Staff
| | Founder and Executive Director Janet has an Honours B.A. in Environment and Resource Management and a certificate in Permaculture Design. After graduating, she worked in various positions with organizations such as Pollution Probe and the Women’s Health and the Environment Network. In 1996 she started a small, tree seedling distribution project in Toronto’s South Riverdale neighbourhood. Many years later that project has grown to become LEAF. In February of 2003, Janet received the Arboriculture Award of Merit from the International Society of Arboriculture for her work in community-based urban forestry. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Urban Forest Council from 2002 to 2006 and served as a Green Toronto Awards judge in 2008 and 2009. Janet’s focus in the last few years has been on building the great team of staff, board and volunteers at LEAF and on working with them to develop the strategic direction of the organization. If I were a tree I would be a willow: resilient, never giving up, ambitious and vigorous. |
 | Manager, Residential Planting Michelle, B.Sc. Forest Conservation and ISA Certified Arborist, holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forest Conservation, with a focus in Urban Forestry, from the University of Toronto. She has conducted urban forestry field work through completion of a full urban tree inventory of the University of Toronto, St. George campus, under the guidance of Professor Andy Kenney. Other work experience has included office administration and supervisory roles. She has been working at LEAF since August 2008, starting as the Office Coordinator and being promoted to Manager, Residential Planting Programs. Early in 2009 Michelle became an ISA Certified Arborist. Michelle focuses her work time on improving and expanding LEAF’s residential planting programs, developing new partnerships and managing the day-to-day planting program operations. She also tinkers with the computers to make sure all staff are up to date with software and all IT needs are met. In her spare time, Michelle likes to play guitar in bands, cook new recipes, attempt gardening and walk through parks! If I were a tree I’d be the hackberry because it supports wildlife, has interesting bark and is very complex. | |
 | Field Supervisor Michael has an Honours degree in Biology with a specialization in Biodiversity from McMaster University. After attaining his degree, Michael graduated from a practical Field Assistant Trainee program that focused on flora and fauna identification and ecological land classification. He has worked for over seven years as a landscape foreman, and has also conducted plant and bird inventories as well as field surveys in diverse areas of the province. Michael is the Field Supervisor for the Backyard Tree Planting Program. He runs the spring and fall tree planting operations as well as the backyard tree consultations and evaluations. He enjoys working in the field and helping people find a tree they will enjoy. In his spare time he plays a lot of soccer and goes bird watching. If I were a tree I’d be a silver maple because of its size, strength and resilience. | |
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Residential Planting Program Assistant If I were a tree I would be a Sugar maple because I excel in most environments (although especially in the sun), have inner strength, and can’t live without maple syrup.
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 | Volunteer and Community Action Coordinator Amanda comes to LEAF with over 10 years of experience in the environmental community. She became active in the field at the age of 15 when she was elected Chair of the Campaigns Committee for the Student Environmental Network, part of the Toronto District School Board. Amanda represented youth on a number of issues. She was a part of a city-wide coalition to protect the Oak Ridges Moraine, helped bring the Eco Schools program to Toronto and sat on the National Board of the Youth Environmental Network. Amanda established her own organization “Smallworlds”, which highlights conservation organizations from around the world who work locally to preserve their wild spaces. In 2005 she became the Outreach Director for an international youth leadership organization based in Vancouver. She is now happy to be back in Toronto and working on urban forestry issues with LEAF. As Volunteer Coordinator, Amanda works with over 400 LEAF volunteers, engaging them in activities such as community outreach, office assistance, research and program help. She has begun a Volunteer Committees to help LEAF Volunteers play an integral role in both our Newsletter and the Volunteer Program. Amanda is also Chair of the LEAF Learning Garden Committee and takes great pleasure from speaking to the community about urban forestry issues and LEAF’s programs. Outside of LEAF Amanda enjoys working with a number of groups raising awareness on issues such as over fishing, climate change and transportation. If I were a tree I’d be a white pine: a little wind-swept, artsy and branches off into several directions at once! | |
