Committed to the conservation, enhancement and stewardship of habitat across Newfoundland and Labrador

Pat is an Air Traffic Controller, and enjoys using his spare time to enjoy the woods and wetlands in central NL. He has been a supporter of Ducks Unlimited Canada in since 1988.  In that time, he has contributed to assisting in Bird Counts in the area and other activities.

In 2017, Pat was elected councillor with the Gander Town Council. He has volunteered to be on the SAM Executive and hopes to represent the Town of  Gander with new ideas and a  fresh approach. Pat considers it an honor to be part of the SAM community, and looks forward to learning more about what we can do to protect our wetlands and rebuild those which we have destroyed. Pat's interests include volunteering, camping, sports of all kinds, hiking and walks in the country.

Patrick Woodford was elected SAM Secretary at the 2017 SAM Fall Meeting hosted by the Town of Grand Falls - Windsor, and in 2019 he accepted the position of SAM President at the SAM Fall Meeting hosted by the Town of Gander.

Kathleen Blanchard is Founder and President of Intervale Associates, a nonprofit conservation organization in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the mission to conserve biodiversity while working to protect the integrity of rural livelihoods. Intervale takes its name from the fertile meadows of the Codroy Valley. Kathleen holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and was an Adjunct Faculty member of McGill University for several years. She has served on the boards of several conservation organizations, including Bird Studies Canada, the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the World Conservation Union’s Commission on Education and Communication. She worked for 25 years for the Quebec-Labrador Foundation and served as President of QLF Canada.

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Kathleen is a life-long advocate of stewardship, which she attributes to her colourful ancestors who were pioneering trappers, sea captains, sealers, and salmon outfitters in the Codroy Valley and coastal Labrador. As a speaker, author, and producer of documentary nature videos, she has worked to convince others of stewardship’s effectiveness for conservation. Her passion is seabirds and remote seabird islands. For two decades, she directed an award-winning seabird program along the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  She began her career transporting puffin chicks from Witless Bay, NL, and rearing them on a tiny island in the Gulf of Maine, where puffins have now re-colonized. 

Kathleen Blanchard was elected SAM Vice-President at the 2017 SAM Fall Meeting hosted by the Town of Grand Falls - Windsor.

Cynthia arrived in Stephenville Crossing in 1975, and has served on the Town Council for over 25 years.

Cynthia has 24 years experience teaching in the Western School District and received a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Science from Memorial University. Currently She teaches Adult Basic Education at Keyin College Western. Cynthia is a volunteer with the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce, Revenue Canada, the Stephenville Crossing Waste Management Committee, and she sits on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as one of the Newfoundland and Labrador representatives. She has been involved with SAM for five years and took on the role of treasurer last year.  

She enjoys walking on the local beaches with her husband observing the large number of wildlife in the area. Her favorite sighting are the friendly crows who follow along on their beach walks. 

Cynthia Downey was elected SAM Treasurer at the 2017 SAM AGM hosted by the Town of Torbay.   

Mark was born and raised in the picturesque community of Gambo, and graduated from Smallwood Academy in 1995. He moved away from Newfoundland and Labrador for a period of time working as a journeyman tradesman across Canada from coast to coast.

Mark considers himself to be one of the lucky ones to settle in his hometown and to be working for Central Health for the last 13 years. Mark married his beautiful wife, Tanya, from Gambo South, built their home and they are raising their gorgeous daughter where they want to be, Gambo. He was elected Councillor with the Town of Gambo in 2017.

Mark currently holds the position as President of the Smallwood Rollers Antique Auto Club. He enjoys participating in the events and helping various charities and individuals they support as a group. He is a liaison for Smallwood Era Development Association and a genuine prospector. Mark is also a trapper, moose hunter and salmon fisherman who has a vested interest in protecting our wetlands and wildlife for future generations to enjoy as much as he and his family does. 
 

Mark Stockley was elected SAM Secretary at the 2019 SAM Fall Meeting hosted by the Town of Gander.

Laura is a biologist, outdoor enthusiast, and active community volunteer who is thrilled to join SAM in advancing conservation in the province. She has worked in federal government, university, and non-profit positions, enjoying time in the field, lab, classroom, and boardroom. She holds a BScH and MSc in biology, and a post-graduate diploma in endangered species conservation. Having lived in nine cities, three provinces, three countries, and travelled on six continents, her motto used to be "Gather no moss", but she has recently decided she rather enjoys the mosses of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Born and raised in Montreal, Qc, Liz decided young that she was better suited to the nature's jungles than the urban ones. After getting her BSc in Wildlife Biology at McGill University, she spent a few years doing field work, studying endangered species, and living among the trees. Having decided that she missed hot showers and being on the same continent as her friends and family, she returned to school. Memorial's MA in Environmental Policy brought her to Newfoundland, but the landscapes and the people got her to stay. Based in Corner Brook, when not working she can be found exploring trails with her dog, cooking up a storm, or lost in a good book

Growing up in Corner Brook Newfoundland, Diane has developed a passion for environmental conservation and outdoor education in the province. She completed a BSc. and a MEnv.Sci. in Environmental Science at Memorial University where, during her Masters, she worked with endemic plant species on the Northern Peninsula. Since then, she has been working and volunteering for many environmental non-profit groups in the province and she spends her free time foraging for and studying local edible plants and fungi.