Tim Stokes, Professor
Tim joined the Earth Science Department at VIU in 2002. Prior to this time, he worked in industry as a consultant completing various environmental geology, engineering geology and geohazards projects. He undertook a BSc degree in Mining Engineering at Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall, England. During which time, he also worked in the clay pits of Cornwall, and a copper mine in Finland. He came to Canada in 1980 and worked in the Yukon before going to McGill where he graduated with a MSc in Mineral Exploration in 1983. He spent a year travelling in Australia and worked as a geologist in the Kalgoorlie gold field. He then returned to Canada and completed a PhD at Dalhousie University in 1991 on structural geology and gold deposits in the NWT. Tim’s current research interests are varied and include: management and mapping of karst landscapes, seismic hazard mapping, and structural mapping.
Tim teaches GEOL111, GEOL202, GEOL206, GEOL301, GEOL302, GEOL312, and GEOL390
Visit Tim's profile where you will learn more about his past education, work experience, research and teaching.
Jerome Lesemann, Professor and Department Chair
Jerome joined the VIU Earth Science department in 2013 after working with the Geological Survey of Canada and other academic roles. He completed a BSc (Hons.) in geology at the University of Montreal and an MSc at the University of Alberta before completing his PhD at Simon Fraser University which focused on glacial landforms in the Okanagan Valley. Jerome is interested in reconstructions of ancient environments using a variety of techniques and approaches (landform-sediments relationships, geophysics, etc.) and their applications to understanding environmental change, mineral exploration, groundwater resources. Jerome has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of glacial sedimentology related to glacial dynamics, landforms, and meltwater processes. Jerome teaches GEOL 111, GEOL 115, GEOL 201, GEOL 304, GEOL 305, GEOL 307, GEOL 390, GEOL 412, and has taught GEOL 470 in its Advanced Sedimentology iteration.
Sandra Johnstone, Professor
Sandra joined the Earth Science department in 2006 after working as a mine-site geologist and as a field geologist in both industry and government. She achieved her BSc degree in Earth and Ocean Science at the University of Victoria (2000), and her Master of Science degree in Earth Science (specializing in Archean tectonics, geochronology, and structural geology) at the University of Waterloo (2002). Sandra is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in Educational Studies at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. She teaches GEOL 112, GEOL 115, GEOL 200, GEOL 206, GEOL 300, GEOL 308, GEOL 390, and has taught GEOL 470.
Gerri McEwen, Technician and Sessional Instructor
Gerri McEwen has a BSc. (Hons) and an MSc. in Earth Sciences both from the University of Victoria (2014 & 2023). Her MSc thesis involved modelling the tectonic evolution of the Okanagan subterrane, an ophiolitic suite in south central British Columbia that is Paleozoic basement to the Quesnel terrane of the Canadian Cordillera. Her research interests focus on the tectonic history of the Canadian Cordillera, in particular Quesnellia, because of the terrane's integral role in models of Cordilleran orogenesis (formation of the western margin of North America). She has been the technician in the Geology department since 2018.
Sessional Instructors
- Rhy McMillan
- David Terrill
- Steven Earle
- Carl Miller