I (Kari, she/her) grew up playing with crayfish barefoot in creeks and running through grassy fields on my family’s organic farm. I am privileged to be able to live in-tune with nature once again on the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve after decades of urban dwelling.

I bring a robust set of professional trainings along with unique personal experiences to my contemplative forest bathing programming which I have offered in places such as urban greenspaces, forest preserves, retreat centres and online. My programming, offered in collaboration with co-facilitators, weaves together a foundational knowledge in neuroscience, psychology and mindfulness with a commitment to inclusion, compassion, community building and sustainability.

I am fascinated by the research in the field of forest medicine and have had personal experiences of deep healing and symptom management using mindfulness, meditation and forest bathing/ shinrin-yoku. I am deeply appreciative of all the opportunities I have had to connect with others who are interested in exploring nature’s profound gifts and fostering our commitments to caring for the earth and all her beings.

Life Highlights:

• Building the EcoWisdom Community to promote accessible, inclusive, innovative and effective approaches to forest bathing
• Receiving the Royal Society of Canada Alice Wilson Award for Academic Excellence (female emergent scholar)
• Representing Canada at WHO Disability Policy Development Congress
• Forming a biracial family and adopting our wonderful daughter
• Taking my first steps with my physiotherapist after three years in a wheelchair
• Experiencing nature’s healing properties with measured neurological improvements
• Going on silent retreat in nature for five years & then creating EcoWisdom with my partner Dave
• Living off-grid on the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve (since March 2020)

Professional Training/Positions

• Senior Research Fellow with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• University Professor in Critical Disability Studies
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
• Doctoral Internship, Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children
• Community Development & Qualitative Research Consultant
• PhD Human Development and Applied Psychology
• MA Instruction and Special Education
• BSc Environmental Studies

Supplementary Certifications

• Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (6 months)
• Interfaith Spiritual Accompaniment, Ontario Jubilee (2 years)
• Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, MMTCP Brach/Kornfield (2 years)

Image Description: Headshot of Kari, a smiling white person looking at the camera, while leaning against a tree trunk outdoors, with evergreen trees and snow in the background. Kari has straight strawberry-blonde hair that comes below the shoulders with bangs, and is wearing a purple jacket and turquoise scarf.

I (Dave, he/him) grew up in Toronto and love the city for its diversity and vitality, as well as its ravines and parks. I’ve spent decades using my bicycle to explore, travel and commute to work (even in winter) which gave me an intimate view of urban life while enjoying my explorations of urban green spaces.

I was fortunate enough to be introduced to camping and canoeing as a youth and have continued to paddle each year with friends for companionship, exercise and the wide-ranging benefit of slow time in nature. During my 30 years of teaching High School, my life was enriched by the enthusiasm, integrity, commitment and positive outlook of students. It has been a great privilege to work with hundreds of young people ready and excited to take action for a more sustainable and just planet.

I am currently working seasonally as Course Director (Math and Science) at The Boundless School and I am also a Lead Steward at the Middle Mill site for Toronto Nature Stewards.

I look forward to continuing to be an active steward of the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve, habitat to wolves, bear, moose, deer and lynx. We invite you to come join us (in person or virtually) to learn about yourself and the planet.

Life Highlights:

• Endless hours playing in the ravines of Toronto
• Spending summers outdoors camping in Northern Ontario
• Forming a biracial family and adopting our wonderful daughter
• Working for 30 years as a teacher with the gift that is the energy and vitality of youth.
• Having my school win “Greenest School on Earth” in 2015
• Creating EcoWisdom with my partner Kari
• Living off-grid on the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve (since March 2020)

Professional Training/Positions

• BEs Environmental Studies (Waterloo)
• BEd (Toronto)

Professional Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-gordon-583194165/
• https://www.ecospark.ca/sparking-science
• https://sites.google.com/ddsb.ca/dunbarton-coop/dunbarton-north-2019?authuser=0
• https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/7370532-pickering-science-teacher-named-hometown-hero-by-earth-day-canada/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY2FBCbBmPw
• Board Member, EcoSpark (8 years)
• Member, Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network
• WHMIS Train the Trainer Certificate

Image description: Headshot of David, a smiling white person looking at the camera, while sitting next to a river surrounded by evergreen trees in the background. Dave has grey short hair and a beard, and is wearing glasses, a blue t-shirt, and khaki pants.

