Interpretation Canada - Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors

From Vancouver Island to Halifax, with experience in botanic gardens, parks, museums, aquariums, science centers and historic sites, our elected board members are responsible for the day to day work of Interpretation Canada.

Pam Murray - Chair (she/her)

I have worked as a front-line interpreter since 1997, for Parks Canada, Metro Vancouver Parks, and Arenaria Research and Interpretation in BC Parks, often in positions responsible for training and managing seasonal staff. I currently manage, coordinate, and deliver school programs at Milner Gardens & Woodland, which is located in the unceded territory of the Qualicum First Nation, and do contract work for the Ecoforestry Institute Society in the homeland of the Snuneymuxw and Stz'minus First Nations. I volunteer for the Protection Island Museum, am a certified teacher, and commute by kayak.

My involvement with Interpretation Canada began at a regional spring workshop in 2003, when I realized that interpreters were my people. During that time I have served in a variety of leadership roles for IC including regional Chair and regional Treasurer, as well as co-editing the Interpreter’s Big Book of Disasters. I believe that the work we do as interpreters is essential, difficult, and undervalued, and I am committed to advocating for our profession.

Jennifer Dick - Secretary (she/her)

Jennifer is passionate about connecting people to the world around them and currently does as a settler in the homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat peoples.

Jennifer is Royal Botanical Gardens’ Manager of Interpretation where she oversees interpretation in their 11 square-kilometres of gardens and nature sanctuaries. From visitor programs, tours, and events to signage, exhibits, and training, she enjoys the variety and seasonality of RBG. Her adventure in interpretation began at Bonnechere Provincial Park in 2001. A BSc. in Biology and a graduate diploma in Science Communication from Laurentian University have served her well in her career working for museums and not-for-profits across Canada including the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Jewels Goff - Treasurer

Jewels is the Education/Outreach Programs Coordinator at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum. Born and raised in Alberta. Jewels started working for Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative as a summer student in 2011, this initiative was started to fundraise and build the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum. Formerly a shy quiet girl Jewels fell in love with interpretation and returned to PCDI for three summers in a row. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Earth and Atmospheric Science’s Jewels returned to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in May 2015. She can often be found excitedly educating children and adults alike about geology and palaeontology.

J'net Ayayqwayaksheelth

J'net Ayayqwayaksheelth (One who gives away and still stands tall) is the Indigenous Outreach and Learning Coordinator at the Royal Ontario Museum. As part of the Learning Department, J'net leads the development and implementation of relevant Indigenous content and perspectives in school visits and community outreach programs. This work is designed to advance awareness, understanding, and appreciation for Indigenous cultures and heritage in both historical and contemporary contexts. J’net also developed an Indigenous Advisory Circle of knowledge carriers, elders, youth, and artists to assist ROM with the authentic representation of Indigenous peoples in educational programming, youth programs, and expanding the ROM's outreach throughout the province.

Photo Credit: Émeraude Dallaire-Robert, Émeraude Photography.

Sylvie Binette

Sylvie is a long-time Yukoner, who is particularly passionate about interpreting Yukon’s natural and cultural heritage. Her crush for interpretation started 30+ years ago working as a cook (yes you read that well!) at a remote naturalist lodge of the N.W.T. This led to an interesting journey working as Seasonal Interpretive Guide for the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Wildlife Viewing Technician for Yukon Department of Environment, Project Leader for Families at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Manager of George Johnston Museum, and as interpretive writer for contracts of interpretive panels along Yukon highways. Currently self-employed, she offers a range of services around the training and planning of interpretation and exhibits. She values collaboration and innovation and aspire for Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion in cultural spaces. Sylvie has a Master’s in Biology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and is a Certified Interpretive Planner and Trainer with the National Association for Interpretation. She served on several boards and committees, including on the Yukon Historical and Museums Association from 2012-2020 and on the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Education Committee from 2008-2010. She is really thrilled to join the board of Interpretation Canada.

Nicole Cann (she/her)

Nicole was the Manager of Interpretive Delivery at the Vancouver Aquarium where she worked for 12 years. She is now the Manager of Public Outreach and Education in Parks Canada’s Vancouver office. She has volunteered with Interpretation Canada and the National Association for Interpretation for over a decade but her favourite interp gig is interpreting the world for her son, who’s well on the way to becoming an interp himself .

