LORI JODOIN - ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL

Growing up in Vegreville, Alberta, we would spend most summer weekends travelling up to the Lakeland to go camping. There were so many lakes and beautiful areas to explore here. We spent hours swimming in the lakes and biking for miles.

I moved to Bonnyville in 2000 after completing my Education Degree at the U of A and accepted a teaching position here. Since then, I married, and we have 2 children.  We feel very blessed to have the opportunity to raise our family in this region. We enjoy spending time in nature, camping, kayaking, and enjoying our backyard.

Best part of living in the Lakeland is almost everyday we have some sort of wildlife roam through our area. It feels like we live in the middle of a forest!  Our dog Molly loves exploring our yard. Especially when she gets to chase squirrels!

I am excited to be a part of the LICA team serving the region!

STEPHANIE SITKOWSKI - EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

My love for nature began when I was young, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to turn my passion into a career. I earned my diploma in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation from Lakeland College and have been working on my BSc in Conservation Biology at the UofA. As the Education and Outreach Coordinator for LICA, I can share my appreciation of nature with others. My motto is “conservation through education” – I believe that by teaching my community about the value of the environment, I can encourage them to love and protect it!

In my short time living in Cold Lake, I have fallen in love with the wilderness and community around me. Being able to see so much wildlife right in my own backyard makes me extremely happy – I find myself easily distracted by bird calls and wildlife signs while out exploring the LICA region.

My partner and I like to adventure. We have camped in Death Valley, climbed to the Flatiron Summit of the Superstition Mountains, and have explored the Sasquatch Caves in BC. We are often accompanied by our dog, Laci – who loves to join us hiking and canoeing. Our cat Sarge is also quite adventurous, although he prefers lazing by the campfire. When the weather is dreary, I am found at home, either gaming or cross-stitching.

I am excited to be a part of the LICA team!

KAYLA HELLUM - ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR

The Beaver River Watershed is where I call home, growing up in this area has allowed me to become very familiar with an ever-growing appreciation of what this area has to offer. I am thrilled to be able to work within the LICA region and have the opportunity to make a difference within my home community.

I began my post-secondary environmental studies at Portage College and completed my education at Lakeland College where I acquired a diploma in Conservation and Restoration Ecology, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management. I began work in the Oil & Gas Industry focusing on reclamation and remediation before assuming my role at LICA.

I love spending time outside engaging in various activities, my favorites include kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, and fishing.

LICA is doing amazing work within our community, and I am very excited to be a part of the team as the Environmental Coordinator!

MARIA CUEVA - FINANCIAL COORDINATOR

I am very exited to be part of the LICA team as part time Accounting Assistant. I have lived in the Elk Point area for the past 15 years. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa I have made the Lakeland area my home. Before that I lived in the United Kingdom and Ecuador.

Along with my husband and three boys, 2 of them in university, we enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling. With family living abroad and Canada having so much to offer I take every opportunity I can to Travel. One of the most amazing places I have traveled to is the Galapagos Islands. With unique and diverse plant and animal species it is on most traveler’s bucket list.

I love learning about new cultures, food and languages. Food plays a big part in my live so trying out new recipes and baking is of course to my family’s benefit. I spend the rest of my free time gardening, hiking, camping and planning the next adventure. I am an active volunteer and have participated in the volunteer income tax program for the past 10 years and enjoy giving back to my community and local area. I have a positive outlook on life and appreciate friends and family.

VICKY KRAWCHUK - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Lakeland Area has always been home to me. I grew up on a grain farm, where I developed a love for farming, the outdoors, and animals. I am an avid cat and dog lover, and my family consists of seven cats and two dogs. We all enjoy gardening, going for walks, and of course eating food! One of my favorite past times is taking the dogs for a walk in the creek trails and seeing all of the critters out and about. As well, I spend a lot of my time with my niece where we are flourishing her love for nature and animals as well.

I started my administrative career through post-secondary education at Lakeland College, where I specialized in Event Management, and then continued my learning at NAIT; where I majored in Finance within the Business Administration program. I have worked in a variety of fields, and I am looking forward to applying my passion for the great outdoors and agriculture to my career with LICA.

MASON UNRAU - COMMUNICATIONS AND DESIGN MANAGER

I have traveled to over 20 countries and documented it all as a professional photographer. As a result of my travels, I am mesmerized by the vast array of cultures around the world. Many locations consisted of beautiful landscapes, decadent cuisine, and wonderful expressions of humanity. However, the local ecology was often unacknowledged for the essential role it played in the health, economic, and mental well being of the people living there. Occasionally, there were locations where the locals were intimately connected to the natural medicine and food found near their communities.  After observing such contrasting realities, it has provided me with a unique perspective of how we should desire to live in rhythm with our local environment while acknowledging the equally complicated economic necessities.

Through my passion for nature photography, the outdoors, and my new found hobbies of gardening and beekeeping, I hope to continue sharing our need to work toward environmental and economic sustainability for the longevity of our region.

LILY LIN - DATA & REPORTING SPECIALIST

I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, where I completed and obtained my Environmental Science degree. I came to Canada in 2005, completed the Environmental Technology program at SAIT, Calgary, in 2008. After graduation, I started my career with an environmental services company. I spent 8 years trying to understand “air”, the air we are breathing every day. I enjoy spending the time to analyze data we collected from air monitoring stations and to tell stories based on these numbers. In 2016, my husband and I had an opportunity to make our dream come true – own a coffee shop. We bought a bakery and started running a bakery/coffee shop in downtown Calgary. It was such a challenge but interesting experience. Within a year and a half, we became good bakers, good sale people, and we made a lot of new friends. I was contracted to perform some special projects in 2017 and become a part of the LICA team as the data and reporting specialist in 2018.

I enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities in the summer and prefer hiding inside the house during the winter. However, after having two never-run-out energy huskies, I have learned to enjoy the feeling of being frozen. I am thankful for having these two girls, so I can explore the beauty of the winter in Canada.

Many thanks,

Lily

EVELINE HARTOG - ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL

My name is Eveline Hartog and I am very excited to be part of the LICA team once again!

I have lived in Bonnyville since 1987 and have seen many changes and economic fluctuations;

it always amazes me how versatile and resilient the Lakeland area is.

In addition to working in Bonnyville, I have also volunteered on various sports and community groups as well as being

one of the founding members of the Lakeland Environmental Society in the early 1990’s.

I actively enjoy the Lakeland’s fantastic lakes and rivers in the summer with family and friends,

spending the winters continuing my volunteer work, book club, and cooking amazing ethnic feasts with my equally amazing

friends.

MICHAEL BISAGA - MANAGER, ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

I grew up in Toronto and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environmental Studies in 2004.  During my studies, I was fortunate to have internships in Calgary and Cold Lake; these opportunities opened my eyes to career options and life in Western Canada upon graduation.  After 2 years of working as an Air Quality Specialist for Alberta Environment, I started with LICA in 2006 as the Airshed Program Manager.

I am enthusiastic about outdoor adventures.  I spend most of my weekends in the mountains hiking, scrambling, rock climbing, back country camping, kayaking, and snowshoeing with my Giant Schnauzer, Mezzo.  I enjoy exploring the world through international travel.   Travel gives me a sense of exploration and freedom. It allows me to immerse myself in far off places to get away from normal life, experience other cultures, try new food, and meet new people.  Both my interest in outdoor adventures and travel feed a life-long passion for photography.