Brandy, an Indigenous wellness advocate, is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, holding both a diploma in Holistic Nutrition and a Culinary Certificate. Growing up connected to the land, her Ts’msyen heritage instilled a deep respect for nature and a passion for helping others find healing in it. Brandy has dedicated her life to supporting individuals with disabilities through advocacy and fundraising, and as an avid nature and animal lover, she brings a deep sense of empathy and connection to her work. Now the founder of Vital Time Nutrition and Wellness, she guides clients in managing pain and anxiety with a unique blend of nature-based and nutrition therapies. Brandy’s mission is to empower others on their wellness journey, helping them rediscover balance through meaningful connections with the natural world.

Image description: An outdoor headshot of Brandy in a garden area with ornamental trees and a small waterfall in the background. She is looking at the camera with a smile, and is sitting in a power wheelchair. Brandy is an Indigenous person with short brown hair that is partly covered by a white scarf with colourful shapes wrapped around her forehead. She is wearing a navy blue tank top with spaghetti straps, and she has multiple tattoos that are visible along one of her arms.

Kim Dunlop serves as a lead instructor and co-facilitator with EcoWisdom. She is also a mentor and lead trainer for mentors of EcoWisdom’s Nature and Forest Therapy Guide certification program.

With over 20 years of experience as a Registered Massage and Shiatsu Therapist, Kim also has a strong background in mindfulness meditation. She previously owned a health clinic and has also been involved as a research assistant for studies on accessible nature wellbeing programs. Currently, alongside working with EcoWisdom, she teaches workshops for other health professionals and guides mindfulness meditation evenings.

Kim is passionate about empowering others with knowledge about self-care options, including taking time to be with nature.

Image Description: Headshot of Kim, a smiling white person looking at the camera, with trees in the background. Kim has wavy salt-and-pepper hair that comes to her shoulders, and she is wearing a magenta top and colourful scarf.

Alicia (she/her) is a registered psychotherapist and forest bathing, enthusiast. She feels strongly that building circles of support are key to good mental wellness and she has dedicated the past 25 years to helping clients with relational and mental health challenges. She has observed how our relationship with our natural world not only increases our resiliency and care of the earth but can create spaces to expand our circle of support in the world.

Image Description: Headshot of Alicia, a smiling Black person looking at the camera, with her face next to an indoor plant with pink flowers. Alicia has short curly hair that is dark brown with a bit of grey, and she is wearing black-rimmed glasses and a black top.

Kim is an EcoWisdom-certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. Kim is the co-founder and leader of South Fraser Active Living Group, a peer support group of Spinal Cord Injury BC, she has organized many outdoor social activities such as park picnics and adaptive kayaking adventures. She now co-facilitates Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs in-person and online. As a former social worker, she is especially impressed by the way nature programming can reduce social isolation.

Photo Credit: Allison Youssef

Image Description: Headshot of Kim, a white person facing the camera with a smile and sitting in a power wheelchair in front of a blurred background of shadowed trees and greenery. Kim’s hair is short, straight, and dark brown with highlights, and she is wearing dangly earrings and a purple short-sleeve top.

Linda is an EcoWisdom certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. She is also a writer, traveller, and a national advocate for accessibility. Linda has used a mountain-climbing wheelchair called a trail rider to hike Mount Everest. As a retired community health nurse, Linda is excited about co-facilitating Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs to build social support and resiliency among people of all ages and abilities.

Photo Credit: Allison Youssef

Image Description: Headshot of Linda, a white person looking at the camera with a smile and sitting slightly sideways in a wheelchair in front of a blurred background of shadowed trees and greenery. Kim has straight grey hair that comes to her shoulders, and she is wearing a blue and black plaid jacket.

Punki is an EcoWisdom-certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. She co-hosts a live radio program and has participated in Theatre Terrific, where opportunities in the arts are promoted for people of all abilities. Karen also consults on research projects on behalf of EcoWisdom. As a student of disability studies, sociology and anthropology, Karen is particularly interested in co-facilitating Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs to foster community capacity building and a sense of belonging.

