractor where her latest species and ecosystems at risk adventures include Coastal Giant Salamander, Mountain Beaver, Phantom Orchid, Tall Bugbane, and the Coastal Sand Ecosystem.

Olga joined the FVC team in early 2025 to assist with the Oregon Spotted Frog project, Ryder Lake Community Program, Phantom Orchid stewardship and other FVC projects, while Jenn is away on maternity leave.

Get Involved

We are always looking to connect with enthusiastic people passionate about conservation. We have volunteer positions ranging from office-based and fundraising tasks, to getting your hands dirty out in the field. How you help protect our valley is up to you!

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Join

There are many ways to get involved in our work. It takes all of us working together to truly make a difference.
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Your gift today will help us continue to protect the natural beauty of the Fraser Valley. Learn how you can support our work.
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