Speaker Bios
Franke James
Keynote Address:
Franke James is an artist and author who merges science, art and storytelling to inspire people to take action and “do the hardest thing first” for the planet. Her book, Bothered by My Green Conscience is a collection of five visual stories about her true-life adventures going green. In 2007, she made headlines by successfully winning permission from Toronto City Hall for the right to build a green driveway. Recently, she traveled to the Boreal Forest to write the story, Who Cares About the Forest? for FSC Canada.
Her work is garnering serious attention worldwide:
“Franke James is among the tiny handful of really powerful and profound artists who have taken on climate change — the most important topic on the planet, but one so big and all-encompassing that it often defies artistic interpretation. Her work is incredibly important for many of us around the world,” – Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org.
“Franke James work is honest, powerful and funny. She has a rare ability to sweep past the polarization and complexity of critical issues and shine a stark spotlight without over simplifying. Her work is not to be missed by anyone interested in climate change or the future of Canada,” says Tzeporah Berman, Co-director Climate and Energy, Greenpeace International.
She has been featured on CBC National News, CBC Radio, Grist, Change.org, 350.org, Treehugger.com, YES! Magazine, Gopher Illustrated Magazine, the Toronto Star, National Post, Montreal Gazette, Times-Colonist, Ottawa Citizen, Worldchanging.com and numerous blogs. She has delivered keynotes and workshops in the United States and Canada. She has a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, and a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Mount Allison University. She lives in Toronto where her favourite mode of transportation is walking.
Robert Cordy, Everdale
Using Natures Easel: The Art of Community Forest Gardening
Robert Cordy was hooked on agriculture the first time he ate a cherry fresh off his grandparent’s tree. He finally followed his heart in 2009 when he spent a season as a craft intern at Ignatius farm in Guelph. He was so excited by these agriculture practices he couldn’t wait for the next Canadian farming season. Instead, he spent the winter at a biodynamic winery in New Zealand and a permaculture orchard in Australia. Robert is a graduate of Everdale’s Organic Farming Certificate program and its Farmers Growing Farmers course. He now teaches a gardening credit course at an alternative high school downtown and is starting his own farm business this year. Robert is an advocate of social justice and believes strongly in teaching communities how to grow food using sustainable practices.
Carolyn Bailey, EcoSource
Organic Food Production and Forest Conservation: Working Together for Healthy and Diverse Ecosystems
Carolyn Bailey is a graduate of McGill University and of Everdale Environmental Learning Centre’s Organic Farming Program. Carolyn works as Urban Agriculture Program Manager at EcoSource, a community environmental organization based in the Region of Peel. EcoSource specializes in fun, hands-on programs that focus on how each of us can change our daily habits to become better environmental citizens. The Mississauga Sustainable Urban Agriculture Project is led by EcoSource in partnership with Eden Community Food Bank, supported by the City of Mississauga and the University of Toronto Mississauga. Together we are working to increase access to fresh healthy food, food growing spaces and sustainable food growing education in our community.
Alex Speers-Roesch, Greenpeace
Canada’s Green Crown: Why we must save the Boreal Forest and what you can do to help
Alex Speers-Roesch first started working at Greenpeace four years ago while completing his degree at the University of Toronto, where he studied mathematics and physics. For the past year he has been part of the forest team at Greenpeace Canada, and currently he is an assistant forest campaigner, working primarily for the protection of Canada’s Boreal Forest.
Bohdan Kowalyk, Ministry of Natural Resources
Forests for the Future: A Lesson in Good Forestry Practices
Bohdan Kowalyk, R.P.F. is an Aurora District Forester with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources covering the Greater Toronto Area.
Bohdan graduated from the University of Toronto and has a background in research and consulting in addition to resource management. The MNR’s mission is biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
Bohdan provides advice on forest benefits and better treatment including appropriate protection, rehabilitation and use. He brings a provincial perspective (Oak Ridges Moraine, Greenbelt, natural heritage systems) recognizing the importance of various scales for woodland planning, tree bylaws, tax incentives and management.
Rod Krick, Credit Valley Conservation
Invasive Forest Plants: Threats and Management
Rod Krick works as a Natural Heritage Ecologist at Credit Valley Conservation where he coordinates CVC’s invasive species program and contributes to other watershed management initiatives.
After graduating from the University of Waterloo in Environmental Sciences, he moved on to further education as a Forest Technician and Integrated Resource Management Technologist in Sault Ste. Marie. Rod began his full-time career working in a forestry consultant company in eastern Ontario until 1999.From 1999 to 2001 he worked in Namibia as a Natural Resource Advisor with local conservancies on a WWF sponsored community-based natural resource management project.