Photo Credit: Allison Youssef

Image Description: Headshot of Karen (Punki), a white person sitting in a wheelchair and looking sideways at an evergreen branch that she is reaching up to touch, with the branch connected to a larger bush or tree directly behind her. Punki has short brown hair, and is wearing a black and white jacket with a crackly pattern.

Eleisha (She/Her) is an EcoWisdom-trained Nature and Forest Therapy Guide who has a deep connection to the land, rooted in her Indigenous heritage. As a mother and a passionate advocate for plant-based living, she embraces a lifestyle that honours all of nature’s beings. With love and reverence for the earth, Eleisha integrates Indigenous wisdom with modern forest therapy practices to guide others on transformative journeys of healing and self-discovery. She creates a nurturing space where individuals can reconnect to the natural world, fostering balance, peace, and a deep sense of belonging within the web of life. You can contact her on Instagram @gentlejourneysnature.

Image Description: An outdoor headshot of Eleisha in a lush green forest with deciduous trees behind her. She is looking at the camera with a smile, and her head is slightly tilted to the right. Eleisha is an Indigenous person with light skin and brown wavy hair that is pulled back, except for a couple ringlets framing her face. Eleisha is wearing red glasses, a nose ring, and a bright blue t-shirt.

Kaitlyn (she/her) is a certified yoga instructor and EcoWisdom-certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. She is currently doing her MA in Community Engagement, Social Change, and Equity at the University of British Columbia at the Okanagan Campus. For her thesis, she plans to investigate how we can connect to one another and to the land through the process of growing and sharing food. She strongly believes that connecting to nature will improve all facets of well-being including the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional. Her goal is to inspire people to cultivate meaningful connections with themselves, their communities, and the Earth. It is her deepest desire to witness how we can all find our place in the circle of creation once again and live in harmony with all the beings on this beautiful planet that we call home.

Image Description: An outdoor headshot of Kaitlyn, a white person looking at the camera with a smile, and holding a big dog in her arms. She is standing in a driveway next to a porch and a car. Kaitlyn has light brown hair that comes to her shoulders, and she is wearing a green tank top. The dog looks like a type of spaniel, with floppy ears and a mix of brown and white fur.

Laurette (She/Her) is a certified EcoWisdom Nature and Forest Therapy Guide who was very fortunate to grow up camping. This instilled in her a love of the outdoors. Being outside soothes her soul and rejuvenates her. She is honoured and humbled to have received the first Nancy Lear Scholarship offered by EcoWisdom and the Lear Family. Nancy was a powerful advocate within the disabled community who was instrumental in promoting the use of EcoWisdom’s nature programs as a form of peer support.

EcoWisdom’s philosophy of making nature experiences accessible to everyone really resonates with her as someone with a lifelong disability. As someone who works with non-profit organizations that serve and are led by people with disabilities, Laurette appreciates EcoWisdom’s approach that values expertise based on lived experience. She looks forward to sharing her love of nature by continuing to co-facilitate online and in-person Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs. She is excited to contribute to growing our EcoWisdom Community by becoming a mentor to support Nature and Forest Therapy Guides in training.

Heather (she/her) has a busy household that includes her husband, two children and several rescue animals. With her husband Adam, she runs a small home-based graphic design and t-shirt printing business. They work closely with several animal sanctuaries from concept and design, to printing and sales to raise funds for animal care.

Her home is filled with plants. Her job at a flower shop brings her much joy as she engages in conversation with customers about what a particular plant or flower might represent as a gift to someone in need of uplifting. Creativity feeds her soul. Heather is an avid crafter and has worked alongside a fused-glass artist for the last twenty-three years.

Heather has always had a deep connection to the natural world and is the recipient of the EcoWisdom scholarship for a person of Indigenous heritage. She is excited to share her knowledge of nature connection to support self-care and wellbeing as a member of the EcoWisdom team.

Image Description: Headshot of Heather, a white person facing sideways in a forest and looking up at a tree that she is touching with her hands. Heather has dark hair tied back, and she is wearing sunglasses and a red & navy plaid shirt. Her rolled up sleeve reveals some tattoos on her forearm.

