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 Blenksinsop 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 conversation fundriaser who has helped to raise approximately $10 million toward the protection of the Saanich Greenbelt through the Blenkinsop Valley. Included was the former Agricultural Program Coordinator Assistant for the province wide Conservation Partners Program at 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 have holding the bar, being a model for best practices/governance and be 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):
  • Chair, Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee – 2020
  • Liaison, Te’mexw Treaty Advisory Committee - 2019
Capital Regional District appointments (current):
  • Director, Regional Water Supply Commission
Previous appointments:
  • 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