Robson Valley Mushroom Festival
2024 Presenters
Our festival presenters are a diverse and knowledgeable group of experts in the field of mycology whose goal is to increase public knowledge of the variety of mushrooms and fungi that grow in the Robson Valley. Through their presentations, workshops, and forays, they hope to inspire you to learn more about the fascinating field of mycology and to broaden your experience and knowledge of what is growing "in your own back yard”.
Martin Osis
Martin is a mycology educator from Alberta, Canada who has been passionate about mushrooms for over 30 years. Martin teaches and consults on field identification of wild mushrooms, forest ecology, medicinal and toxicological topics, and more. He has previously served in a variety of roles, including as a founding member and President of the Alberta Mycological Society, Vice President and Canadian Trustee of the North American Mycological Association, member of the Pacific Northwest Key council. He is regarded as one of Alberta's wild mushroom identification experts. Go check out his website! Martin's Mushrooms
Tyson Ehlers
Tyson is a professional biologist and a forest ecologist from the Slocan Valley who has been fascinated by fungi most of his life. He has worked or over 20 years on numerous mycological inventory and research projects throughout BC. His work on economically important wild-harvested mushrooms such as chanterelles and pine mushrooms has contributed to a better understanding of their ecology and recognition in forest management planning. Tyson has taught wild mushroom identification courses and guided at mushroom-themed events across BC for many years. He is a member of the Pacific Northwest Key Council, which bring amateurs and professional mycologists together to further mycological knowledge. Tyson is an avid mushroom hunter and spends much of his time in the forest collecting mushrooms, both for the kitchen and for the microscope. Tyson has authored several mycological publications, including a guidebook to mushrooms in the Kootenays.
Stephen
St Laurent
Steph is an avid recreational student of the science and practices of mycology and has been studying in earnest for the past 15 years. When he’s not at mushroom festivals, reading about fungi, foraging, or talking about every aspect of mushrooms to whoever will listen, he’s out hunting, fishing, gathering berries or taking photos of it all in the forests in and around Prince George. He can be found posting his finds and recipes at Adventures in Self Sufficiency.
Ray Thiessen
Ray is a former manager of the Dunster and McBride Community Forests and manages and operates his own woodlot in the Dunster area.
