Erin is originally from Calgary, Alberta in Treaty 7 territory. She developed a love for animals and nature during her childhood with frequent camping trips to the mountains and visits to the Calgary Zoo. Her many interests include wildlife conservation, wildlife health, IPCAs, species at risk, ornithology, fisheries management, entomology, aquaculture, environmental education, and animal behaviour.
She moved to Toronto to complete a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Toronto. Afterwards she returned to Calgary and spent a rewarding 10-year career in animal care, where she worked at pet stores, university research facilities, and emergency veterinary clinics. Along the way she volunteered at the Calgary Zoo, Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, and the Calgary Bird Banding Society.
Seeking a career change, she completed a Masters of Resource and Environmental Management at Dalhousie University. During her internship with ESSA Technologies Ltd., she designed and conducted a survey with B.C. First Nation fishers regarding a salmon conservation program. During the past summer, she did some work for Heathy Bays Network on a socioeconomic analysis of salmon farm expansion in Liverpool Bay. In addition to her university studies, she has an Assistant Extractor certification from the North American Banding Council and Backpack Electro-fishing certification.
When she is not working, Erin enjoys hiking, bird watching, cooking, and dancing. She also has a dog named Buttercup and two lizards named Paprika and Turmeric.