Warren joined the MARS Board of Directors and began volunteering as a wildlife caregiver in 2002, shortly after attending a MARS open house. By 2003 he became president of the board and he hasn’t looked back since.

When he was in his teens, Warren started working in construction and forestry. Warren is a Registered Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology. He has a BSc in Biology and a Diploma in Forest Resources Management.

In 1999, Warren was presented the award for excellence in Coastal Forest Ecosystem Restoration, and in 2002 he accepted the BC Ministers Award for a society he helped found and manage based in Ucluelet. In 2011, he was granted the Bill Young Award for Excellence in Integrated Forest Resource Management, and in 2020, the Campbell River Mirror Animal Ambassador Local Hero Award.

Warren is also chair of the construction and maintenance committee for MARS and helps plan all sorts of projects from wetland restoration, to flight pens and mews.

After starting a community legal information and advocacy office in the early 1980s in North Vancouver, most of Pearl’s work life was dedicated to law reform activities to protect the rights of people. After a Snowy Owl led Pearl to MARS, she joined the board of directors in January 2006.

Growing up in a rural area, like most kids of her time, Pearl spent every possible moment outside. Just beyond the door was this fascinating and vibrant world of plants and forests filled with the sound of bird calls and insects buzzing, leaving her with a lifelong feeling of connectedness to nature and a need for wildness.

Pearl enjoys collaborating with the other volunteers in the MARS Visitor Centre to create similar “wild” adventures for today’s children and working at any task that keeps MARS running smoothly.

Nicole joined MARS and began volunteering as a wildlife caregiver in 2018, shortly after attending a MARS open house. She quickly became enthralled with the wildlife the hospital dealt with and the variety of new skills she learned as a caregiver, going on to obtain her Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certificate and pursuing further continuing education in the field. She joined the Board of Directors in 2023 and became Treasurer in 2024, continuing to be a Mentor and Rehabilitation Assistant in the wildlife hospital.

Nicole has worked in the property and casualty insurance industry since 1998, but has always had a passion for animals. She is deeply involved with dog training, in both obedience and agility, and volunteers time as a trainer for a local agility club. Her interest in training aligns her with the education side of MARS as well and she is a member of the Ambassador Bird Committee.

Therisa’s first experience with MARS was many years ago when she was directed to the hospital by a friend for help with some ducklings that were unexpectedly in her care due to a reckless driver. Relieved that there was a refuge for these ducklings in need, and impressed with the kindness and skills of the volunteers, Therisa knew that one day she wanted to be able to give back to MARS. 

Being an avid proponent of animal rights and wildlife conservation, Therisa has always been passionate about nature and wildlife.  With 20 years of combined volunteer management experience and as a previous board member for multiple non-profit organizations, Therisa is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve with the MARS Board of Directors since 2019.

Leona joined MARS in 2019. She has always had a passion for animals of every kind. Growing up in the small community of Gold River, Vancouver Island, the great outdoors was her backyard.

When she heard about the wildlife caregiver role, it seemed like the perfect fit and soon volunteering in the MARS hospital became her happy place. Leona became a volunteer mentor, and wanted to do more. She completed the Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certificate to add another level to her ability to care for patients.

Her entire working career has been in dentistry. Retiring in April, 2025 gives her more time for MARS. Leona joined the board in November, 2024 and leads the fundraising committee.

Lynda has been an animal lover and rescuer as long as she can remember. She has been involved with MARS since 2000, when she was trained as a wildlife caregiver by MARS founder, Maj Birch. Since becoming both a member and a volunteer, she has learned much about wildlife and their habitat, how humans impact both, and what we can do to lessen the damage we cause.

As a member of the board of directors, Lynda has all aspects of MARS at heart, and as chair of the special events committee, she works with other committee members to find ways to raise the funds to carry on the day-to-day operation of our wildlife hospital. She is also administrator of the MARS Facebook page, where she does a fantastic job updating our followers and supporters on both patients and events at MARS!

Robert joined MARS as a volunteer wildlife caregiver when MARS was located on its Headquarters Road location and joined the board shortly after. When MARS founder Maj passed away, he was asked to fill in as manager. He was actively involved in the search for a new property and the transition to the current location when the hospital was under construction.

With a background in adult education and training, he took on the role of education coordinator when the new visitor’s centre was still in the planning stages before construction started. After a few years pursuing other opportunities, Robert returned as visitor centre manager. Recently he rejoined the board continuing to advocate for the MARS mission and connecting us with the Bird Friendly Cities initiative.

Ginny has been volunteering with MARS since 2019, and a member of the board of directors since 2020.

Having grown up in a large family, Ginny was often kicked outside to play along with her siblings and told not to come back until dinner was ready. Along the way she developed a love of the outdoors and all the beauty it held. It also helped that every orphaned or injured animal, whether domesticated or wild, would gravitate to her front door step, where her mom would care for them.