Harriet (she/her) was actively engaged in community development and disability advocacy when, in March 2020, she became ill with Covid-19. She developed complicated and life-changing post-infection conditions including Long Covid, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and Chronic Migraines. These health issues forced her to leave her role running a community project in inner-city London and reimagine her life.  

Harriet felt a longing to be in nature, but the physical limitations associated with her illnesses and concerns about reinfection made most nearby urban green spaces inaccessible to her. After training as an Integrative Forest Therapy Practitioner (in a modified manner), she has gone on to run online Forest Bathing sessions for people with Long Covid. She has discovered that you do not need to hike in wilderness areas to feel connected to the natural world. Taking an intentionally mindful approach to watching a snail on a leaf or following clouds moving across the sky can be powerful experiences.

She is a passionate advocate of the Social Model of Disability commonly used in Disability Studies and has experience making programs inclusive for herself and others through appropriate accommodations. You can find out more about Harriet and her work through her website www.kindredsoil.co.uk. Harriet is thrilled to join the EcoWisdom team and very excited about their unique approach which includes a deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and accessibility. 

Image Description: Headshot of Harriet, a white person facing the camera with a big smile, in front of a forested background with green trees. Harriet has light red hair with sunglasses resting on the top of her head, and she is wearing a black and white striped shirt.

Whether sitting quietly in a tree as a child, or exploring trails and lakes as an adult, I (Beth, she/her) have always been nurtured by the natural world, and found it to be a source of much peace, joy and adventure. This deep connection led me to study Biology and Environmental Studies, allowing me to work as a naturalist in parks across Canada, and as a high school science teacher. As a lifelong learner, I have received additional teaching qualifications in the social sciences and Indigenous Issues. I have also completed an MA in theology/spirituality and a diploma in spiritual companioning from University of Toronto, as well as a certificate in Expressive Arts from Fleming College. Retirement allows me time to enjoy reading, piano and art, to volunteer with a citizen’s climate action group, and as an online responder with a crisis text line.  I encourage people to explore and deepen their connection with nature for their own wellness, and to help empower environmental activism. I am very happy to bring my interests to my role as mentor and am excited to join the EcoWisdom team!

Image Description: Headshot of Beth, a white person facing the camera with a smile, in front of a background of evergreen branches. Beth’s hair is short, layered, and silvery-grey. She is wearing tortoise shell glasses and a black top that is only visible from the shoulders up.

Rosemary Anderson (she/her) is passionate about learning, living a lifestyle that promotes wellness, and assisting people to be as healthy as possible. She has practiced physiotherapy for 40+ years and osteopathy since 2004. More info is on her website: beachphysioosteopathy.ca. Rosemary is grateful to have supported Kari during the 8-day onsite portion of her Forest Therapy training years ago and to have had opportunities since to assist with the Forest Therapy Programs Kari has led online and in urban parks/ ravines.

Rosemary grew up and still lives in the Beaches area of Toronto where her family had a canoe at the Silverbirch boathouse. She spent one month every summer swimming, canoeing, and camping growing up and has continued connecting to nature as an adult. Rosemary walks and pole walks daily and appreciates the beauty of nature within her neighbourhood, especially at Kew Gardens Park and Glen Stewart Ravine in Toronto where being among the trees reminds her of Narnia.

Image Description: Headshot of Rosemary, a white person facing slightly away from camera with a smile, and holding trekking poles while standing in front of a forested background with trees. Rosemary has wavy hair that comes below her chin. She is wearing a white baseball cap, a green long-sleeve t-shirt that says “May the forest be with you”, khaki pants, and she has a mosquito net shirt tied around her neck.

Tammy van der Kamp is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with a background in social work and life coaching. Growing up in a large family, her parents instilled in her a love for the outdoors, a sense of environmental stewardship, and a deep desire to help others.

Tammy has dedicated her life to supporting people with disabilities as they navigate life’s challenges—through advocacy, peer support, and by encouraging connection with nature to enhance overall health and well-being. With a passion for the outdoors and a deep love for animals, her goal is to create accessible, inclusive opportunities for people to experience nature. As a guide, Tammy offers gentle invitations to slow down, reconnect with the natural world, and discover a deep sense of peace, presence, and healing.

