Based in Toronto, Alyssa holds an MSc in Geography and Environment, and a BSc in Environmental Science at Western University. Her research expertise centres on children’s health, risky play, and behaviour mapping outdoor play spaces. Prior to working at Green Communities Canada, Alyssa worked on a national project examining the population health impacts of parks, protected areas, and recreational facilities. In her spare time, you can find Alyssa outdoors near the lake, reading, at a Pilates studio, or discovering the newest food spots around the city.

Brianna (she/her, they/them) has over ten years of experience as an Executive Director with national and regional climate organizations. She has been recognized as a “Top 4 Under 40” by the Chamber of Commerce, and also received Trent University’s Young Leader Award and Conservationist of the Year from Otonabee Conservation. Brianna has a graduate degree in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership from Carleton University, a Masters of Sustainability Studies from Trent University, and a Bachlors degree in Earth and Environmental Science from McMaster University. Brianna is currently a board member on the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Charlotte holds an MSc in Human Ecology: Culture, Power and Sustainability from Lund University in Sweden, and a BSc in Psychology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria. Charlotte lives in Toronto where she is an avid cyclist and enjoys every inch of green space she can find.

Clara Blakelock has worked in the environmental non-profit sector for over a decade. She trained as a registered energy advisor in 2021, and has performed audits on over 260 homes. She has also completed training in commercial energy management and energy audits for commercial buildings. Her work addresses the massive challenge of decarbonization of existing buildings, which must be done both on a large scale and individually on a case by case basis. Before working in decarbonization, her work was focused on the implementation of green infrastructure in Canadian communities. 

Deborah is an experienced financial administrator with more than 10 years experience working with non-profit and charitable organizations, as well as in the public and for-profit sectors.

Jared’s vast experience includes serving as Executive Director of Cycle Toronto where he partnered with GCC on active and safe routes to school programing, and work as a Program Director at the Canadian Urban Institute.

Jaymi Armitage is a long-time Registered Energy Advisor and general contractor. Jaymi’s interests include creating puzzle books and spending time in the mountains. She recently settled in Killam, AB, to be closer to family and enjoys going on “prairie safaris” to photograph local wildlife.

Jenn McCallum has a background in biology, science communication, and sustainability studies. She has previously led environmental programming with Parks Canada, at the Science North science centre in Sudbury, ON, at two conservation authorities, and with GCC member organization GreenUP. Jenn is grateful to live on the Treaty 20 homelands of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough, ON), where she enjoys cycling the trails and roadways, and canoeing the waterways.

Working in program development, communications, and event production, and as a volunteer, Kiran has helped co-ops, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations become more organized, efficient, accountable, and newsworthy. Her favourite projects have been producing the first pedal-powered concert and co-producing the plastic bag reduction campaign in Whistler, BC. Drawing from her Master of Business Studies and Registered Energy Advisor training, she now helps organizations and homeowners to further their goals in regenerating built environments and increasing energy efficiency. Kiran loves to explore. When she’s stationary, she moves her furniture around to make it seem like she’s still traveling.

Leif has over 10 years of experience in non-profit communications and marketing. Prior to joining GCC, Leif was Communications Advisor with the Canada Green Building Council, and before that he was Communications Manager with GCC member Peterborough GreenUP. Leif grew up in the lower mainland of British Columbia, and now lives in Ontario with his family. He enjoys biking, walking, steering dragon boats, observing the diversity of life in his family's drought-tolerant garden, and adventuring with his family.

Miriam has a Master’s degree in Climate Action Leadership from Royal Roads University. Prior to joining Green Communities Canada, she worked on various projects including co-leading a community consultation process for her community's climate action plan, conducting research for Empower Me (a program providing energy efficiency and home retrofit services to underrepresented communities), and researching and analyzing the transition of municipal fleets to electric vehicles. Fluent in French, Spanish, and English, Miriam's background is in communications and working with newcomer communities. In her spare time, you can find Miriam breathing in the beauty of the river and hills surrounding her home, spending time with her kids, getting artsy, attempting minor home improvement projects, or dancing up a storm.

Nicole is an experienced project and program manager, having led provincial and national initiatives related to commuting behaviours, children’s mobility, and community outreach. Most notably, Nicole led the annual Commuter Challenge event in Manitoba, founded Women in Urbanism Canada, managed the Ontario Active School Travel program, and coordinated the National School Travel Data Collection Pilot. In Nicole’s role, she acts as the project manager on numerous large-scale sustainable mobility projects, including the coordination of the Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance and the management of the National Active School Streets Initiative.

A sustainability professional in the early stages of her career, Syeda’s goal is to produce creative, engaging, and accessible content about the importance of sustainable communities. Syeda holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainability Management, and has experience working with non-profit organizations and consulting firms in the areas of digital communications, stakeholder engagement, and environmental, social, and governance. In her free time, Syeda can be found satisfying her sweet tooth by exploring the latest dessert spots!

Tianna holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Manitoba, and has worked as the Climate Change Adaptation Assistant for the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul, and as a Biodiversity Researcher at Nature Canada. In her spare time, Tianna is active in her local basketball community. A veteran of the University of Manitoba’s Bison Basketball team, Tianna now coaches varsity girls' basketball at her former high school.

Originally from Oshawa, ON, Tracey Coutts studied Geography and English at the University of Guelph before embarking on diverse experiences abroad. Tracey coordinated GCC's School Travel Planning rollout in Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan InMotion and later led Alberta's Active School Travel portfolio with Ever Active Schools. Her passions include writing (she authored How it Happened in Hotterly Hollow), hiking, bird watching, volunteering, music, family gatherings, and occasionally knitting—albeit not always successfully!

Based in Montreal, QC, Valérie holds a master's degree in Environment and Sustainable Development. Valérie previously coordinated CESBA for Équiterre and has managed various projects related to sustainable mobility and climate change adaptation over the past year.

Xuedan holds a BSc in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of British Columbia. Upon graduating, she began her career with Green Communities Canada, having supported the coordination of sustainable mobility initiatives, including School Travel Planning, active transportation encouragement campaigns, and the National School Travel Data Collection Pilot. Currently, Xuedan leads the delivery of the National Active School Streets Initiative. Xuedan has a background in sustainability outreach, having delivered community engagement initiatives at her former university and the District of West Vancouver. She believes in the importance of an empathy-led, equity first approach to community outreach. In her spare time, Xuedan enjoys backpacking through BC’s beautiful mountains, running, and sewing.