On returning to Canada he worked with OMNR for more than a year as a stewardship coordinator assistant and then conducted ecological land classification and botanical work. He spent the next five years working for Toronto and Region Conservation as a Field Biologist and Natural Heritage Ecologist before coming to CVC.
Nadine Nesbitt, University of Toronto Mississauga Campus
Monitoring Invasive Species Migration through Historical Imagery
Nadine Nesbitt is a senior undergraduate researcher in UTM’s Geography and Environment Department. Nadine’s honours thesis presentation focuses on using historical imagery dating back to 1954 to track growth and spread of Tartarian honeysuckle, a highly invasive species, through delineation in GIS software.Nadine has been an active environmental leader on campus throughout her academic career. Her passions lay in plant ecology and preserving our natural heritage.
Mary Bracken, City of Mississauga
Mississauga: Living Green in Action
Mary Bracken is Project Lead for the City of Mississauga’s Living Green Master Plan. She is a member of the City’s Environmental Network Team and a staff representative on the Environmental Advisory Committee.
Previously, Mary was an environmental planner for the City of Mississauga. Mary has been with the city for seven years. Prior to being with the City of Mississauga, Mary was a planner with CVC for 15 years.
Mary has a bachelor’s degree in applied arts in Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson and is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Canadian Institute of Planners.
Michael Karowich
City of Mississauga: Green Development Strategy in Mississauga
Michael Karowich is the Project Lead for the City of Mississauga Green Development Strategy, which was two year study to develop a Green Development Strategy to guide new private development to be ‘greener’ and ‘more sustainable’. Michael is currently the Chair for the City Council endorsed Task Force set up to implement the approved Strategy. As a trained Architect, Michael brings 23 years of experience in sustainable and urban design, of which seven years has been with the City of Mississauga. Michael has a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University in Toronto, a Masters of Architecture and Town Planning from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is a professional member of the Danish Federation of Architects.
Dan Stuckey, Biodiversity Education Awareness Network
“Snag, the Life of a Dead Tree” The Importance of Dead Trees to Biodiversity
Dan Stuckey has more than 30 years experience in environmental education and natural heritage conservation with OMNR, CWS, TRCA and CVC. He currently teaches applied ecology subjects in the two-year diploma Environmental Landscape Management Program, at Seneca College.
Tooba Shakeel, Evergreen
Tree Planting
Tooba Shakeel is a first year master’s student in the Department of Geography. She has an honours B.A in Environmental Management and Anthropology from UTM. Her honors thesis examined the role of community groups in urban forests management. Prior to starting the master’s program, Tooba spent a year working for Evergreen as their Stewardship Coordinator in Mississauga, carrying out community planting events in Mississauga and other parts of the GTA
Kata Bavrlic, Credit Valley Conservation
Plants and Animals: Indicators of Forest Health in the Credit River Watershed
Kata Bavrlic holds a master’s degree in Science in Conservation Biology from Trent University, in Peterborough Ontario. As a Terrestrial Monitoring Specialist at CVC, she is responsible for coordinating the Terrestrial Monitoring Program component of the Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program. The program measures long-term trends in the health of forests, wetlands and riparian areas throughout the watershed. Although she has worked with a diversity of taxa over the years, her specializations include avian community ecology and tree health.
Mary Orr, Canadian Food and Inspection Agency
Update on Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Long-horned Beetle in Canada
Mary Orr works as a Plant Health Network Specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In this role she is responsible for protecting Canada’s plant resource base. She has been with the agency since 1989, having spent the majority of her time as a Plant Health Program Officer. Mary has been involved with the Asian Longhorned Beetle eradication program since the insect was first detected in Toronto and Vaughan in September, 2003. She has also been involved with the Emerald Ash Borer in the GTA and Ontario, and has delivered presentations on both insects in Italy and Holland. Mary holds a honours bachelor’s degree in Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, with a major in Plant Protection.
Peter Orphanos, Sierra Club and Tatiana Koveshnikova, Credit Valley Conservation
Natural Credit: What’s the Value?
Peter Orphanos has been a community leader for about 30 years. He is married with two children and one grandchild. He was an elementary school educator for 35 years as a teacher and administrator. During that time he has received several awards recognizing him for outstanding contribution to the environment, physical education and to service clubs. Peter has founded several successful residents associations and environmental groups, including Sierra Club Peel. He has received awards for outstanding achievement from Ontario Nature, the City of Mississauga, Clean City Mississauga, Parks Mississauga, Peel Aquarium Club and CVC.
