John Crevistion, Administrator

John’s passion has always been for animals, plants, and nature in general. Born in New Westminster and raised in the lower mainland and on Texada Island, John grew up poking around in ponds, forests and on beaches, or in his wife Susan’s words “lifting up logs”! Early on he became known locally for taking on injured, orphaned or unwanted animals whether wild or domestic, and giving them a future. By volunteering in veterinary clinics in Powell River, BC and Grande Cache, Alberta John gained valuable experience that led him to a job as a labourer at the Calgary Zoo in 1979. Shortly afterward a career began when he was selected for the four-year zookeeper apprenticeship program at the Zoo, and during this time cared for many species of native and exotic wildlife, many highly endangered and part of international breeding and conservation programs. During this time the Zoo handled a large volume of orphaned wildlife and John raised everything from prairie hares and swift fox to beavers and orioles, and even the occasional abandoned zoo-born baby such as bats and binturongs. In 1984 John received an “Excellence in Journalism” award for his article on hand-raising shorebirds published in the American Association of Zoo Keepers journal. A highlight during this time was during the Calgary Winter Olympics when two female giant pandas were under his care. While in Calgary he was also a board member of the Calgary Humane Society (for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). In 1996 John left the Zoo to assume the position of Curator of Animals at the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre in Victoria where he designed and led the building of award-winning exhibits, until the unfortunate closure of that facility in 2004. Afterward he worked as Director of Sustainable Development for a local resort company before joining Wild Arc in 2008.

Tracy Anderson, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Tracy's first animal care experiences started at an early age as the daughter of a commercial beekeeper. Growing up on Vancouver Island, Tracy volunteered for Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society for four years before becoming the first paid summer student for the Society in 1999, performing animal care, public outreach, and volunteer recruitment. While studying at the University of Victoria, Tracy volunteered at MARS and with Wild Bird Trust of BC before completing her B.Sc. Biogeography degree. She furthered her wild animal care experience by completing the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Basic Skills and Wildlife Feeding and Nutrition courses, oil spill and bird banding training. Since starting at Wild ARC in 2003, Tracy has also been volunteering for the Canadian Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Banding Project operated by the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. Tracy has a sub-permit and bands most bird species released from Wild ARC. Tracy continues to increase her broad wildlife and natural history knowledge as an active member of the Victoria Natural History Society, and as a Board member of the Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of BC.

Lyra McLean, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Vancouver Island born-and-raised, Lyra graduated from Lambrick Park Secondary before beginning her undergraduate education at the University of Victoria. Throughout her years of high school and university, Lyra put her life-long love for animals to work at local veterinary clinics. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UVic, Lyra took some time away from her academic studies to travel the world. Returning to Victoria in 2004, Lyra relocated to Kamloops, BC to begin the two-year Animal Health Technology program at Thompson Rivers University. While in Kamloops, Lyra had the opportunity to work with animals in a variety of settings including volunteering at the Kamloops SPCA and BC Wildlife Park. During her time at the BC Wildlife Park, Lyra gained valuable wildlife experience at the park’s on-site wildlife rehabilitation centre. Through her conservation work at the park’s Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre, Lyra was also able to get involved in the effort to save the endangered owl species. In May of 2006, Lyra came to Wild ARC to complete a 3-week Animal Health Technology practicum. After graduating with top honours from the AHT program, and being awarded the prestigious Governor General’s Academic Medal, Lyra returned home to Victoria and began working as a part-time wildlife rehabilitator at Wild ARC in August 2006 and since received IWRC Basic Skills Rehabilitation Certification. In February 2007, Lyra became a full-time wildlife rehabilitator at Wild ARC.

Christina Carrieres, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Growing up in Montréal, Québec, Christina developed a strong interest for animals and medicine from a variety of experiences. She studied Health Sciences at Dawson College in Montréal and completed the Animal Health Technoligist Program at Collège de Sherbrooke. Her animal-based interests led her to take several seminars on Animal Psychology, Animal Training, Zootherapy. Christina gained valuable experience working in an Immunology laboratory for Agri-Food Canada in Lennoxville and at Le Nouveau Parc Aquarium de Québec, as a marine mammals trainer and AHT with seals, walruses and polar bears. Christina moved to BC in 2003 to begin a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She began volunteering for Wild ARC in 2005, participating in the 2005 Internship Program, and became a part-time rehabilitator in 2006 to complement her studies.

Kimberly Reid, Care Centre Coordinator/Wildlife Rehabilitator

Kimberly was born in Vancouver, BC and moved to Edmonton, AB as a young child. Although Edmonton was her home, it was her grandparents’ farm in small town Agassiz BC where her passion for animals flourished while spending summers learning to ride and care for their horses. Her love for all animals began to swell and at age eleven she was the youngest certified scuba diver in BC, awed by all the creatures of the sea. Kimberly spent four years studying at the University of Alberta in the Medical Laboratory Science program, during which she received six scholarships for academic excellence and remains an active member of the Golden Key International Honors Society. She has since completed Basic Skills training by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, and has been certified by both the University Animal Policy and Welfare Committee and the Alberta Cooperative Conservation Research Unit for care and handling of animals. Before beginning university, Kimberly began volunteering for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton and was a devoted volunteer for five years until moving to Vancouver Island in May 2006. It was this volunteer experience throughout her studies that inspired Kimberly to want to work with wildlife and use her expertise in the field of medical sciences to help injured wildlife. Kimberly began volunteering for Wild ARC in the summer 2006 and soon after joined the team of staff.

Sandrine Kennish, Casual Wildlife Rehabilitator

Sandrine was born in France and grew up as farm girl loving and learning about a varity of animals. Her passion for all creatures continued with her education, getting a degree in nursing (ranked 3rd of 2500 applicants) and working for the French Red Cross. After moving to Canada in 2000 she was drawn by her love and respect for wild animals to the Wild ARC as a volunteer, where she did her internship in 2006. Sandrine has completed her Basic Skills training by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and has joined the staff at the Wild ARC as a casual Wildlife Rehabilitator. She has a Reiki level 2 and has had many successful experiences in using it with injured animals. Her love of travel and scuba diving continues to draw Sandrine to areas she has never been.

Sara Dubois, Manager of Wildlife Services

As manager of Wild ARC from 2004-2008, Sara is now acting in a provincial wildlife role at the BC SPCA head office in Vancouver and can be reached at sdubois@spca.bc.ca.