Laura Cottle, RPF

Laura, originally from Edmonton, Alberta, studied Forestry with an emphasis on ecological restoration at the University of Alberta. During her student days, she spent one summer in Sweden working on a forestry student work exchange, an experience that ignited her passion for international forestry and travel. Subsequently, she explored forestry opportunities in Peru, Kenya, and Finland during lean forestry years after graduating, fostering a deep interest in diverse forest ecosystems. She has lived in Finland multiple times and also in Malawi, Eastern Africa. Eventually, Laura and her family returned to British Columbia, drawn by their love for the province’s incredible array of forest types.

Laura’s forestry experience includes basic forest management in both Interior and Coastal forests, focusing on the development and implementation of management plans. After earning a Bachelor of Education from UBC, she integrated her forestry background with education, creating numerous forest and nature education programs for all ages, from children to seniors. At UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, she designed and launched the “Forestry at UBC” course for international students and developed online learning modules in “Introduction to Forestry.” Laura also played a key role in organizing international forestry conferences and workshops.

In her recent role as Volunteer and Program Coordinator for Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS), a non-profit partner of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, Laura specialized in urban forestry, focusing on stewardship in degraded forest areas of Pacific Spirit Regional Park. She designed and implemented citizen science and educational programs aimed at engaging the community in park conservation efforts.

Laura has worked part-time with Tree Canada for over 5 years, where she enjoyed connecting people to nature through tree planting initiatives and integrating nature education whenever possible. She is excited to take on the main role of Forestry Specialist in British Columbia.