Growing up in the suburbs of Stoney Creek, and more recently, Ancaster, Ontario, I was not exactly surrounded by nature’s beauty. However, it was not hard to find these places nearby if looked for, and I enjoyed many days exploring the neighbouring Bruce Trail, Dundas Valley and surrounding areas. I have always had an interest in nature and the environment, but it was through reading stories of stresses on, and destruction of, natural areas and ecosystems in the local newspaper over the years that I decided I would like to be in a field where I can help make a change for the better. My interest in all things biological led me to complete a BSc in Honours Biology at the University of Waterloo, where I focussed on ecology in particular. I followed that up with an MSc in Biology, also at UW, where I studied the performance of constructed wetland systems in the removal of microbial pathogens from wastewater. Seeking to gain additional skills in environmental field work, I spent some time as a student, and later as a Field Assistant, in the Earthquest Biological Field School. This experience allowed me to discover an interest in bird-watching, and gave me the opportunity to land a job at Bird Studies Canada. As a staff member of the Marsh Monitoring Program, I feel very fortunate to be able to play a part in wetland conservation.