Current Events

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Laura (she/her) has been on the SCTWS executive council for 6 years and has organized and led various events over the years, including songbird banding at Last Mountain Bird Observatory, saw-whet owl banding, and Snake School in Medicine Hat with Snakes on a Plain.

Laura is a wildlife biologist and has been a permit officer with the Canadian Wildlife Service for the last two years. She has a BSc. in Biology with concentrations in Environment and Ecology and a diploma in Integrated Resource Management from Sask Polytechnic.

She is a birder and loves dogs, camping, fishing, travel, and wildlife photography.

Mercy (she/her) is a wildlife technician with Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she assists with projects focusing on waterbirds and swallows.

Mercy completed her Master's degree at the University of Saskatchewan, where she researched barn and tree swallows.

She previously served on the SCTWS executive council as a member at large and looks forward to continuing with SCTWS in this new role.

Erin (she/her) received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at the University of Calgary and her MSc. at the University of Regina, where she used bioacoustics to study bat migration patterns across southern Saskatchewan.

Erin has extensive experience in environmental consulting and is currently working as the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (SKCDC) Zoologist at the SK Ministry of Environment. 

Erin previously served on SCTWS's executive council as a member at large, the vice president, and is now looking to lend her skills to the 2025 executive as treasurer.

Kayla (she/her) is a terrestrial biologist from Saskatchewan with experience across central and western Canada. She has worked as a consultant for non-profit organizations and the SK Ministry of Environment. She is an avid naturalist who enjoys land stewardship, conservation, and engagement. 

She is happy to be able to contribute to conservation and wildlife initiatives within her home province. 

In her spare time, you will find her outside in the garden, reading, walking her dog, hiking, birding, identifying plants, canoeing, fishing, and spending time with family. She also enjoys playing music and creating artwork with her husband.

As an avian biologist and environmental monitor with CanNorth, Alyssa (she/her) has worked with wildlife in various settings, including non-profit and industry/consulting.

Alyssa holds a BSc. in Environmental Biology, a Certificate in Sustainability of Natural Resources, and a Certificate in Biological Research from the University of Saskatchewan.

As a two-time returning nominee for the comms. coordinator role, she hopes to continue growing and expanding her small but mighty list of initiatives to tackle in 2025, including expanding SCTWS' reach and connections.

 Levi is a second-year Master's student studying the fate of plastic additives in bird species. She spends her free time in the field or entertaining herself with various hobbies (some of which involve being in the field) like crafts, musical endeavors, learning new languages, and looking into new research papers. 

She has been helping the SCTWS for a year now and is excited to continue aiding in Chapter activities. Levi hopes to continue in her position with the SCTWS as a student rep for the University of Saskatchewan presenting a student-centered perspective and connecting the Chapter with amazing student researchers and passionate undergrads. 

Michelle has worked in NGOs, environmental consulting, and government and has previously volunteered with the SCTWS. Since 2020, Michelle has worked for the Water Security Agency as a Senior Aquatic Habitat and Population Ecologist. She specializes in fisheries and water management, ensuring compliance with the provincial and federal fishing act for the Agency’s infrastructure maintenance and operations. She also researches species-at-risk fish relating to water management and best management practices. 

Michelle was a great asset to SCTWS, serving as past member-at-large and president. Michelle is keen on joining the executive again and helping to continue the momentum with professional outreach, educational workshop opportunities, and fun events to connect professionals. 

Katelyn (she/her) received her BSc. in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the University of Guelph. She then completed her MSc. in Biology at the University of Saskatchewan, studying contaminants in arctic-breeding shorebirds.

She has experience in the public, private, and NGO sectors and has been the Senior Avian Ecologist with the Water Security Agency since 2022. There, she manages the largest single-site population of Piping Plovers in Canada. 

In her spare time, you can find her making stained glass artwork, or outside birding, camping and dabbling in wildlife photography. She's never met a bird she didn't like.

Jim Bahr is a current wildlife instructor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He advises and counsels students, develops a wildlife-based curriculum, and delivers lectures. He has also been a key instructor delivering field camps and field exercises in Wildlife Ecology. 

Jim has also worked previously as an environmental consultant with Axys Environmental and Merkel and Associates. Jim has vast experience conducting fieldwork for wildlife in the USA. 

Jim has been involved in the past two years, helping to organize various SCTWS conferences and workshops.

Shayla (she/her) has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina, where she majored in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Environmental Biology and minored in Geography. 

She currently works as a wildlife biologist for a consulting company and has previously worked as a species-at-risk technician for Canadian Wildlife Services. 

Her interests include anything outdoors from birding, hiking, kayaking, skiing, biking, boating, and all things outdoors! She is also passionate about photography.