Once retired and back on the West Coast, becoming a MARS volunteer seemed like a natural fit. She can be found at MARS, guiding, providing virtual tours, or gathering information for the weekly Life on MARS hospital updates. Presently she is spending a lot of quality time with the albino crows, helping to prepare and train them to become ambassadors for MARS.

Jan grew up in Ontario and spent family camping trips looking under logs for bugs and saving drowning Monarch butterflies. She enjoys exploring the interconnectedness of nature and was drawn to the MARS mission, to conserve and protect native wildlife and its habitat through education and rehabilitation. She joined the visitor centre team as a guide in 2019. 

Since the purchase of the MARS property in 2015, a lot of work has been done by MARS volunteers to improve the land by removing invasives and planting native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. Jan joined the team of habitat stewards and spends time wrestling blackberry and admiring the bees. 

Jan is on the board for a second term. She is grateful to be working with such a dedicated and fun team of board members, staff, and volunteers.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Megan always knew she wanted to work with animals. After graduating the University of Saskatchewan with a biology degree and a specialization in anatomy and conservation, she spent a number years doing internships at multiple wildlife rehabilitation centres in North and Central America, including Belize, Texas, and Toronto. She has worked with a number of local and exotic species, a favourite of which is howler monkeys.

After interning for 6 months at Toronto Wildlife Centre, she was hired on full time, where she spent the next 5 years, working up to senior supervisor. At the end of 2022, she decided she was sick of the craziness of Toronto, and moved with her cat, Shadow, to Vancouver Island to be closer to her family. Megan is an avid birder, and often is outside trying to spot any kind of wildlife she can. 

Melissa joined MARS as staff in 2022, but previously was welcomed early in 2021 to intern. She then soon returned for a summer assistant position. 

Born and raised in Medicine Hat, AB, Melissa’s most enjoyable memories came from the scenic Cypress Hill’s where a fascination in forest ecology developed. Her main interests in biology and psychology led her to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Lethbridge where she focused in ecology and animal behaviour. While research was the forefront of her job search, Melissa found herself working in public education along with various animal work. In addition to rehabilitation in Alberta, she has been involved with sanctuary wolfdog care, aquatic invasive species inspections, and northern goshawk surveys.

As a Biologist in Training, Melissa is also excited about fieldwork, including ecological monitoring and restoration. She is passionate about native species and our ability to cultivate suitable homes for the wildlife around us. Melissa is aspiring to become a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator and working towards this goal. While she is fascinated by all species and their behaviours, her heart melts for sea and shorebirds, waterfowl, mustelids, canids, and owls.

Justine joined MARS in June 2024 after graduating from Douglas College Veterinary Technology program and becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician.

Justine’s passion for wildlife rehabilitation started when she was an intern at the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC in 2018 while completing her undergraduate degree in zoology at UBCO. Since then, she has worked with a variety of animals including songbirds, corvids, waterfowl, parrots, marine mammals, bats, cats, dogs and other small mammals, and is eager to use her medical knowledge to help local wildlife.

When she is not at MARS Justine works part time as an RVT at a vet clinic in Comox. She spends her days off paddle-boarding, camping, snowboarding and hiking with her dog.

Laurie started volunteering with MARS as a wildlife caregiver in 2005. She has taken many courses related to wildlife rehabilitation and avian biology from Cornell University, the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. She has even helped out with special events, fundraising, and volunteer coordination.

In 2016, Laurie became a staff member in the role of office administrator and volunteer coordinator for special events, which she continues to this day. She has a great love of all things furry and feathered. Laurie runs a home-based boarding business for parrots, Too Crazy Birdy Hotel, and she fosters and rehomes parrots of all kinds!

A long-time resident of the Comox Valley, Aaron grew up with a great appreciation of the outdoors and everything in it. He is currently enrolled at North Island College in biology after a few years out of academia. Aaron is hoping to complete a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) program at UBC in the near future. While technically the volunteer and education coordinator in the Visitor Centre, Aaron is never one to sit still. He has his hand in whatever he can do at MARS, from helping in the hospital to coordinating our refundables, and from working with Ambassador Birds to assisting with construction.

You’ll recognize Aaron by his infectious laugh and charming smile. He is MARS’ goodwill ambassador!

Sarah moved to Vancouver Island in 2024 to join her long-distance partner in making a life together on the island. She previously lived in Glasgow where she spent thirteen years working backstage for Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, and the Edinburgh International Festival. She is passionate about bringing efficiency and organization to every task, and is thrilled to be putting her skills to use at MARS as the Gift Shop Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. When she’s not working, she enjoys kayaking, training bonsai, and building lego. Her favourite native birds include Steller’s Jays and Western Tanagers, and she has a lifelong love of seals.