Catherine is a Junior Researcher with The Firelight Group and is supporting the Mapping and GIS team. Born and raised in Okotoks, Alberta, she moved to Vancouver Island in 2016 to pursue a BSc. in Geography from the University of Victoria, where she concentrated in Geomatics. Her studies focused on incorporating the technical aspects of GIS and spatial analysis into community-based research to create inclusive, community-directed maps that amplify local voices and experiences. She is passionate about increasing the accessibility of GIS in Indigenous communities and using maps as community building tools. She is excited and honored to continue her learning alongside the Firelight team. In her free time, Catherine enjoys skateboarding, crafting and listening to music.