Nathalie Chambers

Elected 2018

Phone:  250-882-6069
Email:                                      nathalie.chambers@saanich.ca 

Personal summary:

Nathalie Chambers and her family live and manage Madrona Farm, their organic farming business in the Blenkinsop Valley (by legal commercial farm lease) mid-slope PKOLS in the sacred lands on LEKWUNGEN/W̱SÁNEĆ territory.  They grow a diversity of 108 varieties of organic vegetables 12 months a year, have created a bird sanctuary and planted two orchards. Nathalie is a mother, restoration ecologist,  published wildlife conservation fundriaser who has helped raise approximately $10 million toward the protection of the Saanich Greenbelt through the Blenkinsop Valley. Her background inlcudes experience as an Agricultural Program Coordinator Assistant to the province-wide Conservation Partners Program at The Land Conservancy  of BC (TLC - when still a National Trust) and formerly a Major Gifts Officer at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. 

I believe in the starring role local governments can play holding the bar, providing a model for best practices/governance and leading the change we wish to see in the world.

Protect What You Love. 

Career experience:

  • Land Conservancy of British Columbia
  • Agricultural Program Coordinator: Worked with 90 exemplary farmers in the Conservation Partners Program (a landowner incentive program)
  • Native Pollinator Outreach educator
  • Assistant Major Gifts Officer
  • Raincoast Conservation Foundation-Major Gift Fundraiser
  • Author at Rocky Mountain Publishers
  • Saving Farmland: the Fight for Real Food
Saanich Council appointments (current):
  • Member, Finance and Governance Standing Committee
  • Liaison, Active Transportation Committee
  • Liaison, Te’mexw Treaty Advisory Committee - 2019
Capital Regional District appointments (current):
  • Director, Regional Water Supply Commission
Previous appointments:
  • Chair, Natural Areas, Parks and Trails Advisory Committee
  • Liaison, Peninsula & Area Agricultural Commission - 2019
  • Saanich Arts and Heritage Committee - 2018
Credentials/education:
  • Diploma in Restoration Ecology from the University of Victoria
  • Diploma in Conservation Finance from Yale University
  • Permaculture Design Certificate
Community and volunteers services:
  • Founder of the Chef Survival Challenge Event
  • Founding Member of the Blenkinsop Valley Community Association (2006-2018)
  • Founding Member of the Social Environmental Alliance (SEA)
  • Girl Guide Leaders of Canada (Bay to Bay-Sparks: Sunflower)
Awards:
  • Nathalie and David Chambers Saanich Sustainability Award - 2017
  • TLC Conservation Award 2010
  • Golden Carrot Award 2012