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BCnature Winter 202212My Dream Job is with BC Nature! Author – Stewart Guy, Executive Director BC NatureGrowing up in eastern Canada, I always loved being in the natural world. I began my naturalist journey canoeing wild rivers in northern Canada for Parks Canada. On a serendipitous road trip to Victoria one summer, I was awestruck by BC’s beauty and promptly transferred to be-come a student at the University of Victoria. I arrived in Victoria in 1975 in a rusted-out Dodge Dart with my kayak, skis, and canoe strapped to the roof, and all my outdoor gear to begin enjoying nature in BC. My first real park naturalist job was in 1976, work-ing in both Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks. I con-tinued to work in both biologist and naturalist summer positions through my university years. Finally, in 1979 I was offered an Assistant Chief Naturalist position in Yoho National Park. I was living my dream until 1982, when Parks Canada dismantled nature interpretation programs across Canada in favour of the visitor services centre model. Disillusioned, I made the decision to leave Parks Canada.My career journey then took me to Ecuador, where I was in the last shared by the BC Nature clubs cohort of foreign applicants taking and membership. I appreciate the Naturalist Guides Course in the Galapagos Islands. In 1985, I co-led my final Galapagos trip with clubs and the volume of nature-Peter Ballin, biology instructor at Vancouver Community College, and sponsored by the Vancouver Natural History Society (VNHS). That unforgettable trip included Dick Stace-Smith, his daughter Donna Underhill and son-in-law Brian Underhill and many other VNHS members, including Linda Byrne, who later became my life partner. My roving career settled down after that trip. I worked as summer naturalist in Cultus Lake Provincial Park in 1986. My other employment included a Science/Biology Teacher in Delta, nature educator in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Habitat Biologist with been a lifelong journey for me. the BC Ministry of Environment and numerous senior executive positions with both in the BC and Yukon governments.After retiring from the public service, I was invited to join the BC Nature Board as Director-at-Large in 2021. BC Nature asked me to step forward as the interim Executive Director, where I have since had the honour and pleasure raising capacity to support our BC to continue to work with the Board and staff, including Betty Davison, Liam Ragan, Simon Valdez, and part-time consultants working with BC Nature.As I enter my tenth month as the new BC Nature Executive Director, work closely with the people of I marvel at the storied history and the sense of family that is the depth of natural history experience within BC Nature related projects being led by our volunteers and committed members across British Columbia. the Federation network, from I am especially keen to meet our emerging youth leadership and talented young naturalists in BC Nature. Knowing and protecting British Columbia’s natural heritage has My goals and objectives with BC Nature are to continue to engage the BC Nature Board to support a dedicated administrative team who can provide improved club support for conservation activities, increased nature scholarships, naturalist education, increased partnership collaboration with foundations and like-minded ENGOs and to increase our fund-Nature members across British Columbia. Bev Ramey called us the “People of the Federation” with more than a fifty-year history. It is an honour and privilege for me to the Federation of BC Naturalists who shine through as the most important strength of BC Nature and its clubs. Our countless volunteers are the heart and life blood of our organization!I pledge to BC Nature to support and facilitate communication in individual members, to clubs, to regions, to the Federation executive. Ω