The Team
Brian Gustafson, M.Sc., RBTech
Wildlife Ecologist
Brian, born and raised in Golden, possesses extensive knowledge of the local wildlife ecology and landscape. He holds an MSc. in Environmental Management and has several years of experience in the forestry and environmental sectors. Brian's expertise includes ornithology, forestry, ungulate ecology, and project management.
Aita Bezzola, M.Sc., ADGIS, RPBio
GIS Specialist and Biologist
Aita is a map, plant, and people enthusiast born and raised in the Columbia Valley. She brings a landscape-ecology lens to projects that integrate spatial analysis with field-based ecology, emphasizing her interest in wildlife ecology, alpine plants, and ecosystem modelling. Additionally, Aita utilizes mapping tools that support effective decision-making in environmental management. With experience across mining, forestry, and conservation, she is particularly dedicated to supporting Nation-led planning and decision-making and collaborative, community-driven approaches.
Ethan Castilloux, Diplo. RFW, ADGIS
GIS Specialist
Ethan is a GIS professional specializing in wildlife ecology with a strong background in fish and wildlife conservation, land management, and remote sensing. He attended Selkirk College, where he earned a Diploma in Recreation, Fisheries, and Wildlife (RFW) and an Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems (ADGIS). This educational foundation allowed him to merge his passion for environmental management with cutting-edge technologies. Ethan has contributed to projects that develop habitat suitability models, support environmental assessments, plan for emergency response, and utilize drone-enabled remote sensing. His expertise focuses on applying GIS technology to create actionable maps and conduct spatial analysis, informing critical decision-making.
Stephanie Higgins, M.Sc., RPBio, P.Biol
Wildlife Biologist
Steph brings extensive international experience in environmental management with an MSc. in Fish and Wildlife Management from SLU in Sweden. She has worked on leopard ecology in South Africa, molecular ecology of wolverines in Scandinavia, and freshwater ecosystems in Scotland. Her interests lie in recreation ecology, landscape ecology, and genetic methods.
Emmanuel Mercier, B.Sc., BIT
Junior Biologist
Emmanuel holds a BSc. in Biology from Thompson Rivers University. He brings valuable experience in ecological research studies and monitoring focused on management in the mountain national parks surrounding Golden. In addition to his extensive fieldwork, he is proficient in analyzing large remote sensing datasets. With almost a decade of experience as a river guide in Golden, Emmanuel has developed a deep knowledge of the region's landscape and ecology.
Nerissa Abbott, BNRS, ADGIS, A.Ag.
Junior Biologist
Nerissa holds a Bachelor of Natural Resource Science from Thompson Rivers University and an Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems from Selkirk College. Nerissa brings strong project management, invasive species management, spatial data analysis, vegetation monitoring, and aquatic ecosystem assessment skills to the team.
Ava Wagner
Biological Technician
Ava is a current student at the University of Lethbridge pursuing a BSc. in Biology with a concentration in Conservation Biology & Biodiversity. She is born and raised in Golden, giving her built-in knowledge of the local area and wildlife ecology. Ava is particularly interested in wetland and plant ecology and habitat restoration.
Nick McKay, D.Tech
Field Technician
Nick is a graduate of the Fish and Wildlife Technician program at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Residing in Golden for the last eight years, Nick has worked extensively on a variety of wildlife-related projects. He specializes in ornithology, human/wildlife conflict, and habitat restoration, with additional experience as a wildland firefighter and tree faller. His expertise in wildlife ecology enhances his ability to address the complexities of human-wildlife interactions.