Who We Are
Learn more about the dedicated and energetic individuals who make up the CPAWS Manitoba team:
- Ron Thiessen, Executive Director
- Francesca Arkley, Executive Assistant
Executive Director
Ron Thiessen has worked professionally in the conservation arena for the
last 17 years.
Ron's efforts began with Greenpeace where he was primarily involved in
education and fundraising. He worked in 10 Canadian cities in his eight
years with the organization.
Ron spent the next six years as Director of the Western Canada Wilderness
Committee's Manitoba office. In January 2006, he began his post as Executive
Director of CPAWS Manitoba.
Ron employs his experience in community, media, industry, and government
relations to achieve protected areas and safeguard wildlife. His efforts
have lead the way to creating protected areas such as the Manigotagan River
provincial park as well as halting logging in important woodland caribou
habitats. He has also been influential in achieving extended protection for
Fisher Bay, Poplar/Nanowin Rivers, and Sturgeon Bay park reserves.
Born and raised in Manitoba, Ron is an avid outdoor enthusiast who cherishes
spending time with his family. His hobbies include photography and playing
music.
Executive Assistant Francesca has been a dedicated environmental crusader since she was a small child. Growing up in Toronto, her environmental efforts have mostly been related to urban issues. In university, while in pursuit of a degree in Environmental Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies, she sat on two environmental student groups whose primary purpose was to raise campus awareness about environmental issues and persuade faculty into making environmental education mandatory for all University of Toronto students.
Immediately after graduation, Francesca spent a year as a Katimavik Project leader, inspiring young people to explore vegetarianism/veganism, buy locally and support local and fair trade business, and becoming involved in grass roots and community organizations. During this time she developed an ecological footprint workshop which she delivered to participants from across the country.
After Katimavik ended and after four months of living in the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Francesca decided to see the rest of Canada and came to Winnipeg on a whim. She enjoyed the city and especially the friendly environmental community and has since decided to settle here and start a family. She is excited to be working with CPAWS Manitoba and enjoys the challenges and opportunities her position as Executive Assistant has to offer.
CPAWS Manitoba gains strength in numbers through its volunteers. Learn more about these dedicated individuals in our Volunteer Profiles section.
