Board of Directors

Each of these remarkable individuals plays a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of Squamish CAN, ensuring that we continue to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of our community. Together, they are guiding the organization toward a more sustainable, connected future—one thoughtful decision, one collaborative effort, and one visionary step at a time.

Holden Bonwit - President

After moving a dozen times on a few continents, Holden finally found home when he fell in love with Squamish in 2017. With a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA focused on early stage finance and social impact from the University of Oxford, he brings a blend of technical and business expertise to his consulting clients. Holden has a decade of successful product design and launch experience, followed by 10 years in business consulting in strategy, finance, and expansion. His consultative approach helps organizations break down complex challenges into manageable solutions. Passionate about environmental impact, Holden connects with nature through kiteboarding, trail running, and hiking with his family.

Gizem Kaya

Gizem settled in Vancouver from Turkey back in 2009 to pursue her studies at SFU. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Developmental, Economic and Environmental Issues in International Studies. Over the years, she's worn many hats operationalizing strategic plans in the non-profit sector: fundraising, volunteer management, developing and implementing social service programs, food security initiatives such as school food programs, food recovery and food banks. Gizem also has governance experience from having served on the board of Whistler Community Foundation. She is passionate about strategic planning, sustainable community development and currently works at Squamish Nation helping with grant proposals and development. She is dedicated to learning decolonizing practices and how to be a better ally.

Jane Raycraft

Jane is excited to share her deep experience as an accountant with a sustainability perspective, based on an interdisciplinary master’s degree that links sustainability to accounting. Jane has an understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with climate action here in the Sea to Sky based on a recent sustainable forestry project with the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative (HSBRI). In addition to bringing great non-profit volunteer experience, she is committed to the mission and values of Squamish CAN and believes that the organization has the potential to make a significant impact on the sustainability and resilience of the Squamish community.

Christen Young

With deep roots in Squamish and Whistler, Christen has lived in and around the Sea to Sky her whole life lovingly intertwined with nature through sport (skiing, trail running and hiking), work (The North Face) and everyday life. She has had had the pleasure of volunteering with Squamish CAN through Valleycliffe Elementary working with kids aged 5-12 in the school garden learning about soil health, pollinators, plant stages and so much more. In business she has worked as a Sales Rep for the last 16 years with national accounts and local independent businesses and as a challenge has taken on the role of aligning The North Face Canada sustainability initiatives with those in the US.

Amy Morris

Amy (she/her) is settler of Slovakian, Dutch, German and British ancestry. Amy resides and recreates on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, & sel̓íl̓witulh Nations, currently known as Vancouver and Squamish. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Simon Fraser University with a thesis focused on regulating dog breeding to improve well-being and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Concordia University with a specialization in Business. Amy has wide experience in the animal protection movement, campaigning for policy changes at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to curtail animal exploitation. Amy shares her life with Clover, a collie mix who guides their day to day adventures.

Patricia Lightburn

Patricia has been deeply involved in the nexus of climate change mitigation and public policy since her first environmental studies class in 2005. She has supported governments, non-profits, utilities and the private sector with a range of building decarbonization, clean mobility, and energy system transformation policies and strategies across Canada. Patricia is also an avid gardener and recently implemented a native plant restoration project in her backyard. She is a firm believer in the power of community gardening to support healthy humans and ecosystems.

Our Board of Directors brings a wealth of experience, passion, and strategic leadership to Squamish CAN. Each member is committed to driving positive change in our community by supporting sustainable food systems, promoting waste reduction, and ensuring that our local environment thrives for generations to come. Their diverse backgrounds and collective expertise help guide our vision, mission, and initiatives, ensuring that Squamish CAN remains a beacon of progress, collaboration, and resilience. Meet our staff and board at the Annual General Meeting - held on May 27th, 2025 at Brackendale Art Gallery from 6.30pm.