Current Staff

Kirsteen Laing

Administrative Manager

Kirsteen graduated from UBC with a BSF in 1979. She worked for MacMillan Bloedel on Vancouver Island and obtained her RPF before heading overseas to work for two years in Moçambique with CUSO. After a year of travelling she returned to BC and worked in Prince Rupert with TM Thompson. The following year, 1986, she and her partner established Laing & McCulloch Forest Management Services and based their operations out of Smithers. She was involved… Read more about Kirsteen Laing

Rick Budhwa

Research Program Manager

Rick Budhwa is the principal of Crossroads Cultural Resource Management located in Smithers, BC. He is currently working with several government agencies, First Nations and industry to help bridge differences in perspectives and establish cultural resource management (CRM) and indigenous land management initiatives. Over the past 7 years, Rick has been successful in creating and implementing alternative CRM methodologies for multiple stakeholders in British Columbia. These initiatives have resulted in… Read more about Rick Budhwa

Amanda Follett

Communications Coordinator

Amanda was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and graduated from Carleton University’s Bachelor of Journalism program in 1997. After graduation, she moved out west to Canmore, Alberta, where she worked as a reporter and then assistant editor at weekly newspaper The Canmore Leader while exploring the Canadian Rockies. Always in search of adventure and new experiences, Amanda visited Smithers in spring 2006 and decided to stay. She began working at the Bulkley Valley Research… Read more about Amanda Follett

Beth Henderson

Research Assistant

Beth Henderson started working as a Research Assistant at the Bulkley Valley Research Centre in May 2007. She was a graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College in Ontario where she completed the Fish and Wildlife Technology program. She assists with many of the research projects doing both field and office work. Beth enjoys snowshoeing in the Babines. One aspect of her work that she has most appreciated has been the opportunity to explore more of… Read more about Beth Henderson

Erica (Close) Lilles

Soil & Vegetation Scientist

Erica first worked in the field of forest science during her undergraduate years at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, where she was an intern in the forest dynamics lab. She gained more experience in temperate and boreal forest ecology during field jobs in Washington, Alaska, and interior British Columbia. It was her interest in soil-plant interactions and native plant restoration that led her back to school for an M.Sc. degree in Land Reclamation at the University… Read more about Erica (Close) Lilles

Al Gamble

Seasonal Staff 2007 - 2009

After 30 years working for IBM, Al Gamble happily traded the corporate rat race for peace and solitude in Smithers. When he’s not sampling trees or amusing BVRC staff with quirky anecdotes and interesting observations, Al likes to run rapids in his kayak or shred the slopes on his skis. Al started working for the Bulkley Valley Research Centre in the fall of 2007 and continues to do odd jobs around the office and periodic… Read more about Al Gamble

Marius Boldor

Research Associate

Marius started to work for Bulkley Valley Research Centre in December 2008 and is currently involved in testing and calibrating SORTIE-ND, working toward improving the model results and establishing the model as a reliable timber supply analysis tool. Marius was born in Romania where he worked as a forest professional and was involved in several ecology projects in the mountainous regions in the western part of the country. He obtained a bachelor degree in silviculture… Read more about Marius Boldor

Sheldon Haftner

Research Assistant

Sheldon Haftner was born in Smithers, BC and raised in Houston, BC. He has enjoyed working as a contractor and landscaper, before starting work with Bulkley Valley Research Centre. He obtained a UNBC Scholar’s Award for obtaining top marks in high school and attended UNBC for 4 years. He received his Bachelor in Science degree Majoring in Biochemistry and Minoring in Chemistry. Sheldon hopes to be able to receive a research job relating to the… Read more about Sheldon Haftner

Ingrid Granlin

Community Outreach Coordinator

The Centre has gained some additional part-time help, in partnership with the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest. The Centre has hired Ingrid Granlin to work one day per week as Community Outreach Coordinator. Ingrid will be responsible for promoting community awareness and participation in the Community Forest. You want to know what forest or wildlife research is going on within the Community Forest? Or what the flying squirrels are up to? Stay tuned! Ingrid will also be… Read more about Ingrid Granlin