Speakers & Performers

The Wild Ones

We're pleased with the opportunity to highlight different organizations in our community and the importance of keeping nature in our future. You're sure to have a fun evening with an array of activities followed by comedy and a live auction.

ROBYN RADCLIFFE

THE RAPTORS

Operations Manager

From her perch as Operations Manager of ‘The Raptors’ Robyn oversees the many unique and diverse workings of the company. Through her tireless effort the demonstrations are not only educational and entertaining, but they showcase how truly inspiring these birds are. Robyn also manages the health and daily wellbeing of the birds at The Raptors centre, and helps support our various raptor projects throughout Canada. By striving to meet high standards, Robyn helps to instill a company-wide dedication to provide the best possible care for the birds. After studying communications at SFU, and biology at the University of Victoria, Robyn joined the team at The Raptors and never looked back. Since then she continues to learn more and more about the birds; after 12 years of work at ‘The Raptors’ her appreciation, respect and passion for raptors continues to grow. It was this appreciation that also led her to help create the Raptor Rescue Society, a wildlife rehabilitation centre in the Cowichan Valley. The RRS is a wonderful resource that has helped and successfully released numerous Red-Tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles and many other raptors.

ADAM KESSLER

KESSLER COMEDY

Adam Kessler has been performing stand-up comedy since he was a kid. He began telling jokes in the living room for his mom when he was 5 years old and he hit the comedy club circuit in 2003.

His quick wit and hilarious stories make for an entertaining evening full of laughs. Winner 2010 Jokers Comedy Competition.

AARON DEANS

ALLAN BROOKS NATURE CENTRE SOCIETY

Executive Director

In his role as Executive Director, Aaron Deans combines numerous years of experience as an

environmental consultant with his genuine enthusiasm for fostering an appreciation for the diversity and wonder of the natural world. With an undergraduate degree in Biology and a graduate degree in Forest Ecology, Aaron’s work has taken him from remote research posts in the James Bay region of Ontario, to research centres in Ecuador, Oregon and Alaska, to monitoring bird populations and

migration in the Northern Rockies to managing a team of biologists in the Prince George Forest District.

His most rewarding position to date has been that of Executive Director at ABNC, where he’s able to

engage with people of all different ages and interests who find common ground in a fascination with and

love for nature. Aaron and his family are resident caretakers of Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary, one of many organizations with which ABNC partners to bring nature to life in the Okanagan.