Speakers

Jacques is chair of the Friends of Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary. As a partner of the Greater Victoria NatureHood, he is part of a team busy revitalizing three historic Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and promoting the creation of a UNESCO Urban Biosphere Region in the CRD, which features one of the best natural environments in urban Canada. It is all about Nature in the City, the magic ingredient that makes cities better. Jacques has spent decades working for the Canadian Wildlife Service and as a guide/lecturer on small ships in the polar regions.

Jacques will tell us about the historic Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (est. 1923), including the Centennial, falcons, buffleheads and the latest restoration project.

Brian Cant is President, 4TVI, part of the 4VI Group. a social enterprise created to ensure that travel is a force for good for Vancouver Island.
Brian has worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years developing and executing communications and engagement strategies. Inspired by his  summer job guiding visitors through the underground mine at the Rossland Museum in the Kootenays, Brian has focused his career in tourism. He previously worked as Director, Communications & Engagement for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, a community-based not-for-profit that is committed to sustainable stewardship of Victoria’s working harbour. His career has also included roles with tartanbond and Destination British Columbia.

Brian is a graduate of the Gustavson School of Business MBA program and hold a BA in History and Geography and a Diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria and sits as a member of the UVic Board of Governors.

He is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and one-half of a two-dad family. Growing up less than five minutes away from the ski lifts at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, BC, Brian first put on skis by his dad at the age of 18 months and barely looked back or slowed down. He managed to share his lifelong passion for the sport by having his daughter on skis around the same time, to somewhat mixed results.
 

Maja Rusinowska, Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Western Canada

Maja Rusinowska is Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Western Canada for Recycle BC. Her role focuses on engagement opportunities with government, media, producers, and collection partners in the residential packaging and paper recycling program.  Prior to joining Recycle BC, Maja held several management positions within the BC Public Service, the most recent having been managing disaster recovery projects for the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. Maja holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria and spent many years in Toronto working for an economics consulting firm and the federal government.

Maja is pleased to present Recycle BC as a leader in packaging and paper recycling in North America, and share program highlights including the progress made with the management of plastics.

This social-based Club meeting is hosted by Honorary Member, and former Mayor of Oak Bay, Christopher Causton.

Meet us at the Penny Farthing Pub at 4: 30 PM.

https://www.pennyfarthingpub.com/

This Meeting replaces our morning meeting.

Shelagh and Julie are members of Seniors for Climate Victoria, a group of concerned citizens connected to a new, nonpartisan, national network of seniors across Canada. Both are concerned by climate breakdown and the future we are leaving for future generations.  "It is increasingly clear that we’re already in serious trouble: climate destabilization and wild weather, biodiversity loss and ecological breakdown, food and water insecurity, and social collapse. We do not deny the above problems, but our talk also focuses on the fact that we can still create a future that is safe, clean, equitable, healthy and beautiful. This is only possible if we take immediate and drastic action. Later is too late! "

Shelagh Butterworth Levey is a retired teacher, mother and grandmother. Born and raised in England, she lived in East Africa and Jamaica before settling on the Saanich Peninsula, where she and John raised their four children. Shelagh has been involved in environmental action in her career and the community. She is the recipient of two environmental awards from Saanich Municipality.

Julie Johnston is also a retired teacher and a sustainability education consultant with GreenHeart Education. She is a committed climate emergency activist and an associate with the Climate Emergency Institute based in Victoria.

Deputy Chief Constable Kevin Hackett joined the Central Saanich Police Service in February of 2021 after a 32 year career with the RCMP.  In his role as Deputy Chief, he has oversight and overall responsibility for police operations within the Service.   During his time with the RMCP, his duties were primarily focused on Major Crime and Homicide Investigations.  Deputy Chief Hackett led the Province’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) as a Team Leader, Operations officer and ultimately the Officer In Charge. He was then promoted to Chief Officer of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), BC’s “anti-gang police agency” and the largest integrated police unit in Canada.  Deputy Chief Hackett concluded his time with the RCMP as an Assistant Commissioner and the Criminal Operations Officer for Federal, Investigative Services and Organized Crime for the province of BC.  Deputy Chief Hackett is a recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s Member of the Order of Merit of Police Forces.  He lives in Victoria with his wife and youngest daughter. His adult daughters also reside in Victoria.

Topic:  CRD ICE.  (Integrated Child Exploitation)  From the Ground Up: Creating a Regional Approach to Combating Child Exploitation.  

Deputy Chief Kevin Hackett will be joined by the CRD Integrated Child Exploitation Team (ICE) Unit Team lead, Sgt. Paul Brailey. 

Darlene is the General Manager of the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria and has been employed in commercial property management for over 30 years with industry leaders such as Cadillac Fairview, Westcliff Property Management, 20Vic Management Inc., Cushman & Wakefield Asset Services ULC and on March 1, 2023 by JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Services ) where she oversees the Bay Centre.

Darlene is passionate about Greater Victoria and has overseen major organizations such as Downtown Victoria Business Association, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and is currently the Chair of Destination Greater Victoria. She is also a Board member of BOMA (Building Operators and Managers Association) and sits on the committee for the Hospital Foundation, United Way Southern Vancouver Island Campaign Chair for 2023/2024 and previously the Coalition to End Homelessness as some of her philanthropy work.