Edith Tobe & Ruth Simons: The Squamish Estuary & the Howe Sound Biosphere Initiative.

The presentation will include the history of the Squamish estuary, the work the Squamish River Watershed Society has achieved in the past 20 years, and future plans.Pplus an overview of the UNESCO Biosphere program and why Atl’kitsem / Howe Sound is such a good fit!

More Information:
Squamish River Watrershed Society: www.squamishwatershed.com/
Howe Sound Bioshere Region Initiative: www.howesoundbri.org/

Edith Tobe is a professional biologist who moved to Squamish in 1992. Her passion for
biology, wetlands, and nature began at a very early age. She went to the University of
Waterloo where she obtained a BSc degree in Biology. She then went on to Seneca
College of Applied Arts and Technology where she obtained an engineering diploma
with honours in Resource Engineering Technology. She has her own environmental
consulting firm in Squamish formed in 1995, EB Tobe Enterprises. In 1998 she helped
form the Squamish River Watershed Society where she has been working ever since as
Project Manager and Executive Director.
Amongst the many projects she is involved with, Edith has helped restore estuarine
habitat, reconnect tidal channels, and re-establish habitat for salmon, amphibians, and
other wildlife throughout the corridor. As a former SCUBA diver Edith has explored
much of Howe Sound both above and below the surface!
Edith continues to work and volunteer throughout the community and you can often find
her on any number of trails walking her two cattle dogs.

Ruth Simons is the Chair and Project Lead for the Biosphere Region Initiative Society.
Shegrew up in the Howe Sound region and has lived with her family in Lions Bay for
the past 30 years. Ruth is former owner of TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators, executive with
the Cooperators Financial Group and has served a term on the Village of Lions Bay Council.
She has been the volunteer Executive Director of the Future of Howe Sound Society for the past
6 years during which time she has coordinated the Howe Sound Community Forums . Ruth is
often out on the water either commuting between Lions Bay and Gambier Island or touring
people around on her boat. Seeing the potential for the region to be recognized by UNESCO as a
Biosphere Region, Ruth has been leading this initiative with a team of dedicated volunteers.