Shantille Butler

Executive Director

Growing up in a small rural community on the Bonavista Peninsula, Shantille spent her childhood exploring the outside world, from fishing and farming with her grandparents to rock and tree climbing with her friends. From the time she was a young teenager, Shantille spent many days and evenings tutoring and babysitting young children.

This experience sparked her desire to apply to the Education Faculty at Memorial University. After graduating with a B.A/B.Ed Shantille began her teaching career, however, it was cut short by a sudden move to Ottawa which resulted in her entering the corporate world for 5 years.  After her daughter was born, Shantille decided to move back once again into caring for and educating children by starting her own daycare. Following success in the corporate and small business world, she decided to explore new opportunities.

This experience led Shantille to the Fluvarium where she has now rediscovered her passion for the outdoors as well as empowering youth with opportunities to experience their natural environment.  Shantille can be found spending time with her family and curled up with a good book!

Robert “Bob” Piercey

Education Manger

“A born and bred ‘townie’ from St. John’s, Bob obtained his B.A/B.Ed from Memorial University in the 1980s.  Soon after, he began his teaching career on the south coast of Newfoundland, in the isolated community of Francois, where he taught in a multigrade classroom for three years. This was followed by a two-year position as a teaching Principal in the small community of Lodge Bay, Labrador.

Upon returning to St. John’s in 1991, Bob visited The Fluvarium and fell in love with it. A year later he applied for a ‘six-week’ position and stayed for twenty-eight years. Bob is proud to have been part of the team that has seen over 250,000 students pass through the Fluvarium doors to take part in environmental education programs!

Bob is the father of three incredible children, and husband to an equally remarkable woman, all of whom have played an equally important role in his work life at the Fluvarium!  Bob loves the outdoors, hiking and fishing, as well as carpentry and gardening. He recently took up ice hockey again, after a thirty-year absence! Still waiting for the Leafs to win the cup!”

Tracy Thoms

Education Coordinator /
Environment Interpreter

Growing up in rural Newfoundland, in a family that seemed to be at home next to, in or on a pond, camping, hiking, and snowmobiling it seems logical that Tracy ended up as an environmental educator.  Her dad, an avid outdoorsman, taught Tracy about the importance of our natural world, our place in it and our need to respect nature.

Tracy took that respect and a natural curiosity about the living world to Memorial University where she completed a B.Sc and a B.Ed (Intermediate/Secondary).  After falling in love with her best friend and settling down in Mt. Pearl she was drawn to the informal education setting of a non-profit organization… and never looked back.

Her love of teaching, science and our natural world led her to The Fluvarium and for the past 10 years, she says she “is once again feeling at home next to, in or on a pond”.