His passion is protecting and enhancing natural heritage systems, especially in the Credit Valley Watershed. He has used municipal, provincial, OMB and EA forums effectively to achieve his goals. Currently, he is acting on behalf of Sierra Club in a partnership with Environmental Defence/Greenbelt Alliance staff to grow the Greenbelt in Peel.
Peter’s current responsibilities include serving on Mississauga’s Environmental Advisory Committee, Ontario’s Source Water Protection Committee, Coordinator of Natural Infrastructure Collaborative of Ontario (NICO) and Chair of Sierra Club Peel. Positive relationships with everyone, including public representatives are the key to Peter’s success. In addition, he values tenacity, consistency, credibility and being well-informed as keys in achieving goals.
Tatiana Koveshnikova
Tatiana Koveshnikova is an Ecological Goods and Services Project Coordinator at Credit Valley Conservation. Tatiana is currently a PhD Candidate in Environmental Studies at York University. She holds a bachelors degree in Economics and Management (Samara State Aerospace University, Russia) and a master’s degree in Environmental Studies (The Evergreen State College, USA). Tatiana has broad research interests that include social networks analysis and the economic valuation of ecological benefits. Prior to coming to CVC, she worked for DSS Management Consultants, an environmental consulting firm, carrying out statistical analysis, assisting in developing socio-economic dynamic models and preparing reports for a variety of environmental projects.
Eric Miller, Consultant
Revealing Nature’s Hidden Economic Benefits
Eric Miller is an independent consultant, specializing in natural resource and ecological economics. He teaches courses in ecological economics at York University and has taught at Queen’s University. Eric has worked in various policy-related roles with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Environment, and Environment Canada. He earned an MES in Ecological Macroeconomics from York University, a BA in Economics from McMaster University and a BSc in Biology from Carleton University.
Christine Korol, Rainforest Alliance
From Forest to Consumer: Enhancing and Supporting Sustainable Forestry Locally and Internationally
Christine Korol is a Forest Management Associate for the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood Program. In this role, Christine manages and audits SmartWood’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certificates in Ontario, as well as several FSC chain-of-custody clients.
The Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit international organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour.
The Rainforest Alliance is the world’s leading forest stewardship council management certifier, with more than 20 years of certification experience. FSC has worked in more than 70 countries and all forest types, with small businesses, indigenous communities and Fortune 500 companies.
Christine has a master’s degree in Forest Conservation from University of Toronto, and an honours bachelor of science degree in Ecology from University of Guelph. Previously, Christine has worked for WWF Canada, Grand River Conservation Authority, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Trees for Guelph.
Brenda Walch, Wellington County Green Legacy Program
Trees from Seed to Ground: Many Small Hands Making a Big Difference
“She who sows courtesy reaps friendship, she who plants kindness gathers love”
Brenda Walsh is an Outreach Coordinator for the County of Wellington’s Green Legacy Program. Brenda greets more than 3,000 volunteers annually and has logged up to 15,000 hours of volunteer time. Brenda’s background includes 15 years experience in horticulture and another five years working with many different members of the community. Brenda is an enthusiastic volunteer in her community. In June of 2011 Brenda was honoured at a local high school as volunteer of the year. Brenda truly recognizes the value of giving back to her community. Green Legacy Program was Brenda’s way of combining her passion for people and love of trees. When accepting her position at Green Legacy four years ago Brenda knew she had found her place in the world. She embarked on an adventure that began with planting trees, but found however trees where only the beginning. Today when Brenda is not enjoying time with her family she is honoured to spend her time with various groups who attend Green Legacy.
Susan McGowan, Ontario Forestry Research Institute
Forest Health: What’s going on?
Susan McGowan is the Forest Health Technical Specialist for the Ministry of Natural Resources Midhurst Aurora District. Before working with the MNR Susan worked for the City of Toronto on the Asian Longhorned Beatle Task Force for four years. And pervious to working with the City of Toronto Susan worked in the forestry field in southern Ontario with the Grey Sauble CA and Lands and Forests Consulting.
Kelsey O’Reily, Credit Valley Conservation
Salamanders: A Forest’s Canary in the Coal Mine
Kelsey O’Reily holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, a master’s degree in Science from University of Guelph and a post-graduate diploma from Niagara College in Ecosystem Restoration.
