We are thrilled to welcome our new summer team for 2025!
Meet our new team who you’ll be seeing out in the field pulling invasives, monitoring and managing our beautiful area as well as educating the public on what they can dp to protect the Kootenays!
Say hello if you see you them around!
Nell Jedrzejczyk
Invasive Species Technician
Originally from Terrace, BC, Nell completed her Bachelor’s of Environment from Simon Fraser University in Resource and Environmental Management. Now, she’s back in school studying Recreation, Fish, and Wildlife at Selkirk College with the goal of getting her registered professional biologist designation. Nell is most passionate about ecological restoration and habitat preservation, and can’t wait to be looking at plants all summer while exploring the Kootenays. When she’s not hunched over trying to ID wildflowers, you can find her hiking, rock climbing, or playing guitar.
Nick Hindbo
Invasive Species Technician
Originally from Alberta, Nick moved from the Bow Valley in the Fall of 2023 to take the Applied Environmental Science and Planning program at Selkirk College. Prior to moving, he had visited Nelson numerous times and fell in love with the area. He is passionate about outdoor spaces and environmental stewardship and his coursework at Selkirk has allowed him to enter the environmental field. Nick spends his free time skiing, climbing, and taking photographs.
Lily Chycoski
Invasive Species Technician
Lily is originally from Vancouver Island, but after visiting Nelson over the years, she could resist the Kootenays charm no longer. Lily has both a diploma in Fish Wildlife and Recreation and a Bachelor’s degree in Ecological Restoration from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Lily has experience working in municipal invasive species management and in environmental consulting, with a focus on wildlife biology. In her free time, you’ll often find her camping, birdwatching, and reading in the sun. Lily is looking forward to exploring more of the region through this work with CKISS, as well as learning how to better protect these beautiful ecosystems against invasive species.
Jessy Bokser
Outreach & Operations Technician
Jessy, who also goes by Jay (with no preference), is originally from Montreal, QC, and moved to BC full-time 5 years ago, having now lived in Nelson for almost 3 years! Jessy just graduated from the Recreation, Fish and Wildlife program at Selkirk College. She also has a CEGEP DEC in Cinema, Video & Communications and spent two years studying Art Education at Concordia University. She is excited to return for her second year with CKISS as the Outreach Assistant, and for the first time as an Operations Technician. She loves being immersed in nature, whether it be hiking, camping, exploring, or looking at plants, while also hanging out with friends and making art. She loves being involved in the local community, so she is looking forward to another opportunity to engage again with many locals about protecting the region’s ecosystems.