 | Backyard Tree Planting Program Assistant Katherine first joined LEAF during the summer of 2009 as Program Assistant for the Backyard Tree Planting Program. She continues to hold this role on a part time basis while attending Ryerson University’s Urban and Regional Planning program. Her interest in making our communal urban landscape healthier with small individual changes, like planting a backyard tree, attracted her to LEAF. Katherine provides support to our residential planting programs, assisting with customer service, research, and program development projects, and always with a smile. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University. In her free time she can be found cycling along country roads, tasting samples at farmers markets or spending time in her kitchen baking up a storm. If I were a tree I would be a peach tree, because they remind me of my childhood days spent picking fruit! | |
 | Manager, Marketing and Community Outreach Robin Sutherland holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in Arts Management, a specialized degree focusing on the management of not-for-profit organizations. She currently works as Manager of Marketing and Community Outreach for LEAF, where her tasks include marketing, promotions, media relations, monitoring and evaluation and special event planning. Robin has worked and volunteered with a number of community-based not-for-profit organizations that bridge the gap between the arts and environmental/social justice. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Wychwood Barns Community Association, and is on the organizing committee for Bells on Bloor. Robin values working for grassroots organizations that have a direct and tangible impact on the communities they serve. When not advocating for the urban forest, she enjoys spending her time in the beautiful rural forests she grew up with, in Northern Ontario’s Algoma District. If I were a tree I would be the white pine because it’s unique, stands out in a crowd, and represents the True North, strong and free! | |
 | Marketing and Communications Assistant Matthew holds an Honours degree in Media Studies from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Public Relations from the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. His interest in trees stemmed from a strong passion for their visual beauty. In 2006 he was introduced to LEAF as a volunteer photographer, shooting some of the early Tree Tours and learning about the intricacies of the urban forest. Upon graduation, Matthew interned at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery as an assistant to the Event Coordinator,and helped to stage the 2009 Power Ball. Matthew joined LEAF summer 2009; he spearheads the social media strategies, while also helping largely with communications, event planning, media relations and graphic design. He also operates an independent photography business, Riot Creative, which is dedicated to fostering and building within the talented arts community in Toronto. In his time away from the office he likes to paint, cycle through the city’s natural landscape and hang out with his dog, Ladytron. If I were a tree I’d be a Ginkgo biloba because I’ve got soul, and though I can be erratic, I’m all about growth. | |
 | Program Development Coordinator Sarah Lamon 416.413.9244 ext 12 sarah[at]leaftoronto.org Sarah holds an Honours BSc. in Zoology and a Masters in Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto. She is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and is a certified arborist. Sarah has worked in the environmental field in a number of capacities including research, monitoring and restoration of natural areas and conducting urban tree inventories. Her work at LEAF began as an arborist, conducting consultations and planting for the Backyard Tree Planting Program. She now heads up the Tree Tender Training Program and works on other educational and collaborative projects. She finds this work to be both fulfilling and encouraging. Sarah’s interest in trees harks back to her days of building forts in her parents’ Toronto backyard. Having grown up in the city, she’s learned to appreciate the importance of preserving as much greenspace as possible. Although she’s visited many forests throughout the world, Sarah’s found herself drawn back to the one she knows best – Toronto’s urban forest. If I were a tree I’d be an eastern hemlock because they’re cool, they’re particular, they live a long time and provide tons of ecological benefits. | |
 | Arborist Laura, an ISA Certified Arborist, holds an honours degree in Forest Conservation Science from the University of Toronto, as well as a Horticultural diploma from Ridgetown College, University of Guelph. She has worked for many years in the field of Urban Forestry as a Consulting Arborist conducting tree inventories, assessments and plans of preservation. She has also worked as a grounds person, tree climber and landscaper. Laura has worked as an arborist for LEAF since February 2009, where she helps homeowners select the right tree for the right place in their back yard. Laura is an outdoor enthusiast and in her spare time enjoys hiking, skiing and outdoor photography. If I was a tree I would be a Red Oak; they are strong, long-lived, and the most colourful of the oaks! | |
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