Board of Directors

Mark is the principal and founding landscape architect at VDZ+A Consulting, which has served clients across Canada and the USA in landscape architecture, civil engineering, and urban forestry since 1999. Born in the Fraser Valley to immigrant parents who established a bulb-growing venture in Bradner, his family later founded the Art Knapps nursery chain in western Canada and remains active in the nursery trades and wholesale horticulture industry. As the Chair of the Board, Mark is dedicated to fostering relationships, partnerships, and opportunities for regional park projects, with a focus on raising the foundation’s profile and garnering support for various parkland initiatives. His favorite regional park is Derby Reach Regional Park in North Langley, where he appreciates the waterfront along the Fraser River, fishing spots, trails, and open picnic areas, as well as the strong connection to the Kwantlen First Nation and its rich cultural heritage within the Fraser River corridor. Looking ahead, Mark envisions greater emphasis on the importance of public parklands for mental, spiritual, and physical renewal, continuing to elevate the foundation’s role in conversations on land stewardship, habitat protection, and reconciliation.

Mike Jerowsky is a PhD Candidate and researcher in the UBC Geography Department. He works with local communities and land managers to create open-source environmental education materials using virtual and augmented reality. His MA was also in Geography and focussed on barriers to co-management in the Metro Vancouver Park Partnership Program. His other professional interests are in geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, and political ecology.

In his free time, Mike loves to spend as much time as he can in our regional parks. He is a past-president of the Pacific Spirit Park Society and has been working with local communities to restore urban parkland, organize citizen-lead environmental monitoring, and provide environmental education for youth since 2015.

Sarah Marsh is a nature enthusiast and dedicated environmental leader, passionate about helping people connect with the natural world. As a Partner at PwC Canada, she leads efforts in sustainability, guiding organizations to make a positive environmental impact. Sarah is recognized for her thoughtful approach to environmental challenges, helping clients understand and reduce their carbon footprints. She serves on the board of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, where she plays a vital role in inspiring youth and the community to engage with and protect Metro Vancouver’s parks through meaningful outdoor experiences.

“As a born and raised British Columbian, I cherish the green spaces that we have in our province that are so easily accessible, especially those that are close to the urban areas that some of us live in. I am honoured to be part of the Pacific Parklands Foundation helping to enhance and protect our regional parks into the future.”

People need nature. Nature needs people to value and protect it. Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks system provides the public with close and accessible access to a variety of quiet, natural spaces. As a Director of the Foundation, Roy wants to support the enhancement and expansion of the Regional Parks system for the benefit of present and future generations of British Columbians, as well as the environment upon which we all depend. 

“No one can sing who has smog in their throat.” – the Lorax

Liyang is an urban planner based in the Lower Mainland. With an interest in ecology, landscapes, and community building, regional parks matter to Liyang because accessing nature, green spaces, and wildlife has made her realize that we are all part of a whole. Our surrounding natural environments take care of us in many ways, and we should do the same in return.