Nicole is honoured to live, work, and respectfully raise a family on the traditional and unceded territory of Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the Katzie, Tsawwassen, Kwikwetlem, Stó:lō, Kwantlen, Stz’uminus, and Musqueam Nations as well as those Nations represented by the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council.

Amanda Greene - Membership Secretary

Amanda didn’t always know she wanted to be an interpreter. As a child she was a voracious reader, devouring every book she could find on the topics of history and medicine. This led her to believe that her future calling would be either as a doctor or as a history professor. After completing a history degree (focusing on social and medical history) and an education degree as well as enjoying a recurring summer position as Education Coordinator at Resurgo Place, home of the Moncton Museum, Amanda realized that her true calling was in the museum sector. She is currently Education Coordinator at the New Brunswick Museum and plans to keep reading, learning, studying, and educating for the rest of her life.

David Lloyd - IC Blog (he/him)

Born and raised in Alberta, David grew up in Canmore and currently lives and works in Treaty 7 territory, the home of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) people.
His first experience with interpretation was while working at the Cave & Basin and Banff Park Museum National Historic Sites in Banff during the summers while going to university for his B.Sc. in zoology/earth science (basically following along with the palaeontology program at the U of A, but with some minor deviations). David started working at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in 2005. Starting in 2012, he has spent his summers in Dinosaur Provincial Park as the Guided Excavation Coordinator, teaching the public how to dig up dinosaurs in a dinosaur bonebed, and taking small groups on exploratory hikes through the badlands, looking for fossils. David enjoys exploring and spending time in nature – exploring badlands, mountains, trees, and beaches. He loves photography and has recently started getting into night time photography.

Roderick (Rod) MacLean

Rod’s fascination with public history and historical interpretation began at an early age through family visits to and, much later, summer jobs at, Fort Henry National Historic Site in his hometown of Kingston, Ontario. This boyhood interest with things both historical and mueseological led to an academic one, the completion of a BA and MA in history, additional graduate work in Museum Studies and an internship/part-time work at the Royal Ontario Museum. Rod then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to begin work at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and has since held various roles at that location including those of interpretive program planner and Curator/Adminstrator of The Army Museum, an institution dedicated to Atlantic Canadian military history. He is presently the Executive Director of the Halifax Citadel Society, a non-profit organization which works in partnership with Parks Canada to deliver the personal interpretive programs at the site. When not engaged in historical pursuits, Rod spends his spare time playing the Highland bagpipe and enjoys a variety of other interest/hobbies including basketball, wine, food, reading, and, lately, running. Rod is the proud father of Tess who loves interpretive tours, dogs and volleyball... ..but thinks history is "boring!"

Sarah Rauh - Awards Chair (she/her)

Sarah is an Interpretation Officer/Coordinator with Parks Canada at Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area and currently lives and works in the Robinson Superior Treaty Territory which is the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe and homeland of the Metis people.
Sarah got her start in interpretation as a student with Ontario Parks sharing her love of history, turtles, and camping. She now shares her passions for lighthouses, geology, and all things water at Lake Superior NMCA. Sarah is a graduate of the Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism program at Lakehead University and also has a Bachelor of Education and is a certified teacher. She is passionate about connecting people to nature and advocating for the interpretation profession.

Munju Ravindra - Conference Chair

Munju got her start in interpretation 25 years ago in her home province of Nova Scotia, as a naturalist in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. She has since worked at Fundy, St Lawrence Islands, Gros Morne, and Auyuittuq National Parks, interpreting everything from the sex lives of barnacles to the story of plate tectonics to the reason for marine conservation. She has been responsible for marine tourism to Parks Canada sites in Nunavut, and the visitor experience offer at Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. When she’s not with Parks Canada, Munju runs a tourism and interpretation consultancy, working with communities to train guides and create transformative visitor experiences. This has led her to projects in Albania, Costa Rica, Antigua, and all over Atlantic Canada, and into subjects ranging from Siberian tigers to the art of sock-knitting in rural Newfoundland. She is also an award-winning writer. Munju has a BSc in Biology and a Masters in Ecological Conservation. She loves boats and is at her happiest outdoors in, on, or near the ocean. She is currently figuring out how marine tourism could or should work for Parks Canada places across the country.

Interpretation Canada c/o Kerry Wood Nature Centre 6300 45th Ave Red Deer, AB, Canada T4N 3M4