Taryn is originally from Vancouver but made Peachland her home over 30 years ago, where she owns an organic farm with her husband Rob. After living in Whistler and Banff, they moved from the coast to the sunny Okanagan. Both are avid back-country bikers, horse riders and enthusiasts, so they were shocked to experience unprotected, industrial chaos in their community watershed.
As the years passed and wildlife, recreation opportunities and water quality/quantity dwindled and the timing of flow shifted, Taryn felt motivated to join with other community activists and challenge the legislation that condones industrial multi-use, a town’s drinking water source. Her mantra is “Our watersheds should not be ‘open for business’!” She is Co-founder & currently the Outreach Director of the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance, an activist organization in Peachland, BC.
As one of the co-founders of IWTF, Taryn understands that united, we have a stronger, louder, and broader voice to make the necessary legislative changes BC needs in the forestry sector.
- The climate is changing, as evidenced by unprecedented atmospheric events, floods, droughts, and wildfires. There is a direct link between climate change and forest loss due to logging.
- Industrial forestry companies have legislated preferential access over all other forest users to our watersheds. The legislative mechanisms to protect forest resources for all users are not working.
Together we can tackle these existential provincial issues.
In addition to the PWPA, Taryn has also been active in many other aspects of community building. You won’t see Taryn around town without her two faithful sidekicks, Enzo and Max (dogs) by her side, who have never missed a PWPA meeting or event.