Image description: An outdoor headshot of Tammy in a forest, with 2 tree trunks in the foreground that frame her in the background. Tammy is sitting in a trailrider wheelchair that is designed for rugged terrain. She is positioned sideways with her face turned towards the camera with a big smile. Tammy is a white person with short, light-brown hair and is wearing glasses with a beaded chain. She is also wearing a blue-green jacket and bluejeans.

Kay (she/her) has been a lifelong practitioner of self-reflection and student of the human condition, which culminated in pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist. Her love of trees, plants and natural scenery has been a source of companionship through her life including during times of hardship. Kay identifies with multiple intersecting identities including being a neurodivergent and queer cis-woman of Malaysian Chinese heritage and a child of first generation immigrants. She was born and raised on the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueum, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples. Kay considers the enactment of compassion for self and all living beings as a key orienting principle to fostering health for the body, spirit and planet at large. By continuing to practice mindful nature connection herself and with others, Kay hopes to assist others in their personal journeys in a manner that fosters hope, resilience and empowerment.

Image Description: An outdoor photo of Kay in a tree. She has tan skin and is looking at the camera with a smile, while partially sitting, partially laying sideways on the branches, with her legs crossed over each other. Kay is wearing a black long-sleeve top, blue pants, sandals, and has dark hair that is partially hidden by a tree branch. The tree is deciduous with pink blossoms, green leaves, and has some white speckles on the brown bark.

(she/her)

Image Description: Headshot of Laurel, a smiling white person looking at the camera through sunglasses, surrounded by a lake and trees, with another person in a canoe in the background. Laurel is wearing a yellow life preserver vest over a white top, and has curly greying hair that comes to the top of the life preserver.

Norma Lelless (she/her) earned degrees in German Language & Literature, Art History and Theology. She is a Certified Spiritual Director and a CASC Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner. She has received her certification in Enneagram contemplative and breath work practices taught by Russ Hudson and Jennifer Dibb. Norma retired from the College of Registered Psychotherapists (2021) and from her position as a Chaplain at North York General Hospital (2020). She retired as a university instructor in 2014. Norma is interested in Nature and spirituality. She believes that receiving the gift of Nature’s healing properties by attuning oneself to its forms, its rhythm and its melodies is the second most important way to experience the fullness and richness of life. The first is to live, as we were intended to, as responsible, committed caregivers of our Earth.

Image Description: Headshot of Norma, a smiling white person looking at the camera, with tree branches in the background. Norma has dark blonde hair with highlights that comes to the bottom of her ears, and she is wearing glasses and a puffy black vest over a dark red top.

As a Community Mental Health Worker within the urban communities of Winnipeg, Manitoba, located on Treaty 1 Territory, Erin (she/her/they/them) has devoted the last 15+ years of their career towards her passion for equitable health & wellness opportunities and community restoration.

Erin aspires to incorporate mindful nature connection practices into her work and life, and as a result, has experienced positive impacts on family, health, relationships, creativity, and spirituality.

Inspired by gaps witnessed within systems of care, Erin established their private practice in 2020 to provide services that speak to the often-overwhelming human experience – making room for the body, mind, heart and spirit. Branch Out Therapeutics was launched to offer evidence-based, holistic opportunities for self-awareness, emotional expansion, physical ease, and spiritual connection to support overall personal growth.

Erin’s education and training is specialized in but not limited to: Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programming, Life Coaching founded in Neuroscience, Physical Somatic Release Techniques, Cross-Cultural Awareness & Integration, LGBTTQ* Affirming Practices, Truth & Reconciliation/Anti-Supremacy Efforts, Harm Reduction & Trauma-Informed Care, Bereavement & Grief Counselling, Palliative & Spiritual Support and Navigating Addictions & Mental Health. For more information, please see: www.BranchOutMB.com.

Image Description: Headshot of Erin, a white person looking to the side with a smile, and surrounded by big green leaves hanging from branches. Erin’s hair is short, curly and light-brown, and they are wearing wire-framed glasses, a red-patterned scarf, and white sheer long sleeves.

Charlotte Sista C Ferrell (she/her) is Host/Producer of the CJSF.ca SuLuAu radio show and a 100+ episode Powered by Age podcast series. She is considered a STARR because she is a Speaker, Teacher, and Author, who helps people Revitalize or Reimagine their stories. Her 20 plus years’ experience as a university health and humanities professor, Registered Dietitian, and poet have resulted in her being an inspirational mentor who helps people enjoy the healing power of expressing their lived experiences through a variety of creative methods.

