Our People

EECOM is made up of network organizations and individuals across Canada, volunteers, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by EECOM members.

Participation on the Board of Directors is one of the ways to help shape EECOM’s contribution to environmental and sustainability education in Canada and to engage in meaningful dialogue with  individuals and partner organizations across the country.

The EECOM Board of Directors represents leadership in the field of environmental and sustainability education. The Board is composed of professionals across Canada who demonstrate leadership and expertise across many fields of the environmental movement. 

If you’d like to serve on the board, please contact info@eecom.com with ‘Board Membership’ in the Subject line.

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Meet the 2024 EECOM Board of Directors

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Adam Young

Chair (Ontario) he/him/his
Adam hails from Saskatchewan and now lives in Ottawa, on the unceded territories of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. He has been active in environmental and sustainability education since teacher’s college, working with nonprofits, museums, and teacher education.

He has created environmental programs for organizations such as Scouts Canada, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and Little Green Thumbs. Adam is a proud graduate of Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and completed his Masters with the Sustainability and Education Policy Network at the University of Saskatchewan.

Adam continues his volunteer work with EECOM while working full-time for the Bank of Canada Museum and as a part-time instructor at the University of Ottawa. In his free time he finds time to kayak the Rideau Canal, ski in Western Canada, and bike tour through Quebec.
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Haley Guest

Vice Chair(Nova Scotia) she/her/hers
Haley is a passionate environmental educator who resides in unceded Mi'kma'ki, traditional land of the Mi’kmaq people. She believes in the power of evidence-based hope, and the value of working together to build systems that allow us to live in harmony with the Earth With a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and M.A. in Environmental Education and Communication, she has experience as a researcher, has coordinated pan-Canadian projects and initiatives with multi-level stakeholders, and has worked in community-based nature interpretation centres. As Manager of Education and Engagement at Clean Foundation, Haley oversees a range of educational projects and programs that serve youth, teachers, and people of all ages. Haley is learning how to slow down, honing her gardening skills, and loves a good, silly game of ultimate frisbee.
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Jason Armstrong

Treasurer (Ontario) he/him/his
Jason Armstrong currently resides in the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation and the traditional homeland of the Haudenosauneega, Anishinabewaki, Huron-Wendat, and Omàmiwininiwak peoples. Jason is the manager of the Let’s Talk Energy initiative at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and has worked in museums for more than 15 years as a guide, school educator, interpretative planner, and project manager.

Jason is naturally curious and loves learning, so working in a museum setting keeps him stimulated. Working on the Let’s Talk Energy project has been an amazing experience. Energy is such an interesting topic that has many elements and off-shoots, including economy, environment, sustainability, development, technology, and politics…it continues to fascinate Jason!

When not at work, Jason likes to canoe and hike in the woods around the Ottawa/Gatineau area. Jason is also an avid reader and enthusiastic board game player, and loves to cook for friends and family.
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Ryan Benson

Secretary (Yukon) he/him/his
Ryan hails from Whitehorse on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. He is the Environmental Education Specialist for the Government of Yukon. Working with both scientists and educators, Ryan’s role is to promote a sense of stewardship and conservation in the territories’ youth. He accomplishes this through the EnviroWild Program which offers educator training, in school and on-the-land programming for K-12 students.

He sees EECOM as an important hub for connecting passionate educators across Canada. The more we share perspectives, challenges, and successes from coast to coast to coast the closer we move to a more sustainable and thriving society. Ryan’s current interests: The intersections of outdoor, environmental and experiential education (OE3); learning networks; climate change in northern environments; incorporating First Nation Ways of Knowing Doing and Being into Yukon’s Environmental Education initiatives.
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Anna-Lee Vienneau

Director (New Brunswick) she/her/hers
Anna-Lee, raised in Edmundston, NB, now resides near Fredericton on Wolastoqiyik territories with her family - wife Melissa, dog Gipsy, cat Mr. James Bond, and chickens. Her upbringing instilled a deep respect for nature, driving her commitment to environmental preservation. Joining The Gaia Project in 2020, she launched the Green Experts Program to inspire youth towards meaningful green careers. With a social work degree, Anna-Lee began her career at a teen drop-in center, eventually becoming director, learning leadership intricacies through hands-on experience. With over a decade in the nonprofit sector, she aims to enhance EECOM's impactful work with fresh perspectives.

Beyond work, Anna-Lee finds joy in film photography, community 2SLGBTQ+ projects, forest walks with Gipsy, and heartfelt moments with Melissa, embracing each with zest and authenticity.
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Danika Strecko

Director (British Columbia) she/her/hers
Danika Strecko lives, teaches, and learns on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As Senior Manager, Education at the Vancouver Aquarium, Danika’s work expands the reach and engagement of youth in environmental literacy, stewardship, and career pathways supporting VAQ’s mission to conserve aquatic life through rescue, research, conservation and education.

Her experience teaching high school sciences makes her a keen collaborator with students and teachers about how to inspire learners of all ages to solve environmental challenges. Her work includes helping to launch and implement Project Learning Tree’s Forest Literacy Framework for both US and Canadian audiences. Danika earned a Master of Educational Technology, B.Ed., and B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia.
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Janna Barkman

Director (Manitoba)
Janna, a dedicated educator with 16 years of experience, seeks ways to connect with her community, the earth, and herself through being in natural spaces. As a teacher-adviser at the Met School in Winnipeg, she champions environmental and climate justice education, seamlessly integrating it into curricular frameworks to foster creative and critical thinking among her students. Within the big picture learning paradigm, she orchestrates projects that align students' passions and curiosities with community initiatives, anchoring her approach in ecojustice principles.

