THE TEAM
SIFCo Management Team
SIFCo Board Of Directors
MANAGEMENT TEAM
STEPHAN MARTINEAU
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Stephan is the Manager and a founding Director of SIFCo, and was President from 2006 to 2011.
Stephan also works as an integral consultant and project manager for societies, coops, businesses, co-housing projects and communities, as they develop vision, inter- and intrapersonal discernment skills and practices, and seek to implement these in ways that are effective and resilient to change.
He has worked in community development and ecosystem-based planning since 1993. Stephan's lifelong passion and pursuit is to move beyond ideas, discussions and theorizing to actually doing and being the changes we wish to see in the world.
For the past 20 years he has designed and led numerous transformative educational events internationally, specifically for ecologists, community builders, educators and parents.
He is also founder and director of an international organization that works in the field of human consciousness evolution, specifically applying an Integral framework to environmental work, education, parenting and mediation. He is married and father to a wonderful daughter.
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Stephan can be reached at stephan (at) sifco (dot) ca
SIFCo Manager & EACT Representative
TOM BRADLEY
SIFCo Forestry Supervisor
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Tom is SIFCo’s Forestry Supervisor. He is a Registered Forest Technologist and has lived in the Slocan Valley since 1976.
His career has had him traversing probably thousands of kilometers across local hillsides in 38 years, with diversions to many parts of Canada.
Tom still manages a small GIS consulting firm. Tom has been riding the tech wave from planimeter and omnichrome, to ArcMap, Avenza, and drones all his working life.
Tom is also a Woodlot Licensee and the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations e-Business contractor.
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Tom can be reached at tom (at) sifco (dot) ca
LISA FARR
SIFCo President
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Lisa Farr, President of SIFCo, moved to the Slocan Valley almost 50 years ago, and has been a director of the Elliot-Anderson-Christian-Trozzo Watersheds Association since 2002.
She was Coordinator of the Vallican Whole School for almost a decade, and has worked for a number of local non-profits, in paid positions and as a volunteer.
She is an avid gardener, though most of her weeding now occurs from the comfort of a sturdy stool. She considers herself fortunate that her daughters, and her 5 grandchildren, all live locally.
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Lisa can be reached at
CRYSTAL HETRICK
SIFCo Administrative Coordinator
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Crystal is SIFCo’s Administrative coordinator. She was born and raised in British Columbia, and moved to the Slocan Valley in 2002.
Crystal is rooted in the province’s forests both personally and professionally. She has built a career deeply connected to the forestry sector.
Crystal spent seven years tree planting across rugged terrain, followed by three years conducting forestry surveys that sharpened her knowledge of silviculture and ecosystem management.
For over a decade she worked as a project manager, leading crews of up to 60 people in forestry-related operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and quality in the field.
With a background in Business Management and Accounting, she also held leadership roles as a service manager and administrator, bringing strong organizational and operational skills to forestry-based teams and projects. Her experience bridges fieldwork and management, making her well-rounded in the industry.
RACHAEL BONE
SIFCo GIS Tech & Marketing Assistant
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​Rachael is SIFCo's GIS Tech and Marketing Assistant
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She has lived in the Slocan Valley for since 2013 with her partner and two wonderful young children.
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Rachael is originally from London, England where she enjoyed a career as a photographer and camera assistant and operator on many television productions.
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Since moving to BC she has developed a deep love for nature especially the forest that surround us.
JESPER NIELSEN
SIFCo Registered Professional Forester
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Jesper has never accepted the conventional thought that every professional forester is destined to suffer an eventual retreat to the office.
Though older and slower than he used to be, he remains happily addicted to the woods. Jesper has worked in virtually every capacity the forest has to offer, including as a logger, treeplanter, juvenile spacer, brusher and shake blocker.
Since becoming an RPF in 1995, his professional work has focused mainly on forest fuel mitigation, forest engineering and community forestry.
His entire career has been centered in the West Kootenays. Jesper began instructing in the Forest Technology program at Selkirk College in 2012, where he teaches a variety of courses to eager young minds on the precipice of new careers.
MICHELLE GRIFFITHS
SIFCo Wildfire Resiliency Coordinator
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Michelle is the Program Coordinator for the Slocan Valley Wildfire Resiliency Program at SIFCo.
Growing up in the Slocan Valley has fostered a great love for the natural beauty of the area and the outdoors.
Michelle has an education in Environmental planning and spends much of her time in the mountains; skiing, mnt biking, hiking, and paddling the river.
She has experience in the forest industry, GIS, planning assistant for City of Nelson, outdoor and Mnt. bike guiding, and DH Mnt bike racing.
She currently lives in the Slocan Valley with her husband and daughter.
DUSTIN EAST
SIFCo Resiliency Coordinator
Dustin East brings over a decade of leadership and community development experience to his role as Resiliency Centre Coordinator. With a strong background in operations, strategic planning, and social enterprising,
Dustin has held key roles at The Sentinel retreat centre and Kaslo Community Services Society. He holds a degree in administration and is known for his vision, adaptability, and collaborative spirit. Passionate about strengthening local resilience, Dustin is committed to supporting the West Kootenays through creative, community-driven initiatives.
LESLEY MAYFIELD
SIFCo Secretary & WWC Representative
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Lesley is SIFCo's secretary/treasurer and a Winlaw Watershed Committee (WWC) representative. She has lived in the valley for over 30 years with her husband.
Lesley acquired her forestry knowledge via multiple engagements with the government as part of the watershed group. She has served on a number of boards and is still an active board member for both the Slocan Valley Arts Council and the Threads Guild.
In her spare time she enjoys creating beautiful textile wall pieces.
TOM ARMSTRONG
SIFCo Director At Large
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Tom is SIFCo's Director at large. He joined the SIFCo board in 2014, and was involved when SIFCo was forming. He has lived in the valley for 30 years.
He fell in love with our lush forests and clean lake and river as a kid, during a family camping trip from the prairies.
Tom is adept with many rural skills, and keeps things running smoothly for his extended family. He is also one of our trusted school bus drivers.
MOONBOW (JIM RUTOWSKY)
SIFCo Director & RMRA Representative
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Moonbow is an RMRA representative. He has lived in the Slocan Valley for over 50 years and was a member of the Slocan Valley Watershed Alliance for many years.
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Moonbow enjoys reading forestry literature and is on the board of the Kohan Reflection GardenSociety.
In his spare time he loves to back country ski around Enterprise Creek, Silverton Creek and the Dennis Creek basin.
TYLER ABBOTT
SIFCo Board Member & WWC Representative
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Tyler is a WWC representative. He has lived in the Slocan Valley since 2015.
Tyler works as a Wildland Fire Fighter and has previous silviculture work
experience.
He has worked mapping avalanches and as a Forecaster.
In his spare time Tyler enjoys being a father, climbing, skiing, forest stewardship,
wildlife tracking and hunting.