We have a small but extremely dedicated staff team at Wild ARC. Their backgrounds are varied, including education in animal health, biology, environmental studies and wildlife welfare. They are united by their passion for wildlife and the hours they have dedicated to their chosen field, volunteering and further developing their professional expertise.
Supporting our talented staff is an equally dedicated volunteer crew. Consider joining our volunteer team!
Current Opportunities:
Any current openings will be posted on our careers website.
If you are an experienced wildlife rehabilitator who has worked in a busy centre with many species and are legally entitled to work in Canada, we are always interested in keeping your information for future openings. Please email your resume and cover letter to info@wildarc.com. Thank you!
Wild ARC Staff:
Sam, BSc, RVT – Manager: Sam is a Registered Veterinary Technician and Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator with a degree in Animal Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation. She has studied, researched and worked with wildlife across Canada and the USA since 2010 and has worked on and off at Wild ARC as a Wildlife Rehabilitator and RVT since 2015 before transitioning into the manager role in September 2023. When not working, Sam enjoys spending time outdoors with her growing family and running an educational non-profit society focused on coexisting with wildlife.
Ashley, BSc – Assistant Manager: Ashley graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Conservation and Landscape Ecology. After several co-op placements in ecology research fieldwork, Ashley started at Wild ARC as the first full-time Wildlife Assistant from 2016 to 2020. She then started a family farm growing beautiful flowers to sell at local farmers markets and expanded her family with the addition of her first child. Ashley returned to Wild ARC in her new role in December 2023.
Wallis, BSc – Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator: Wallis has a biology degree from the University of Victoria. She has been a wildlife rehabilitator for over 10 years and has been involved in the field for over 15. Wallis started out as a volunteer at the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC and eventually worked there for several years before joining Wild ARC. She has spent time at several rehabilitation centres across the United States. Her experience is wide ranging, with a focus on songbirds and aquatic birds. She is also a permitted bird bander and volunteers for Rocky Point Bird Observatory and the BC Purple Martin Stewardship and Recovery Program.
Mady, RVT – Registered Veterinary Technician: Mady went to school for a diploma in Animal Health Technology to work with exotic animals and wildlife. After graduating in 2021 as a registered veterinary technician, she worked with domestic animals at a general veterinary practice and a 24/7 veterinary emergency specialty hospital. In January 2023, Mady started her wildlife career at Wild ARC as an RVT to pursue her passion for wildlife.
Alannah, RVT – Registered Veterinary Technician: Alannah first entered the field of wildlife rehabilitation while volunteering and working in Southeast Asia from 2016 to 2019. She worked primarily with animal husbandry, enrichment, and rehabilitation with a wide variety of species. She returned to Canada in 2019 to complete her Veterinary Technologist degree while also working at a veterinary clinic in companion animal medicine. She graduated and was registered in the fall of 2022, and later joined our team at Wild ARC as an RVT in May 2023.
Alyssa, BSc – Wildlife Rehabilitator: Alyssa moved from Winnipeg to Victoria to pursue a degree in marine biology after working with leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica in 2011. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Victoria and in 2019 participated in field work monitoring Long-billed Curlew nests. She started at Wild ARC in July 2019 as a practicum student and is now one of Wild ARC’s full-time wildlife rehabilitators.
Katelyn, BSc – Wildlife Rehabilitator: Katelyn joined the Wild ARC team as a Junior Wildlife Rehabilitator in March 2021 and became a Wildlife Rehabilitator in fall of 2021. She has a degree in Wildlife Biology and Conversation from the University of Guelph, and has been in the wildlife rehabilitation field since 2015. She has experience working with a variety of different animal groups; including domestics, husbandry animals and exotics, but her real passion is wildlife.
Melissa, BSc – Wildlife Rehabilitator: Melissa graduated in 2019 with a Zoology degree from the University of British Columbia. She spent time in Zambia and South Africa, studying the movement of lions in game reserves before returning to Canada to pursue wildlife rehabilitation work. Melissa has worked at multiple rehabilitation centres across Canada and was working at Hope for Wildlife for four years before joining the Wild ARC team in October 2022.
Dominique, BSc – Wildlife Assistant: Dominique started her wildlife career in 2019 when she interned and worked at Critter Care Wildlife Society. After falling in love with wildlife rehabilitation, she continued her education at UBC where she obtained an honours degree in Applied Animal Biology, focusing on wild animal welfare and conservation. Through UBC, she became a practicum student at Wild ARC in 2021. Dominique decided to continue pursuing work at Wild ARC, and was a Junior Wildlife Rehabilitator in the summers of 2022 and 2023, before accepting a job as a permanent Wildlife Assistant in the fall of 2023.
Casual Staff:
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- Wildlife Rehabilitators: Christina (RVT, CWR), Marguerite (BSc, RVT), Neil, Rebecca, Carlee, Roman, Lucy, Caitlynn
- Junior Wildlife Rehabilitators: Avery
- Wildlife Assistants: Shay, Sarah, Hannah
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Victoria & Wild ARC Team
Breanne Beckett – Senior Manager, Victoria Area: Breanne has extensive senior management experience in non-profit and luxury hospitality sectors with direct experience hiring and developing teams that are committed to excellence and making a difference. She is passionate and results-driven by connecting community to purpose and always leads with her heart. Breanne has volunteered with many non-profits in Halifax and Calgary including Mustard Seed. Breanne completed her Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing Management from Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Jes Alder – Senior Officer, Community Giving: Jes has a wealth of experience in events, sponsorships and stakeholder relations. She oversees fundraising portfolios in the Greater Southern Vancouver Island area for Wild ARC and the Victoria Community Animal Centre. Jes has a deep passion for all animals and years of experience in non-profit organizations. Sharing the outstanding work Wild ARC does for vulnerable animals in our community and how the support of businesses and individuals locally, provincially and beyond are making a positive and life changing impact for an animal here every single day is an honor and absolute highlight of her career to date.
Provincial Wild Animal Welfare Team
Andrea Wallace, PhD, RPBio – Manager, Wild Animal Welfare: As part of the BC SPCA’s Science & Policy division, Andrea manages wild animal welfare initiatives on a provincial level including advocacy, education, and communications, as well as collaborations with veterinarians, government, other wildlife rehabilitation centres, and researchers. She also supports the BC SPCA’s Animal Helpline and Community Animal Centres across B.C. with any wildlife issues. Andrea has a PhD in conservation science from Imperial College London, UK and is a Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biologists. She has extensive experience in natural resource management, wildlife ecology and behaviour, and was the Wild ARC Manager from March 2017 to December 2019.
Nadia Xenakis, MSc, RPBio – Specialist, Wild Animal Welfare: Nadia works at the BC SPCA provincial office supporting provincial wild animal welfare initiatives, including communications, education, advocacy and academic collaborations. Nadia started with the BC SPCA in 2023, after completing her MSc in Applied Animal Biology from the UBC Animal Welfare Program on humane wildlife control, and is a Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biologists. Nadia’s experience also includes wildlife rehabilitation, urban wildlife coexistence, and teaching assistantships.