Since 2009, she has worked at CVC as a Terrestrial Monitoring Assistant and then as a Terrestrial Monitoring Technician. She has been responsible for implementing forest and wetland monitoring protocols as part of the terrestrial component of a larger integrated watershed monitoring program.
Freyja Forsyth, Credit Valley Conservation
Invasive Species ID Walk
Freyja Forsyth is an Invasive Species Technician at CVC and is responsible for managing invasive species on CVC lands. She received her master’s degree in Environmental Protection and Management at University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. Since then she has worked on projects investigating Arctic vegetation communities, greenhouse gas emissions in Hudson Bay lowlands, and ecological land classification in southern Ontario. At CVC her focus is the invasive species strategy and engaging the public in invasive species initiatives.
Ontario Forestry Association
What to Cut and What to Keep
The Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) is a non-profit, registered charity dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of all aspects of Ontario’s forests, and to develop a commitment to stewarding forest ecosystems. Since 1949, OFA has been involved in public education on forestry and environmental issues. To this day, OFA continues to increase public education and knowledge of forestry and environmental issues.
The OFA has worked for more than 60 years to promote the value of forests in Ontario. The OFA reaches landowners, educators, students and general public of Ontario. It achieves its mission by promoting forest education, including classroom resources, for students from Grade 1 to 12, and a range of programs to support good stewardship of private land forests.
Phillip van Wassenaer B.Sc., MFC, Urban Forest Innovations
Maintaining Old Trees in the Human Landscape
Philip van Wassenaer is the principal consulting arborist and founder of Urban Forest Innovations (UFI) and Urban Forest Innovative Solutions (UFIS). With almost 20 years experience, Philip has been an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist since 1996 and a member of the prestigious American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) since 1999. He has served as both president (former) and director of Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) between 1997 and 2008. Philip’s further qualifications include an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, and a master’s degree in Forest Conservation with a specialization in Urban Forest Management, from University of Toronto. In 2009 Philip was one of the first seven recipients of the ISA “True Professionals of Arboriculture” awards in recognition of his commitment to education and advancing arboriculture. His strong combination of education and experience allow him to bring a unique and successful approach to his arboriculture and urban forestry projects. Through his professional and volunteer efforts Philip has worked locally, nationally and internationally on assignments concerning urban forestry and the preservation of significant trees
Brad Bass, University of Toronto
Fulfilling Hunderwasser’s Dream: “A City and a Forest should be Indistinguishable to a Bird” and Protecting Our Forests
Dr. Brad Bass is an adjunct professor in University of Toronto’s Centre for Environment, Past-chair of North American Green Roof Research Committee and a member of Mississauga’s Environmental Advisory Committee. His current research interests include simulating population responses to environmental change, green infrastructure and urban sustainability and feasibility of local energy supplies under climate change. Current projects include developing a green roof energy calculator, local energy plans to maximize true efficiencies, 3-D visualization of urban heat islands, developing design protocols for green roof biodiversity, halophytic biofiltration and simulating both ecological and social adaptation. Brad teaches classes on green infrastructure, runs workshops on adaptation for elementary and secondary school students and volunteers for education programs at CVC and The Riverwood Conservancy.
Al Corlett, Trees Ontario
Trees, trees, trees: 50 million by 2020
Al Corlett is a Registered Professional Forester with 36 years experience with the Ministry of Natural Resources and more recently, as a forest management consultant. Al is currently Program Manager for Trees Ontario, a non-profit organization committed to re-greening Ontario through tree planting efforts on rural lands and in urban areas. Trees Ontario currently supports planting approximately three million trees a year. The goal is to increase this support to 10 million trees a year by 2015.
Gary Neilson, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Developing a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Lake Simcoe Watershed
Gary Neilson graduated as a forester from University of New Brunswick in 1981. After graduation, Gary took several years to travel, work in forestry and generally exploring the world. Eventually Gary settled in eastern Ontario to work as a Management Forester, Stewardship Coordinator and Supervisor with MNR. He recently moved to MNR in Peterborough to be Climate Change Project Coordinator.
Meaghan Eastwood, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Healthy Trees for Healthy Communities: Measuring the Services Provided by the Urban Forest
Meaghan Eastwood is a Terrestrial Ecologist in the Ecology Division of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Currently, Meaghan is primarily focused on coordinating urban forest studies for municipalities across the GTA. These studies provide managers and other stakeholders with critical information about the structure and function of urban forests, and recommendations for sustainable urban forest management. Most recently, Meaghan was the principle author of Peel Region’s Urban Forest Strategy. This strategy presents the vision, goals and actions required to guide and engage individuals and organizations in urban forest management.
