The Oldman Watershed Council is pleased to welcome four seasonal Outreach Assistants to our team. If you see them out and about this summer, please say hello!

Randy Paquette

*Randy relaxing in a hammock near Dried Meat Lake, 2020.*

Randy was born and raised in Camrose, Alberta. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Alberta Augustana Campus and completed his Environmental Science degree this past December. Randy was fortunate to have various community service learning projects that enabled him to work extensively with the Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) on several projects. Most notably, his knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has aided in the development of the BRWA’s kayaking and canoeing outreach programs with the creation of guided route maps. In addition, as a Research Assistant for the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities under the University of Alberta, Randy was able to create dozens of maps that showcased various environment, community, and health data related to the health of the Battle River Watershed.

*Randy at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park conducting vegetation sampling of a reclaimed oil site, 2019.*

Having lived the majority of his life in the Battle River watershed, Randy is looking forward to settling into a new area of Alberta where he has always wanted to live and work. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, biking, and kayaking, and can’t wait to explore more of what the Oldman watershed has to offer. Randy is eager to get his feet wet with the Oldman Watershed Council and put his love of the environment into practice to educate residents on the importance of watersheds and stewardship activities.

*Randy taking a rest stop on the Tawayik Lake Trail in Elk Island National Park, 2021.*

Jessica Tinholt

Jessica was born in Banff and grew up exploring the mountains around Canmore and Cochrane. Much of her childhood was spent camping with her parents and younger brother, as well as rock climbing and biking. Throughout high school, she devoted the majority of her time to being outside and developed a passion for conservation and parks. Jessica also spent many summers in the backcountry on horse pack trips in the Oldman watershed.

*Jessica on the summit of the Heart Mountain Traverse, 2020.*

After graduating high school, Jessica studied ecology at the University of Victoria and took several electives in medieval history. It was during this time that she re-discovered her childhood love of fantasy and began to write her first book. She is currently working on her fourth fantasy novel and will pursue traditional publishing upon completing post-secondary.

*Jessica on Pocaterra Ridge just before a storm, 2019.*

Despite her love of Vancouver Island, Jessica feels most at home in the mountains. She returned to Alberta after two years at UVic and entered into the Natural Resource Compliance program at Lethbridge College, and earned her diploma in May 2021. She is eager to return to school in the fall and begin the third year of her Conservation Enforcement degree. Jessica plans to work as a Conservation Officer in Alberta’s mountain parks and continue her career of protecting the resource and educating its users.

*Jessica enjoying the sun at Island Lake near Fernie, BC, 2020.*

Brandon Regier

*Brandon doing some helicopter work north of Fort McMurray, 2020.*

Brandon spent the majority of his life growing up just west of Edmonton, Alberta. After high school he began his post-secondary journey in Lethbridge. He finished a diploma in Renewable Resource Management, then continued on and earned a degree in Ecosystem Management, majoring in fish and wildlife. Shortly after graduation he decided to further diversify his education and completed another diploma in Natural Resource Compliance. Throughout this journey, he has been able to gain a wide range of experience within the environmental field. Brandon found his passion in interacting with individuals regarding the environment, promoting sustainable behaviors while encouraging coexistence between people and the environment.

*Brandon at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, 2019.*

Throughout his time going to school, Brandon gained a love for Southern Alberta and everything it has to offer. During his free time, Brandon takes every opportunity possible to explore new parts of the Rockies. Over the past 10 years Brandon developed an urge to push his limits within the sport of ultrarunning; he has been fortunate enough to gain sponsorship and is looking forward to new adventures. Long distance trail running has further solidified the importance of responsible recreating and conservation of these pristine areas for future generations to enjoy! He is looking forward to spending his time communicating with and educating recreationists this summer with OWC, while sharing his appreciation for our backyard.

*Brandon on the summit of Mount Hammel running the Canadian Death Race 125 km, 2019.*

Sydney Taplin

Sydney is a familiar face to the Oldman Watershed Council. She was an Outreach Assistant in 2019 and has returned this year as the Team Lead. She was born and raised in Saskatchewan on an acreage just outside of Maple Creek. This is where she learned about her appreciation for nature and the importance of living sustainably. After graduating high school, she moved to Lethbridge, where she has lived for the past five years.

*Sydney walking her dog along the Oldman River.*

After completing her diploma in Renewable Resource Management, Sydney took a year off to travel to New Zealand and work. For three summers, she was a Park Ranger in the Cypress Hills, near Maple Creek. This spring, Sydney graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Management from Lethbridge College. In her spare time, she can be found hunting, in the boat fishing, on the golf course, or sitting around a fire.

*Sydney ice fishing last winter on Keho Lake.*

This summer, Sydney is eager to conduct backcountry surveys in the headwaters and continue to explore the watershed. She is excited to continue to learn about the watershed and the users that also call this area home.