Summer Interns
Summer Interns Arrive: Welcome Samantha Pedersen, Sylvia O’Brien, Tara Warkentin and Hailey Campbell.
The Raincoast Education Society has a rich past. We have been in operation since 2000 and throughout this time we have engaged with our community in many diverse ways – we have had many extraordinary ideas, discussions, and people come in and out of our organization. Each program, project, and person has been an important part of our story.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed along the way!
2020
2020
Raincoast Field School @ home
The RES launches an online video series to reach our Raincoast Field School students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Watch the video lessons online.
2020
2020
Staff
Amy Benskin steps in as the new Ucluelet Field School Coordinator
2019
Staff
Ariane Batic passes the torch on to Taylor Sidak as the new Tofino Field School Coordinator
2019
2019
Staff
Stefania Gorgopa joins the team as our Communications Director!
2018
Staff
Shanti Davis becomes Director of Operations for the RES
2018
2018
Ucluelet Field School
Ucluelet Field School becomes a year-round program in the Ucluelet Elementary School. Read more about the Raincoast Field School here!
2018
Staff
Carrie Harbidge becomes the full-time Ucluelet Field School Coordinator.
2018
2018
Summer Interns
Ava Law, Brittany Olson, & Christine Spice
2017
Staff
Mark Maftei takes the reins from Dan Harrison as Executive Director of the RES.
Mark and Dan
2017
2017
Summer Interns
Nora Boileau Morrison, Garrett Holt, Brittany Olsen, & Claire O’Brien
RES Team Summer 2017 (Claire, Ariane, Aisha, Dan, Brittany, Garrett, Nora)
2016
Staff
Aisha Balint takes over the Program and Communications position from Luke.
2016
2016
Summer Interns
Nora Boileau Morrison, Emily Percival-Paterson, & Meagan Long
2015
Staff
Ariane Batic starts as full-time Field School Coordinator, Brady leaves the RES
2015
2015
Summer Interns
Aisha Balint & Kaylyn Kwasnecha
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- Aisha
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- Kaylyn
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2015
Board Members
Marnie Helliwell, Colin Zacharias, Melanie Morris, Sarah Timberlake, Jen Pukonen, Vera Webb (not in photo)
2015
2015
Major Event
Raincoast Field School begins programming in the Wickaninnish Community School (Tofino) year-round. Read more about the background and history of this program!
2014
Summer Interns
Angus MacKinnon & Ariane Batic
2014
2014
Staff
Brady Clarke takes over from Kim as Education Coordinator.
2014
Major Event
Our first Raincoast Institute courses run in July (Seaweeds) and October (Mushrooms). Learn more about the courses we offer!
2014
2014
Staff
Luke Stime joins the team as Program Development and Communications Officer.
2013
Summer Interns
Angus MacKinnon & Ariane Batic
2013
2013
Major Event
Former E.D. Josie Osborne becomes mayor of Tofino! We are so proud and excited to have her serve our community.
2012
Summer Interns
Emily Grubb & Milen Kootnikoff
2012
2012
Board Members
Jen Pukonen, Sarah Timberlake, Marnie Helliwell, Melanie Morris, and Albert Sheppard)
RES Board 2012
2011
Staff
Dan Harrison takes over from Josie Osborne as Executive Director of the RES.
2011
2011
Summer Interns
Laura Timmermans & Ava Hansen
2010
Staff
Robin leaves RES (June), Kimberly Johnston begins working full time in the fall adding school programs to her work.
Kim
2010
2010
Summer Interns
Estella Charleson & Ava Hansen
2010
Staff
Robin Tagles begins as full-time education and outreach co-ordinator
2010
2009
Staff
Ava leaves RES (August); Lisa leaves RES (October); Kim Johnston hired to coordinate Sustainable Living Program.
2009
Summer Interns
Kim Johnston & Amanda Munsell
2009
2009
Board Members
Marnie Helliwell joins the Board
2009
Staff
Jen Pukonen begins one year maternity leave; Lisa Fletcher shifts from educator to mudflat coordinator, Ava Barany joins as half-time educator
2009
2008
Summer Interns
Devon Warawa & Amanda Munsell
2008
Board Members
Brenda Kuecks leaves the Board; Tanya Dowdall joins the Board
2008
2007
Major Event
The RES moves to a new home at the Clayoquot Field Station at the Tofino Botanical Gardens. Read the Press Release here!
2007
Staff
Josie Osborne leaves the Board and starts as Executive Director of the RES
2007
2007
Summer Interns
Colin Rombough, Lily Mclean & Dan Harrison
2007
Board Members
Meg Stewart leaves the Board, Melanie Morris joins
2007
2006
Summer Interns
Brad Lindey & Dan Harrison
2006
Major Event
First Shorebird Brunch (runs for three years from 2006-2008)
2006
2006
Staff
Lisa Fletcher joins the team as an Educator (Marcia leaves)
2005
Major Event
First Fall Fiesta – this fundraiser event ran for four years
2005
2005
Summer Interns
Melanie Knight & Dan Harrison
2005
Staff
Marcia Moncur joins the team as an Educator, Jen Pukonen begins M.Sc. program as first RES partnership with researcher. Read Jen’s M.Sc. thesis on “Revitalizing Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Root Gardens” here.
2005
2005
Board Members
Karen Charleson, Darcy Dobell and Adrienne Mason leave the Board, Silva Johansson & Caron Olive join
2004
Summer Interns
Erica Dolsen & Claire Jutras
2004
2004
Board Members
Laura Loucks leaves the Board, Josie Osborne joins
2003
Summer Interns
Tsimka Martin & Liz Boychuk
2003
2003
Board Members
Norma Dryden leaves the Board, Brenda Kuecks joins
2002
Summer Interns
Terry Seitcher & Pamela Fry
2002
2002
Major Event
Registered as a Charitable Organization in Canada.
2002
Staff
Jen Pukonen takes over from Michael as Program Coordinator
2002
2002
Board Members
Barb Beasley, Laura Loucks & Kathryn Cook join the Board
2000
Major Event
The Tofino Lantern Festival is born! An event that started with a few lanterns has evolved into a full-on celebration featuring local musicians, artists and a permanent collection of prize lanterns.
2000
2000
Major Event
The doors of the Raincoast Interpretive Centre (RIC) stay open with the RES determined to keep its educational programs alive. Read about the history of RIC here.
2000
Staff
Michael Tilitzky – first employee of the RES as Program Coordinator
2000
2000
Board Members
Barbara Schramm, Darcy Dobell, Adrienne Mason, Norma Dryden, Karen Charleson, Kathleen Shaw, Meg Stewart
2000
Major Event
The Raincoast Education Society was incorporated and legally registered as a non-profit society under the BC Societies Act.
2000
2020
Staff Changes
We have had some changes this year. Shanti Davis leaves the RES for new career explorations, Taylor Sidak moves into Program Director. Stefania Gorgopa moves to Victoria for new career opportunites and Sarah Timberlake becomes Communication Director.
2020
Milestone Title
It is with saddened hearts that the decision to discontinue the Tofino Lantern Festival Event was made. The Tofino Lantern Festival has been the Raincoast Education Society’s signature community event and fundraiser, drawing the young and old with an unbelievable variety of handmade lanterns. The decision was not made easily & some factors included storage, wear & tear and the increasing reality of fire-bans in the months the lantern could be held. We did have a bit of a celebratory lantern give away, with many of the lanterns
returning to their makers 20 years later!2020