Meaghan holds a master’s degree in Forest Conservation from University of Toronto. She enjoys cycling and running as means of avoiding discussions about quantum mechanics.
Robb Lukes, Credit Valley Conservation
The Secrets in the Soil – Urban Trees and Stormwater Management
Robb Lukes joined CVC as a Water Resource Specialist in July 2009. Robb’s primary focus is on developing guidance, training and demonstration projects for Low Impact Development (LID). Prior to joining CVC, he worked on LID projects for government organizations and non-profits across North America while at the Low Impact Development Center in Maryland. Robb has a master’s degree in Water Resource Management from University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Portland.
Steve Hounsell
LIFE: Brought to You by- Biodiversity
Steve Hounsell is a biologist with over thirty-six years of experience working with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the former Ontario Hydro. Steve’s career path has included environmental policy development and implementation, environmental assessments, and applied environmental research where his work focused specifically on the effects of forest fragmentation on wildlife. He was responsible for the development and implementation of a biodiversity policy, the first of its kind in the electricity industry. He has made many contributions to woodland conservation in southern Ontario, the advancement of sustainable development and ecological sustainability and climate change adaptation, as it pertains to biodiversity. Steve spent the latter part of his career in the Corporate Sustainable Development Group of Ontario Power Generation, where he managed OPG’s biodiversity programs.
Steve is the President of the Board of Trees Ontario, and a member of the Ontario Biodiversity Council, The Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network and the Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council. Steve is also the Past President of Ontario Nature – the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Ontario’s oldest and largest conservation organization – and is a founding member and past director of the Natural Step Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability across society.
Tenley Conway, University of Toronto Mississauga
Tomatoes vs. Trees: A Peek Inside Mississauga’s Backyards
Tenley Conway is an Associate Professor in Geography at University of Toronto, Mississauga (UTM) and is currently Director of UTM Environment Program. She received her PhD and master’s degree from Rutgers University and has a bachelor of science from Cornell University. Tenley’s research looks to integrate insights from environmental geography and landscape ecology with geo-spatial technologies to improve our understanding of the relationship between human activity and physical environment. She is currently working on several projects that explore the role of municipal policy, urban form, neighbourhood characteristics, and individuals on urban forests.
Tooba Shakeel, University of Toronto Mississauga
Tomatoes vs. Trees: A Peek Inside Mississauga’s Backyards
Tooba Shakeel is a first year master’s student in the Department of Geography. She has an honours bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Anthropology from UTM. Her honours thesis examined the role of community groups in urban forest management. Prior to starting the masters program, Tooba spent a year working for Evergreen as Stewardship Coordinator in Mississauga, carrying out community planting events in Mississauga and other parts of the GTA
Dave Wiley
Tree Identification Walk
Originally from Grey County, Dave Wiley is a fifth generation forestry worker and received his formal training in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His forestry work has led him to carry out projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and all over Northern and Southern Ontario. Dave worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources during the 1990s and as a private consultant for several years. Previously working in the forestry department at Saugeen Conservation in Hanover, Ontario, Dave joined Credit Valley Conservation as a Forestry Foreman in 2008.
Nadine Nesbitt and Darcie McNeil, University of Toronto Mississauga Campus
Tour of Green Initiatives on Campus
Darcie McNeill is a fourth year undergraduate at UTM and will be graduating with an honours bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environment in June, 2012. Darcie has built a strong understanding of environmental sciences and has had an opportunity to apply his knowledge through field courses and work experiences with university. Darcie has participated in UTM’s Green Team and Geography’s Undergraduate Society (SAGE) for several years, working with other environmentally-minded students to improve campus sustainability. Darcie’s previous research experience has included water quality monitoring on campus and in Mexico, while his current research is focusing on soil nutrient cycling and greenhouse gases in a Northern Ontario forest. After graduation, Darcie will be pursuing a master’s science degree in Forestry with a goal to become a Registered Professional Forester.
Nadine Nesbitt is a senior undergraduate researcher in UTM’s Geography and Environment department. Nadine’s honours thesis presentation focuses on using historical imagery dating back to 1954 to track the growth and spread of a highly invasive species, Tartarian honeysuckle, through delineation in GIS software.Nadine has been an active environmental leader on campus throughout her academic career. Her passion is in plant ecology and preserving our natural heritage.
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