Jonn Matsen
Co-chair & Herring Coordinator
Jonn was born in Britannia Beach in 1949 when ocean fishing there was excellent, he then moved to Squamish twelve years later and took up river fishing. In 1976/77 Jonn then went to work as a commercial fisherman where he was a deckhand on salmon trollers. Jonn graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle in 1983 with a degree in Naturopathic Medicine. In 1983 he opened and maintained the North Shore Naturopathic Clinic in North Vancouver. Jonn wrote four books on Naturopathic Medicine that have sold over 600,000 copies world-wide. In April of 2020 he retires leaving a legacy of shared knowledge in the world of Naturopathic Medicine. Jonn is presently co-chair for the Squamish Streamkeeper’s and his main streamkeeper roles are to help monitor salmon spawning in the upper Squamish Valley spawning grounds, and to help coordinate herring spawning restoration efforts in Squamish and False Creek. Contact: (604) 839-9056 drjonnmatsen@shaw.ca
Jack Cooley
Co-Chair, Meeting Chair, Treasurer
Jack was born 1940 in Washington State, now a Naturalized Canadian. In 1965 Jack obtained a BSc with a major in Physics at UBC. He taught High School Physics and Earth Science and coached junior boys basketball at Howe Sound Secondary for 32 years. In 2001 Jack joined the Squamish Streamkeepers, and in 2003 he became co-chair. Jack’s current focus is monitoring salmon streams in Squamish BC where he and other volunteers conduct and record salmon counts via stream walks. Moreover, Jack networks with the locals, conservation groups, the Municipality of Squamish, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to help provide information about the local watershed and salmon. Now retired, Jack enjoys being a Husband Father, and Grandfather of two, while balancing his passion for streamkeeping as co-chair for the Squamish Streamkeeper’s. Contact: (604) 848-4972 jackcooley39@gmail.com
Ian Connolly
Communications Director
Ian graduated from Quest University in 2019 after focusing on water conservation, policy and the intersections of social and environmental justice. His work as a river guide in Squamish and Idaho provides him with the hands on experience to know the rivers and streams he seeks to protect. During his time at Quest he prioritized gaining hands on experience at local and national non-profits that work to enhance rivers and streams for the benefits of the ecosystem, fish and people. In particular, Ian is focused on developing local conservation efforts that seek to include and prioritize historically marginalized voices, in particular the voices of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh First Nation and other relevant indigenous communities.
Scott Renyard
Director, Film Maker
Scott Renyard is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Masters’ in Resource Management and Regional Planning. Scott has been an active Squamish Streamkeeper and Director working on many salmon and herring enhancement projects throughout the Squamish watershed, Howe sound and Burrard Inlet for 18 years. He blends his foundation in science with a love of art and storytelling through film, creating documentaries that address environmental issues. His first feature documentary, The Pristine Coast, premièred at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2014 and was launched in America on Earth Day by Gravitas Ventures. It examines the relationship between open-net pen fish farms and the collapse of many wild fish populations in the North Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Renyard's discovery that the loss of wild fish as a result of diseases from open net pen fish farms is likely an important factor for global warming. He believes that the large scale loss of wild fish is major cause of global warming rather than the common notion that climate change is causing the loss of wild fish. Renyard spent the better part of a year recording the Cohen Commission on The Decline of the Fraser River Sockeye, perhaps the first time an independent filmmaker has had such access to a Canadian Federal Inquiry. From this footage, his two feature-length documentaries, The Unofficial Trial of Alexandra Morton and Trial of an Iconic Species, are surprisingly intense and rival the twists and turns of classic courtroom dramas. Renyard also wrote, directed, and produced the film “Who Killed Miracle?” which was about the rescue of a baby killer whale in 1977. Renyard is working on several feature documentaries and series about environmental issues and is the founder of Juggernaut Pictures Inc and the new streaming service, The Green Channel. The Green Channel streams environmental content from around the world and Renyard’s vision is to create a hub that will be the “Voice of Living Things”.
Douglas Swanston
Director, Marine Biologist
Since graduating from UBC, Zoology in 1986 Mr. Swanston has been self-employed operating as NW Seacology conducting: marine biophysical SCUBA diving surveys; collecting marine life for education, bioassay and research purposes; conducting marine and freshwater interpretive programs for school groups and the general public to raise awareness for local marine and freshwater ecosystems. Doug designed and assembled temperate marine aquarium systems for schools and universities to house and display local marine life. Doug started working with the Squamish Streamkeepers in 2011 and has held a director’s position since 2018.
Zoe Blue
Interm Communications and community engagement director
Zoe was born and raised in West Vancouver and got involved with the local stream keeping organization as a teenager. For recent years Zoe has been living in Squamish and attending Quest University where she graduated in 2021. At Quest, she focused her studies on community and public policy. She also held the position of Student Environment committee chair for 2 years gaining experience in event and volunteer coordination and built connections within the Squamish conservation community. Zoe is excited to connect her interest in creating strong and connected community with her passion for environmental conservation. Contact: (778) 987-0686 zoemaxblue@gmail.com.