Caroline McChesney – President
Caroline has no scientific training whatsoever but has spent a lifetime playing with and reading up on plants and mushrooms. Her favourite gift was a four volume book set of detailed photographs and botanical descriptions of many of the world’s plants. Currently a teacher of young children, a calling she’s followed for the past 20 years, Caroline has also taught adults at Coast Mountain College. In her previous career, she was a lawyer passionately representing immigrants and refugees. Caroline writes for fun, and volunteers as a director with several Kootenay organizations, two of them plant and mushroom related. She is married to someone who permits himself to be dragged into the woods, and has one son who rarely even feigns polite interest.
Catherine Levesque – Secretary
Catherine grew up in Quebec and always liked to explore new trails, ridge lines and forests. She came to BC over 10 years ago to plant trees and fell in love with the wild flowers, mountains and landscapes. She pursued studies in forestry which allows her to follow the evolution of the blooming flowers though the summer. In Nelson since 2019, she has found a passion for gardening and she wants to support resilient native plant ecosystems in the Kootenays.
Jarra Ford – Treasurer
Jarra Ford brings a passion for environmental conservation plus a wealth of financial expertise to her role as Treasurer of the board of the Kootenay Native Plant Society. Influenced by her family’s love of the natural world, Jarra’s upbringing on Vancouver Island instilled in her a profound connection with nature at a young age.
Spending time in gardens, in the forest, or walking along the beach has always been a sanctuary for Jarra, a place where she finds solace and peace. Seeing the first blooms of spring brings a sense of something she calls “garden joy”, borrowing from Mychal Threets. This connection to the beauty and resilience of nature fuels her dedication to preserving native plants and cultivating sustainable landscapes within the Kootenay region.
Jarra Ford’s leadership as Treasurer is characterized by her commitment to sustainability, her Chartered Professional Accounting designation, and 25+ years’ professional experience in financial stewardship – a combination that continues to drive positive change within the Kootenay Native Plant Society.
Paige Thurston – Director at Large
Paige Thurston grew up on Vancouver Island on the Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation and moved to the West Kootenays in 2015. She has a keen interest in all things plant-related, from food production to ornamental plants, but especially native plants and restoration. Paige holds a Master of Natural Resources in Restoration Ecology and Habitat Management and is currently an Articling Agrologist. She looks forward to supporting the KNPS mandate through her role on the board.
Trish Hanuszak – Director at Large
Trish is a Professional Agrologist, soil scientist, and plant enthusiast who recently made the West Kootenays home. Her work is grounded in the belief that healthy soils are the foundation of resilient landscapes.
With a Master’s degree in Soil Science from UBC and experience in agricultural land management and environmental consulting, Trish works with farmers, landowners, and communities to better understand and care for the land. She is passionate about translating science into practical, accessible information that supports good stewardship.
Outside of work, Trish can usually be found in the garden, growing flowers and vegetables, learning about native pollinators, or volunteering with local environmental initiatives. She is excited about the opportunity to serve as a Director at Large with the Kootenay Native Plant Society and help strengthen connections between people, plants, and place through education, conservation, and community collaboration.