People of all ages and nationalities attest how her poetry books, From Pillows to Pillars and Heart Balm-Just for You, have built their confidence in overcoming life’s challenges. Charlotte holds B.Sc. and M.A. degrees from Wayne State University, and a ‘retirement age’ B.Sc. degree in Digital Cinema and Video Production from The Art Institute of California-Hollywood. Two of her short films, One Score and 17 Nights and, Sisters Out of the Box, have won festival awards in ‘social issues’ and ‘audience inspiration’ categories.

Charlotte looks forward to co-creating exciting, experiential educational activities with EcoWisdom.

Image Description: Headshot of Charlotte, a Black person facing the camera with a slight smile, in front of a beige background. Charlotte is wearing a burgundy outfit with a full-brimmed hat and faux-fur shawl, and she has curly hair that is burgundy with purple highlights.

Jill Satterfield (she/her) is an international Dharma, mindfulness, and meditation teacher. She integrates somatic and contemplative psychology along with 35 years of Buddhist practice and silent retreats.

With her primary teacher, Jill was the first to offer mindful movement on silent retreats at Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Center over 25 years ago. She was a close student of and taught on Tsoknyi and Mingyur Rinpoche’s retreats.

Jill’s Applied Embodied Mindfulness Trainings are part of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, Spirit Rock’s Mindful Yoga and Meditation Training and she is currently a mentor for Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Teacher Training. She is a graduate of the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training.

Her organization School for Compassionate Action: Mindfulness and Somatic Practices for chronic pain, illness, trauma, and addictions was taught in hospitals and at-risk facilities. She has also taught others to do the same in New York City for over 10 years. Jill has been featured in and has written for many publications.

For more information see: https://jillsatterfield.org

Image Description: Headshot of Jill, a white person looking at the camera with a big smile, and wearing a long-sleeve top with multicolored lines and squares. Jill has wavy white hair that comes to her shoulders, and she is in front of a blurred indoor background.

Carolynne Crawley (she/her), founder of Msit No’kmaq, is Mi’kmaw and also has Black and Irish ancestry and is from Mi’kma’ki territory, also known today as Nova Scotia.  But Tkaronto has been her home since a young child.  She is dedicated to social and environmental justice and supporting Indigenous led community work related to Indigenous food ways and food security. Carolynne is passionate about reconnecting people with the land, waters, and all beings as there is no separation between us.  Carolynne leads workshops for the public and the private sector which support the development and strengthening of healthy and reciprocal relationships based upon Indigenous knowledges that Indigenize existing interactions with the land and by deconstructing colonial and capitalistic thoughts, language, and actions.

Carolynne is the founder of Turtle Protectors, a new initiative led by Indigenous Elders and community members to advocate, protect, and support turtle relations and their kin in High Park.  She is also a certified Forest Therapy Guide and was a Trainer and Mentor for five years in the practice.  She is a Blanket Exercise Facilitator, a Holistic Nutritionist, Storyteller, a Co-Producer of the documentary Reckoning with the Wendigo, and a member of the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle.  Carolynne has built school food gardens and has worked in food security for twelve years.  Previously, Carolynne worked as a Child & Youth Worker for twenty years.   She can be found speaking at events that center around social, food, and environmental justice.

Image Description: Headshot of Carolynne, a person with brown skin looking to the side and down while sniffing a pink flower she is holding connected to a larger plant with green leaves. Carolynne has black hair with 2 long braids, and she is wearing plug earrings.

Melissa (she/her) a trauma-informed mindfulness, meditation and yoga teacher who also a clinical psychologist and international trauma educator. She is a holistic wellness coach, and co-founder of a therapy practice specializing in complex trauma, grief, and loss. Her work draws upon Ayurvedic Medicine, Buddhist Psychology, and Yoga Philosophy.

Melissa has nearly 20 years of experience working with survivors of various kinds of trauma, including those who have been marginalized or harmed due to some aspect of their identity like gender, race, ethnicity, neurodiversity, visible and invisible disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. She also works with people who have experienced institutional trauma and betrayal in settings such as health care systems, the workplace, boarding schools, and universities.

