Our Team
Giles Shearing, M.Sc., A.Sc.T. | Principal/Lead Consultant
Giles is SCL’s founder and Principal Consultant. Over the past 17 years Giles has worked on over 350 projects throughout British Columbia. He has a broad range of expertise that includes environmental science, river ecology, ornithology, civil construction and the management of small to large complex projects. Giles has grown his company around the core values of collaboration, creativity, technological solutions, expert planning, and financial prudence. Giles worked previously for Envirowest Consultants in Vancouver and BC Hydro in Revelstoke.
Giles holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University and a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from the University of British Columbia. Since 2012 Giles has been a registered Applied Science Technologist (ASTTBC) with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia with a specialty in Environmental Engineering.
When not at work, you can find Giles outside with his family observing birds, exploring rivers, hiking, and skiing. Closer to home Giles enjoys playing his cello and looking for opportunities to engage in the community. Since 2009, Giles has been a Manager and Director for local Search and Rescue and recently joined the Board of Directors for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
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Brett Elmslie, M.Sc., R.P.Bio. | Intermediate Biologist
Brett is an Intermediate Biologist / Consultant for SCL. Brett has 8 years of experience in the environmental sector with a diverse background in aquatic ecology, fisheries biology and environmental management. As an Ontario transplant, Brett has lived in the southern interior since 2017, working in a variety of roles. Prior to joining SCL, Brett was the Fish & Fish Habitat Program Manager for the Elk River Alliance in Fernie, BC where he developed a research program aimed at improving our understanding of Westslope Cutthroat Trout population dynamics in the Elk River. Brett has also worked as an Invasive Plant Crew Supervisor for West Fork Resource Management in Sparwood, B.C. and as a Teaching Assistant while completing his Graduate Research at Queen’s University.
Brett graduated with a B.Sc. (Honours) in Marine & Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph and a M.Sc. in Biology from Queen’s University. His master's thesis explored the response of phototropic communities to climate warming over the last 11,000 years in northeastern Ontario.
When not at work, you can find Brett hiking, biking, and exploring the surrounding mountains with his camera in tow. He is an active member and volunteer with the Revelstoke Protect Our Winters (POW) Chapter and enjoys giving back to the local community!
Olivia Muir, M.Sc. | Junior Biologist
Olivia is one of SCL's Field Technicians. Before making the move to Canada, Olivia was working as a Graduate Ecologist for Ecus Ltd. Most notably, she became a central member of the team assigned to monitor the ecological impact of the East West Rail expansion, including protected species surveys and development of trackside habitat management strategies. Olivia has always had a passion for the outdoors and volunteers whenever she can with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to maintain local nature reserves back in the UK, as well as organizing woodland management initiatives as a Green Space team leader during her masters studies.
Olivia graduated with a B.Sc. (Honors) in Geography from Swansea University and an M.Sc. in Environmental Consultancy from the University of the West of England. Her master's dissertation explored the success and future development of blanket bog restoration techniques in the Scottish Highlands.
When not at work, you can find Olivia camping, hiking and biking, whilst exploring the mountains surrounding Revelstoke and beyond!
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Tyra Joe, B.Sc. | Environmental Specialist
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Tyra is one of SCL's Environmental Specialists. Before joining the team, Tyra held various biology-related roles throughout the East Kootenays. For example, during her university summer holidays, she worked as a Wildlife Technician for VAST Resource solutions. During her time at VAST, she helped perform numerous types of wildlife surveys throughout the Elk Valley, including the first ever mass amphibian inventory of the valley. In addition, Tyra previously worked for the BC Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team as a field technician where she helped with the relocation and monitoring of individuals in the Columbia Wetlands. More recently, Tyra worked for the British Columbia Conservation Foundation under the supervision of a Biologist from The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, East Kootenay Branch. During her time with the BCCF, she worked on a project concerning the habitat enhancement of the Bull Mountain big horn sheep range located in the Southern BC Rocky Mountains.
Tyra graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. (Honours) in Biology. Her honours thesis explored the effects of chronic anthropogenic noise exposure on songbird vocal learning.
In her spare time, you can usually find Tyra working on a painting or outside ski touring, hiking, or gardening. In addition, Tyra often volunteers with local environmental / conservation organizations. She is a long-standing volunteer which the Kootenay Community Bat project, a volunteer with the Southern Rockies Grizzly Bear Project, and an active member of the British Columbia Climate Emergency Network.
Sam Legebokow, B.Sc. (in-progess) | Field Technician
Sam is one of SCL’s Field Technicians. She is a born and raised Revelstokian who has spent the last two summers working for the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society as a Field, Aquatic, and Outreach Program Assistant. She also previously volunteered for the Revelstoke Caribou Rearing in the Wild Program as a wildlife photographer and assisted with calf care.
Sam is currently working towards her B. Sc. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at the University of Northern British Columbia. She is a passionate advocate for the environment and has spent the last two years (2018-2020) volunteering for her university’s leading environmental group, Students for a Green University, as vice-president and president. Through this group Sam has organized and hosted numerous events, including educational speakers, film screenings, rallies, clothing swaps, and informational booths, as well as advocating for divestment from fossil fuels.
When not at work (or studying), you can find Sam pulling on rocks at Revelstoke’s finest crags, hiking, paddle-boarding, kayaking, skiing, or developing her budding ornithology skills.
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Heather Waterous, B.A.&Sc. | Field Technician
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Heather is one of SCL's Field Technicians. Originally from a small farm outside of Kamloops, BC, she has worked for Parks Canada in Glacier National Park for the past two summers where she was part of the Ecological Integrity Monitoring team. Heather has also volunteered with a number of wildlife research projects including the Kluane Red Squirrel Project, in the Yukon, and a University of Calgary Wolverine research project in the Selkirk/Monashee mountains of BC. Prior to her work with Parks Canada and involvement in wildlife research, Heather worked in Outdoor Education for 6 years, facilitating place-based ecology lessons and guiding mountaineering expeditions.
Heather holds a B.A.&Sc. (Honours) in Wildlife Ecology from Quest University Canada. Heather is currently finishing a B.A.Tech in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology where her Capstone project tested the use of satellite imagery to monitor algal blooms, using spectral signatures of Chlorophyll-A concentrations.
When not at work, you can find Heather trail running, climbing, biking, or doing her best to extend the ski season into the summer. And, if she's not exploring the mountains, there's a good chance she's in the garden!