Janna brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with a Master of Teaching from the University of Toronto and a Master of Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg. Before teaching, Janna developed and facilitated environmental learning programs at institutions such as FortWhyte Alive, Momenta, and Evergreen Brickworks. Her work and research pursuits have taken her to a variety of natural spaces, from Northern Manitoba to downtown Toronto and to rural India.

As a mother of two young children, Janna is committed to raising them alongside her partner and family, instilling a deep sense of environmental and social responsibility while nurturing their awe and appreciation for the natural world's wonders.
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Laura Sims

Director (Manitoba)
Laura Sims resides in Winnipeg in Treaty 1 territory. She is a professor in the Faculty of Education, Université de Saint-Boniface. She teaches courses related to cultural diversity in education, integrating Indigenous perspectives into education, and education for sustainability.

In her research, she specializes in education for sustainability in formal and non-formal learning contexts. In formal contexts, she looks at education for sustainability in pre-service teacher education in Canada. In non-formal contexts, she works with small-scale farmers in Latin America to understand the learning process involved in transitioning from conventional farming practices to more sustainable ones. Laura taught high school for 10 years. Laura loves playing outside, particularly enjoying wilderness camping, skating on the river trail, cross-country skiing, and cycling. She works, lives, and plays in English, French, and Spanish. Laura values how EECOM brings together passionate individuals from all different educational contexts in the spirit of sharing to advance environmental and sustainability education.
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Marie-Élaine Desmarais

Director (Manitoba)
Marie-Élaine Desmarais is an associate professor at the Université de Saint-Boniface. Her current research focuses on well-being in school, Inclusive Education and Universal Design for Learning. She is also a co-researcher in the research network on promoting research on well-being and success (RÉVERBÈRE).

For Marie-Élaine, environmental education plays an important role in well-being and wellness because it helps children to learn in a different way. She has been a friend of EECOM since 2017. Marie-Élaine’s current interests: Long walks with her dog; getting people outdoors; increasing EECOM’s bilingual offerings.
Natalie Graveline

Natalie Graveline

Director (Alberta) she/her/hers
Natalie Graveline is the Forest & Wildlife program lead at Inside Education, an Alberta-based non-profit that delivers environmental and natural resource education across the province. Based in Edmonton, she has a background in Conservation Biology and Secondary Education, and her passion is sharing her excitement about nature with young people, and empowering them to get involved in conservation and stewardship in their communities.

She has worked with Inside Education for over 6 years, and previously worked as a natural history interpreter for the City of Edmonton and Alberta Parks. At one point she had her goals set on becoming a high school science teacher, discovering the impact that could be made by bringing students outside and experiencing the natural world firsthand changed her trajectory towards a love for environmental education!

When she’s not in the forest you can find Natalie biking, swimming, and hanging out with her husband and her cat!
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Shannon Harding

Director (Nova Scotia) she/her/hers
Shannon Harding studied both Education and Environmental and Resource Science at Trent University, but credits her passion for the environment to outdoor exploration as a child, as well as some inspiring educators she met along the way. Shannon has previously worked in the field of Environmental Education as a classroom teacher, a college vice-principal, and as the education manager of a natural science centre. Currently, as Director of Programs at Clean Foundation, she spends her time designing, developing and evaluating strategies and programming to engage children and youth while also overseeing all of Clean’s waste and water initiativesEV and Equity in the Energy Sector work. Shannon lives in the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq and works in the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq, Walastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati.

Shannon’s current interests: Climate education; behaviour change; education policy and practice; experiential/inquiry/place-based education; education for sustainability; learning competencies; governance; teacher education; cross-curricular approaches to teaching and learning.
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Stephanie Doyle

Director (Quebec) she/her/hers
Stephanie Doyle, PhD, OCT, is the Associate Director of Education at Earth Rangers/Éco Héros where she oversees Earth Rangers Homeroom, English and French-language educational resources and programming for educators. With nearly 20 years of experience in the field of education, she strongly believes in the importance and power of environmental education in bringing about positive change. Stephanie is very concerned about the eco-anxiety young people face today, and is committed to helping kids develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to take positive environmental action.

Stephanie’s current interests include: Eco-anxiety, climate justice, environmental stewardship projects, climate change, biodiversity, and SEL education as well as being outdoors - running, biking, hiking, or snowshoeing.
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Timothy Straka

Director (Québec) he/him/his
Educator, designer, program manager, analyst, evaluator, and advisor, Tim co-creates learning experiences with people of all ages. Committed to environmental, intercultural, place-based, and community-connected education, Tim’s research and professional practice are focused on education for sustainability. He serves as Manager, Knowledge Mobilization, Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR). A federal departmental corporation, POLAR’s mission is to advance and mobilize knowledge of the polar regions through leadership, partnerships, and collaboration on polar science and technology.

Certified to teach in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec, Tim has taught primary, secondary, post-secondary, and adult learners experientially across North America and in Central Europe, the Arctic, and Antarctica. He enjoys trail running, skiing, paddling, swimming, biking, hucking Frisbees and back-country travel. Tim actively supports EECOM’s efforts to grow as a diverse and inclusive pan-Canadian learning network. He lives with his family on unceded Algonquin Anishnaabeg territory.

Interested in joining the EECOM Board?

Board members are elected by the membership at the annual Annual General Meeting. Terms are for two (2) years.

As a Board member, you will be expected to participate in virtual Board Meetings once per month, and to contribute 2-5 hours per month to the work of EECOM through various committees. To serve on the Board, a candidate must be an EECOM member in good standing and must be at least 18 years of age.

Please email info@eecom.org for more information, or, to submit your intention to run for the Board at the next election!