Executive Director
Janet McKay
416.413.9244 x17 | janet[at]yourleaf.org
Janet holds an Honours B.A. in Environment and Resource Management and a certificate in Permaculture Design. Janet founded LEAF in 1996 and since that time her work has focused on designing and implementing grassroots, action-oriented programs that engage citizens in urban forest stewardship. She has also been instrumental in the province-wide urban forestry movement, taking a leadership role in the formation of the both the Urban Forest Stewardship Network and the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition. In her spare time, Janet enjoys walking in Toronto’s natural areas with her 16 year-old dog Buddy.
Manager, Residential Planting Programs
Melissa Williams
416.413.9244 x0 | melissa[at]yourleaf.org
Melissa holds a Master of Arts degree in English literature from the University of Toronto, as well as a Chef Training certificate from George Brown College. Her passion for local, consciously produced food grew into a broader interest in urban sustainability issues and community development which was what first brought her to LEAF as a volunteer. Her past employment includes everything from copy editing to cooking to working with actors. In her spare time, Melissa pursues her interests in food, music, books and long-distance running.
Field Operations Supervisor, Residential Planting Programs
Andrea Bake
416.413.9244 x15 | andrea[at]yourleaf.org
Andrea holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a concentration in conservation, from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters in Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto. Andrea has worked as a project manager for an urban forestry company as well as conducted research on species at risk, most recently with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys riding horses and competing in dressage.
Arborist, Residential Planting Programs
Mark Sherman
416.413.9244 | mark[at]yourleaf.org
Mark holds a Bachelors of Urban and Rural Planning from Ryerson University where he was awarded the Pound & Stewart Planning Scholarship for academic proficiency and exceptional work in the field of environmental planning. He’s worked throughout the province facilitating community involvement in urban forestry initiatives. In his spare time, Mark is a regular volunteer in the local urban forestry and agriculture communities and recently spearheaded the creation of an outdoor forest-inspired reading room for the Parliament Street branch of the Toronto Public Library. He also sits on the LEAF Learning Garden volunteer committee.
Arborist, Residential Planting Programs
Erin Silverstein
416.413.9244 | erin[at]yourleaf.org
Erin holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto in both Forest Conservation Science and Geography, Environment and Natural Resource Management. She is an ISA certified arborist and has held various forestry field positions in the Yukon Territory and Toronto where she researched forest ecosystems and worked to restore delicate environments. In her spare time, Erin she can be found venturing through one of her favourite forests or paddling her canoe or kayak along her favourite rivers and lakes.
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Kyle Ferguson
416.413.9244 x16 | kyle[at]yourleaf.org
Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of King’s College/Dalhousie University. He brings over a decade of experience in the environmental community having worked for such diverse organizations as the Sierra Club, Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment, Earthroots, Environmental Communications Options and WWF-Canada. In addition, he has served on several boards including the Toronto Environmental Alliance where he was President of the Board of Directors from 2001-2004. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys travelling, kayaking, beach volleyball and watching the Toronto Argonauts.
Coordinator, Marketing & Communications
Matthew James William Higginson
416.413.9244 x13 | matthew[at]yourleaf.org
Matthew
holds an Honours B.A.A. in Media Studies from the University of Guelph
and a Diploma in Public Relations from the Humber Institute of
Technology and Advanced Learning. In his spare time, Matthew strives to
connect the arts to social causes. His photographs have been featured
numerous publications and in solo and group exhibitions across Toronto.
He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Wychwood Barns
Community Association (WBCA) and does work with Side Space Gallery. In his spare time, he likes to garden, cycle around the city and hang out on the beach.
Manager, Volunteer & Community Engagement
Amanda Gomm
416.413.9244 x14 | amanda[at]yourleaf.org
Amanda brings over a decade of experience in the environmental community to LEAF. At 15, she was elected Chair of the Campaigns Committee for the Student Environmental Network, part of the Toronto District School Board. She has been actively involved in a city-wide coalition to protect the Oak Ridges Moraine, was involved in early meetings designed to bring the Eco Schools Program to Toronto and sat on the National Board of the Youth Environmental Network. In 2001, she founded Smallworlds, which highlighted conservation organizations from around the world who work locally to preserve wild spaces. In 2005, she became the Outreach Director for an international youth leadership organization based in Vancouver. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys working with a number of groups raising awareness on environmental issues such as over fishing, climate change and transportation.
Education & Stewardship Coordinator
Jessica Piskorowski
416.413.9244 x12 | jessica[at]yourleaf.org
Jessica holds an Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate in Ecological Restoration from Niagara College. She has conducted ecological inventories, impact assessments and restoration plans while a co-op student with an ecological consulting firm and as a Shell Conservation Intern with The Nature Conservancy of Canada. She has also worked as an Environmental Education Assistant delivering Toronto District School Board and EcoSpark outdoor education programs to students. In her spare time, Jessica loves spending time outdoors, whether it's strolling through Toronto's ravines or camping in Ontario's parks.
Coordinator, Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition
Colleen Cirillo
416.413.9244 x18 | colleen[at]yourleaf.org
Colleen Cirillo holds a Master's degree in Environment and Resource Studies from the University of Waterloo and has worked for Toronto and Region Conservation since 2000. In 2003, she initiated the Healthy Yards Program and in 2009 she co-founded the Horticulture Outreach Collaborative which she currently chairs. Currently she is on secondment from Healthy Yards and is coordinating the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition. In her spare time, Colleen enjoys working with native plants, chasing after her two children and her book club.
Special Projects
Michelle Bourdeau
416.413.9244 x11 | michelle[at]yourleaf.org
Michelle holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forest Conservation, with a focus in Urban Forestry, from the University of Toronto. She is an ISA certified arborist. 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. She is currently pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto. In her spare time, Michelle likes to play guitar in bands, cook new recipes, garden and walk through parks.
