Staff & Facilitators

SPC offers practical and current information and advice on integrated community sustainability planning from expert Sustainability Facilitators located across British Columbia. Our Sustainability Facilitators are located in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Cranbrook and Williams Lake. Visit our Services page to find details on Facilitation services.

Discuss sustainability issues and network with the Smart Planners on the LiveSmart BC online community for Climate Action Leaders. Not a member? .

Joan Chess MCIP Sustainability Facilitator

Northern Interior Office: Prince George
T: 250 612-0282 | E:

Laurie Cordell MCIP Sustainability Facilitator

Kootenay Office: Cranbrook
T: 250 421-9687 | E:

Laurie Cordell is SPC’s Southeastern BC Sustainability Facilitator — bringing 12 years of planning experience at the federal, regional district and municipal levels. With a strong interest in sustainability, Laurie has extensive experience related to planning processes and a passion for creative community engagement. In her previous roles as Municipal and Regional Planner, she was responsible for a wide array of community planning including greenhouse gas mitigation, affordable housing, climate adaptation and development of Official Community Plans. Laurie appreciates the communities and natural beauty of British Columbia. She currently lives in the Kootenays in an off-grid, solar house.

Angela Evans MCIP Sustainability Facilitator

Vancouver Island Office: Victoria (currently on leave)
T: 250 858-6209 | E:

Angela Evans is SPC’s Vancouver Island/Coastal Sustainability Facilitator. She is a planner with over 20 years experience working in regional and local governments. After working in Ontario, Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast, she worked for several years as an Environmental Planner with the District of Saanich. Angela’s expertise and special interests include stormwater management, environmental best management practices, policy harmonization and food security issues. She enjoys sharing innovative practices between communities, and finding "just the right piece" of information to help staff or council take their next steps on the path to sustainability. Angela and her family keep communal chickens, grow food and build community on their small urban lot in Victoria.

Maureen LeBourdais SPC Manager and interim Okanagan Facilitator

Cariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
T: 250 392-1400 | E:

Maureen LeBourdais has over 16 years experience in community economic development and capacity-building in British Columbia, managing a range of environmental, economic and social planning initiatives. Before joining Smart Planning, Maureen was Coordinator of the BC Rural Network, a coalition of provincial and regional organizations formed to enhance the capacity of rural British Columbia to develop responses to community issues. Maureen’s passion is rural communities and continues to apply her expertise in rural capacity development in her work with the Fraser Basin Council.

Jennifer Nichols Communications Resource Coordinator

Province-wide support: Victoria
T: 250 387-4470 | E:

Jennifer develops Smart Planning’s outreach and communication initiatives including e-learning production, webinar support and crafting SPCs Stories in the Field. She also collects news, events and case studies about municipal climate action for the BC Climate Action Toolkit: toolkit.bc.ca. In past roles, Jennifer has worked with the City of Vancouver Sustainability Group, a zero waste project in northern BC and several publishing houses in Canada and the UK. Jennifer has completed degrees in Communication Design and Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability.

Peter Ostergaard MCIP Sustainability Facilitator

Province-Wide Energy Specialist: Victoria
T: 250 888-3030 | E:

Peter Ostergaard is SPC’s province-wide Sustainability Facilitator with expertise in community energy planning. In his previous role as Assistant Deputy Minister in the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, he was responsible for many programs policies, and initiatives in community energy, energy efficiency, transportation, climate change, buildings, natural gas and electricity. He also served for six years as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the BC Utilities Commission. Peter lives in an energy efficient R2000 house he helped build almost 25 years ago, and looks after land use and development matters for his community association in Saanich.

Donnella Sellars SPC Program Coordinator

Cariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
T: 250 392-1400 | E:

Donnella Sellars works province-wide for SPC with local and First Nations governments on relationship building processes. She brings an excellent understanding of Comprehensive Community Planning to the Smart Planning for Communities Program. Donnella’s knowledge of negotiations, First Nations culture, administration and coordination adds an invaluable dimension to Fraser Basin Council services. Donnella Sellars is from Xat’sūll (Soda Creek) First Nation and was involved in the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw Treaty Negotiations for ten years. She believes that if communities are given a chance to recognize, reconcile, and develop a common vision they will be able to work together for future generations.

Maggie Cahoon Program Assistant

Cariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
T: 250 392-1400 | E:

Maggie manages systems support for Smart Planning for Communities and the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia. Maggie has worked in business administration for the past 17 years with a particular focus on emerging technologies and database management. Maggie enjoys keeping Smart Planning's extensive network and resource sharing up to date. She lives with her family in the Cariboo.