Our Team

Warren Warttig

PRESIDENT

Warren joined the MARS Board of Directors and began volunteering as a wildlife caregiver in 2002, shortly after attending a MARS open house. By 2003 he became president of the board and he hasn't looked back since.

When he was in his teens, Warren started working in construction and forestry. Warren is a Registered Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology. He has a BSc in Biology and a Diploma in Forest Resources Management.

In 1999, Warren was presented the award for excellence in Coastal Forest Ecosystem Restoration, and in 2002 he accepted the BC Ministers Award for a society he helped found and manage based in Ucluelet. In 2011, he was granted the Bill Young Award for Excellence in Integrated Forest Resource Management, and in 2020, the Campbell River Mirror Animal Ambassador Local Hero Award.

Warren is also chair of the construction and maintenance committee for MARS and helps plan all sorts of projects from wetland restoration, to flight pens and mews.

Pearl McKenzie

VICE-PRESIDENT

After starting a community legal information and advocacy office in the early 1980s in North Vancouver, most of Pearl's work life was dedicated to law reform activities to protect the rights of people. After a Snowy

Owl led Pearl to MARS, she joined the board of directors in January 2006. Growing up in a rural area, like most kids of her time, Pearl spent every possible moment outside. Just beyond the door was this fascinating and vibrant world of plants and forests filled with the sound of bird calls and insects buzzing, leaving her with a lifelong feeling of connectedness to nature and a need for wildness.

Pearl enjoys collaborating with the other volunteers in the MARS Visitor Centre to create similar "wild" adventures for today's children and working at any task that keeps MARS running smoothly.

Nicole Booth

TREASURER

Nicole joined MARS and began volunteering as a wildlife caregiver in 2018, shortly after attending a MARS open house. She quickly became enthralled with the wildlife the hospital dealt with and the variety

of new skills she learned as a caregiver, going on to obtain her Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certificate and pursuing further continuing education in the field. She joined the Board of Directors in 2023 and became Treasurer in 2024, continuing to be a Mentor and Rehabilitation Assistant in the wildlife hospital.

Nicole has worked in the property and casualty insurance industry since 1998, but has always had a passion for animals. She is deeply involved with dog training, in both obedience and agility, and volunteers time as a trainer for a local agility club. Her interest in training aligns her with the education side of MARS as well and she is a member of the Ambassador Bird Committee.

Therisa Lowe

SECRETARY

Therisa's first experience with MARS was many years ago when she was directed to the hospital by a friend for help with some ducklings that were unexpectedly in her care due to a reckless driver.

Relieved that there was a refuge for these ducklings in need, and impressed with the kindness and skills of the volunteers, Therisa knew that one day she wanted to be able to give back to MARS. Being an avid proponent of animal rights and wildlife conservation, Therisa has always been passionate about nature and wildlife. With 20 years of combined volunteer management experience and as a previous board member for multiple non-profit organizations, Therisa is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve with the MARS Board of Directors since 2019.

Darlene Banerd

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Darlene has been with MARS since the spring of 2016. She is a retired registered nurse, currently volunteering as a wildlife caregiver at the MARS Wildlife Hospital.

Having been raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, it was instilled in her to respect and appreciate all living creatures (except grasshoppers!). Darlene feels that being part of the team at MARS has been most rewarding and in 2019 she joined the board of directors. Her role with the board is to represent the wildlife caregivers.

Linda Hawk

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Linda was raised on a farm and has always loved to spend time outdoors with the dogs and cats. After a career in the public service as a busy and stressed out executive, she and her partner came to the Comox Valley

to retire and enjoy doing things they never had enough time for. For Linda, this included finding a way to help animals – something she has been looking to do since a young age. When she saw an Ambassador bird at one of the local events, she knew MARS might be a good fit. Linda has been a volunteer wildlife caregiver since January 2022 and also did some guiding with the Visitor Centre over the spring and summer. She joined the board of directors in October 2022. While the baby racoons have become her favourite wild furry critters, she is in awe of the raptors. With a name like "Hawk", you kind of have to be!

Lynda Hodgkinson

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Lynda has been an animal lover and rescuer as long as she can remember. She has been involved with MARS since 2000, when she was trained as a wildlife caregiver by MARS founder,

Maj Birch. Since becoming both a member and a volunteer, she has learned much about wildlife and their habitat, how humans impact both, and what we can do to lessen the damage we cause. As a member of the board of directors, Lynda has all aspects of MARS at heart, and as chair of the special events committee, she works with other committee members to find ways to raise the funds to carry on the day-to-day operation of our wildlife hospital. She is also administrator of the MARS Facebook page, where she does a fantastic job updating our followers and supporters on both patients and events at MARS!

Ginny Simpson

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Ginny has been volunteering with MARS since 2019, and a member of the board of directors since 2020.