Melissa received her doctorate from the University of Oregon and completed fellowships at Yale University School of Medicine and the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. She has held academic appointments at Harvard University and Boston University and has served in several national-level positions with healthcare organizations focused on women’s mental health, sexual trauma, and trauma-informed care. She frequently consults with professionals who have experienced trauma, grief, and loss in the course of their work and is deeply committed to working with people in service professions including teachers, medical and mental health professionals, climate and social justice activists and environmental conservationists.

Melissa has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and educational products in the area of trauma and recovery, and has trained thousands of professionals. To learn more about Melissa, visit: www.melissafoynes.com and https://openedhearttherapy.com/. You can also find Melissa on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drfoynes/) and her podcast, The Science and Soul of Living Well.

Image Description: Headshot of Melissa, a person with brown skin looking at the camera with a big smile in front of a blurred outdoor background. Melissa is wearing big triangular earnings and a blue sweater layered over a white top. Her hair is short, straight, and dark brown, and is shaved on the sides like an undercut, and the top hair drapes across her forehead like side bangs.

Mary-jo (she/her), a yoga teacher for over 30 years, is passionate about diversity, inclusion, ecology and our visceral and collective community. As a health & life coach she incorporates her background in psychology, mindfulness meditation and yoga therapy to bring the best, in bringing out the best in people. It is her belief that if we make a way, we find a way that will include everybody even those who don’t think they can – because we can.

A lover of animals, nature and life, mary-jo is an avid sailor, gardener, writer, yogi and chef alongside a healthy dose of activism, professional and volunteer work. A single-mother of two mary-jo thinks green, acts locally, lives sustainably, and strives to leave the world a better place. She is thrilled to be a guest speaker for EcoWisdom’s six-month Nature and Forest Therapy training program.

Image Description: Headshot of Mary-Jo, a white person facing the camera with a slight smile, while leaning against the back of a red couch with her face tilted and propped up by her fist with her elbow resting on the top of the couch. Mary-Jo has a bob haircut with bangs and blonde highlights, and is wearing a black long-sleeve top. There is a tall indoor plant behind her to the
side.

Kristie Cabrera (they/them) is a queer, Latine,
neurodivergent, accessibility and inclusivity consultant with
a background in occupational therapy. Kristie guides
organizations on how to improve their internal practices
around accessibility and inclusivity. Kristie is primarily
passionate about working with nature and food based
spaces. Having access to land and food can promote
healing, wellness, and ancestral connection and it is
important that everyone, including disabled and
neurodivergent people, have equal opportunities to these
benefits. Kristie’s work is centered around unpacking
ableism and views of the body/mind, helping staff to
understand accessibility and inclusivity practices, and
creating improvements to a site’s physical design, educational programs/curriculums, and work culture.
Kristie has worked with organizations like Rock Steady Farm, Woven Roots Farm, Food Culture Collective, and Oregon Humanities.
You can follow Kristie’s work through their website KristieCabrera.com

Image Description: Kristie, who has tan skin and brown hair that is pushed back into a bun, smiles at the camera. Kristie is wearing an orange button down with blue leaves and is standing in front of a bush.

Image Description: Headshot of Felicia, a white person with olive skin facing the camera with a big smile, in front of a white background. Felicia has curly brown hair with the top section tied back, and the bottom section comes a bit past her shoulders. She is wearing a knit burgundy sweater with white flecks.

Julie Nowak (she/they) is a multiply-disabled
and neuroqueer educator, consultant, and writer
based near Tkaronto (known as Toronto,
Canada). Through their project “The Seasonal
Body”, Julie explores the intersection of disability
justice, nature connection, food justice, and body
liberation. A big focus in their work is nature accessibility, which they share about in educational resources, presentations, consultations, and an upcoming podcast. Julie is a white person with Celtic and Germanic ancestry. They view both the #LandBack movement and ancestral connection as important for nature-related work. They are also passionate about linguistics and language justice, and can optionally provide their work in English, French, and Spanish. You can learn about Julie’s work at SeasonalBody.org

Image Description: Headshot of Julie, a smiling white person with wavy brown hair that is medium-length. Julie is wearing a black top, and is in front of tree trunks with a climbing green plant.

