John Tress
What is your professional background/experience?
I have over 10 years’ experience as a GIS Analyst in the earth sciences, working across Canada and abroad on projects in ecology, land management, and environmental impact. I also spent three seasons as a Wildland firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service and have taken part in numerous prescribed and cultural burns.
What education or courses have you completed?
I hold a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Geographic Analysis from Toronto Metropolitan University and an Environmental Technician Diploma from Seneca College.
What is your favorite thing about the work you do?
Creative problem-solving and applying my skills to help protect the communities I call home.
Which project are you most proud of and why?
The Nelson Wildland Urban Interface - Wildfire Risk Reduction (WUI WRR) Plan — it let me combine my wildfire fighting background with GIS to build a large-scale plan that ties site-level fuel reduction projects into a broader community protection strategy.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working on Cathro Collective projects?
Hiking, skiing, camping, paddling — basically going feral in the mountains with my dog.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Wizard powers — Harry Potter style.
