Breaking Water with Veronica Stamm
Swim Drink Fish is highlighting members of our incredible ecosystem. This Breaking Water segment features Veronica Stamm. Veronica joined our Vancouver Monitoring Hub as a Community Scientist in June 2022 and has been a tremendous asset to our team.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us where you work/what you do?
I am a Registered Veterinary Technologist, a 2-year diploma that involves animal husbandry, laboratory work, radiology, dentistry, pharmacology, nursing and anesthesia, among many other duties we perform in animal hospitals. After 43 years in the profession, I quit my last job to pursue other interests as semi-retired. At the same time, I am working for one veterinarian on-call basis who appreciates and trusts my skills as an anesthesiologist and in pain management.
Where did you grow up? Did you have a relationship with water there?
I was born in Chile and came to Canada when I was 19 years old. Yes. We had a beach house, and I enjoyed walking on the beach, observing the sea life, and of course, swimming.
When we went on holiday to the south- the lake region - it was another way to enjoy different kinds of nature and ecosystems. Actually, it is similar to Vancouver.
What inspired you to volunteer with Swim Drink Fish, and how has the experience been so far?
I found out about Swim Drink Fish at the Spot Prawn Festival during a time when I did not have much work from the on-call job and felt a void in being useful and productive. I knew as I am semi-retired and will eventually retire that I wanted to volunteer for something meaningful. In the back of my head, I thought maybe with the David Suzuki Foundation or World Wildlife Fund as I have always been interested in the environment, animals, and our precious nature. After having an interesting and long conversation with Alicia and Sadie, I left with a positive impression of Swim Drink Fish and its dedication to its goal and objective.
It has been EXCELLENT. Not only the fun we have as a team but mainly discovering what lies under the surface when we retrieve the trash skimming devices. I also appreciate the acceptance of my practical ideas, as well as the detailed work when analyzing/separating the debris. I enjoy the detailed manual work!!
What have you learned during your experience with Swim Drink Fish that has really surprised you?
The amount of debris and the small bits of foam and plastic among the weeds. Also, what surprised me was the sea life that can survive in this polluted environment.
Do you have anything else that you’d like to share about your work, your connection to water, or how we can encourage people to join the movement for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future?
Whenever I am with social groups, I mention Swim Drink Fish and the positive mission statement it stands for. By volunteering, I feel I am contributing to society in a different and more meaningful way. I strongly believe we have to do whatever possible to preserve the preciousness of Vancouver (and our Earth) for future generations.
If you’re interested in becoming a Community Scientist, visit https://www.swimdrinkfish.ca/volunteer
Clif Family Foundation is proud to support hundreds of organizations that are working tirelessly to strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and protect the places we play by being stewards of our environment and natural resources. Their desire is to leave the world a better place for our children.