Wolf (they/them) is currently studying in McGill University’s neuroscience program. Wolf is especially interested in research pertaining to addiction, mental health, neurotheology, and drug design. Wolf is excited by McGill’s research on the biological underpinnings that mediate different types of psychedelic therapy. Wolf, a formally trained ballet dancer, is also an avid non-fiction reader and yoga enthusiast who enjoys camping or anything outdoors.

They are thrilled to be working alongside other EcoWisdom team members to make forest therapy more accessible to those in addiction and mental health treatment centers. Additionally, Wolf is working on research knowledge transfer by analyzing academic forest therapy articles and translating relevant findings to make them accessible to the general public.

Alyssa (she/her) is currently completing a Master’s in Biotechnology at the University of Toronto Mississauga and is doing a year-long internship to support the health of people with rare conditions and cancer through biotechnology solutions. She completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences with a minor in psychology, as a recipient of a full scholarship.

Engaging in citizen science is a passion of hers and she has studied animal species affected by climate change, ranging from polar bears and beluga whales in the sub-arctic to pink dolphins, caiman, monkeys and understory birds in the Amazon. Alyssa also loves the arts and has completed her grade 9 piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music achieving first class honours with distinction.

As a visual artist, she is fascinated by the role that creativity plays within EcoWisdom programming in promoting nature connection and wellness. Alyssa is interested in issues of health equity for people living with disabilities and members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) populations.

Image Description: Headshot of Alyssa, a person with brown skin looking at the camera with a small grin, and sitting on the ground sideways with her knees bent, surrounded by a forested area. Alyssa has straight brown hair pulled back in a long ponytail, and she is wearing glasses and a blue long-sleeved top and pants.

Mahnoor (she/her) graduated with an HBSc from the University of Toronto, studying human biology, neuroscience, and psychology. She has also completed her personal support worker certification and worked in the nursing home to provide compassionate and respectful assistance to people with disabilities and seniors. Mahnoor enjoys admiring the beauty of the earth and gaining inspiration from her nature walks. As a hobbyist artist, nature is among her greatest muses. What she enjoys most about EcoWisdom programming is the attention paid to inclusive community building and the nature-immersive methods used to foster a soulful experience.

Image Description: Headshot of Mahnoor, a Pakistani person looking at the camera with a slight smile, standing beneath a cliff with some plants directly behind her. Mahnoor is wearing a pink hijab, glasses, and a purple jacket.

Paul Gauthier (he/him) is the executive director of the Individualized Funding Resource Centre (IFRC) Society, an organization supporting independence and choice among people living with a disability requiring the assistance of personal support workers for daily living. Paul has provided leadership in promoting EcoWisdom’s Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs among members of the disability community in British Columbia.

He is a well-recognized community leader involved in collaborative projects with organizations and park groups, as well as municipal and provincial governments. Paul is a public speaker promoting the rights of people with disabilities. Paul is also a Paralympian gold medalist. He uses mindful nature-connection practices himself to add balance to his very busy lifestyle.

Image description: Portrait Headshot of Paul, a white male smiling into the camera, in front of a backdrop of an evening sunset. Paul has dark hair styled in a buzz cut, which is very short hair that is cut uniformly all over the head at a length of about 1/8 of an inch and is wearing wire framed glasses, and a purple collared shirt under a black cardigan.

Ean Price (he/him) is the Innovation Strategist and Peer Team Lead at Technology for Living. Additionally, he owns ICAN Resource Group Inc., a diverse company specializing in Multimedia Design, Assistive Technology, and Accessible Travel. Ean’s primary focus is empowering individuals through the use of technology, advocating for independence and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Ean has a passion for travelling and is actively involved in adaptive sailing. He dedicates his spare time to volunteering with local non-profit organizations, including the Tetra Society, Neil Squire Society, AbleSail Okanagan, and Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Image Description: Headshot of Ean, a white person facing the camera with a big smile, sitting in a wheelchair with a headrest and torso strap, in front of an office background with windows. Ean has a brown beard and bald head, and is wearing thick-rimmed black glasses and a blue top. He has a breathing tube attached to his throat through a tracheostomy.