Having grown up in a large family, Ginny was often kicked outside to play along with her siblings

and told not to come back until dinner was ready. Along the way she developed a love of the outdoors and all the beauty it held. It also helped that every orphaned or injured animal, whether domesticated or wild, would gravitate to her front door step, where her mom would care for them. Once retired and back on the West Coast, becoming a MARS volunteer seemed like a natural fit. She can be found at MARS, guiding, providing virtual tours, or gathering information for the weekly Life on MARS hospital updates. Presently she is spending a lot of quality time with the albino crows, helping to prepare and train them to become ambassadors for MARS

John Turner

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

John is a marine engineer by trade, and has a very interesting history, including working as a fisheries conservation officer and with the Coast Guard. After his retirement in 2007,

his love of wild animals spurred him to begin volunteering as a wildlife caregiver, where he started out helping MARS founder Maj Birch care for the birds. Maj saw that John was adept at troubleshooting and fixing various household problems, so his focus quickly became repair and maintenance of the enclosures and wildlife hospital. In 2009, John joined the board of directors, and when MARS moved to its new location in Merville in 2017, he took on the role of property caretaker, overseeing the security and maintenance of our property. On top of these duties, John continues to help out with construction projects, transports, and fundraising events, such as our annual MARS Open House and garage sales.

David Volkert

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Retired from a 44-year career as an international exploration geologist, David became involved in MARS when he brought an injured fawn to the wildlife hospital. After attending the 2019 AGM,

David was hooked and immediately volunteered as a wildlife caregiver, enrolled in and completed the Ambassador Handling Program, worked with the trail maintenance and on-site construction groups and has now obtained his certification in Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation. David is the chair of our Ambassador Bird steering committee. David joined the MARS board in June 2021, applying his professional, board and C-suite experience, and remains immersed in caregiving and raptor handling.

Gylaine Andersen

MANAGER OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION

Gyl joined us as the manager of wildlife rehabilitation in early 2019. She oversees the rehabilitation program, including daily operations of the MARS Wildlife Hospital and the coordination and training of the rehab volunteers.

Gyl has a BSc in Animal Biology and a Diploma in Veterinary Technology. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician and is certified as a Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Gyl has a strong background in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, including eight years at the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, and brings additional skills developed while working in laboratory facilities, research, and animal hospitals in the Lower Mainland.

While Gyl adores all animals, she has a special place in her heart for the smaller creatures, such as songbirds and bats.

Megan Erickson

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL TEAM LEADER

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Megan always knew she wanted to work with animals. After graduating the University of Saskatchewan with a biology degree and a specialization in anatomy and conservation, she spent a number years doing internships at multiple wildlife rehabilitation centres in North and Central

America, including Belize, Texas, and Toronto. She has worked with a number of local and exotic species, a favourite of which is howler monkeys. After interning for 6 months at Toronto Wildlife Centre, she was hired on full time, where she spent the next 5 years, working up to senior supervisor. At the end of 2022, she decided she was sick of the craziness of Toronto, and moved with her cat, Shadow, to Vancouver Island to be closer to her family. Megan is an avid birder, and often is outside trying to spot any kind of wildlife she can.

Melissa Steinkey

WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR

Melissa joined MARS as staff in 2022, but previously was welcomed early in 2021 to intern. She then soon returned for a summer assistant position.

Born and raised in Medicine Hat, AB, Melissa's most enjoyable memories came from the scenic Cypress

Hill's where a fascination in forest ecology developed. Her main interests in biology and psychology led her to a bachelor's degree from the University of Lethbridge where she focused in ecology and animal behaviour. While research was the forefront of her job search, Melissa found herself working in public education along with various animal work. In addition to rehabilitation in Alberta, she has been involved with sanctuary wolfdog care, aquatic invasive species inspections, and northern goshawk surveys.

As a Biologist in Training, Melissa is also excited about fieldwork, including ecological monitoring and restoration. She is passionate about native species and our ability to cultivate suitable homes for the wildlife around us. Melissa is aspiring to become a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator and working towards this goal. While she is fascinated by all species and their behaviours, her heart melts for sea and shorebirds, waterfowl, mustelids, canids, and owls.

Allison Morrison

VISITOR CENTRE MANAGER

Allison has been active in the non-profit sector since moving to Courtenay in 2012. She has worked in coordination/ support roles at Community Justice, Habitat for Humanity and now MARS Wildlife Rescue. She has a BA (Hon) from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Certificate in Innovation Management from MIT.

Before retiring, Allison acted as a board member for sustainability and technology-based groups in both academia and industry such as: The World Bank; BCIT's Industry Advisory Committee; Canada's Ecofiscal Commission; and both the Wildlife Rescue Association; and MARS Wildlife Rescue. Now semi-retired, Allison lives in Union Bay with her dogs, goldfish, and a tortoise.

Laurie Ulm

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Laurie started volunteering with MARS as a wildlife caregiver in 2005. She has taken many courses related to wildlife rehabilitation and avian biology from Cornell University, the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. She has even helped out with special events, fundraising, and volunteer coordination.

In 2016, Laurie became a staff member in the role of office administrator and volunteer coordinator for special events, which she continues to this day. She has a great love of all things furry and feathered. Laurie runs a home-based boarding business for parrots, Too Crazy Birdy Hotel, and she fosters and rehomes parrots of all kinds!

Aaron Schmidt

VOLUNTEER & EDUCATION COORDINATOR

A long-time resident of the Comox Valley, Aaron grew up with a great appreciation of the outdoors and everything in it. He is currently enrolled at North Island College in biology after a few years out of academia. Aaron is hoping to complete a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) program at UBC in the near future.

While technically the volunteer and education coordinator in the Visitor Centre, Aaron is never one to sit still. He has his hand in whatever he can do at MARS, from helping in the hospital to coordinating our refundables, and from working with Ambassador Birds to assisting with construction.

You'll recognize Aaron by his infectious laugh and charming smile. He is MARS' goodwill ambassador!