As a child growing up in northern Ontario, my free time was always spent outside, regardless of the season. Both of my parents were outdoors people and a walk in the woods for me always seemed to be more of a science lesson. And so, the seed was planted, so to speak and I began down a path toward making the earth a 'greener' more beautiful place.
- At seventeen I worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources' Ontario Ranger Program.
- At eighteen I headed for Nipissing University in North Bay, Ont. Where I completed an honours degree in Environmental Studies and Geography. I also spent quite a bit of time there studying art, my other passion. During these years I worked at a variety of jobs including; selling spruce seedlings door to door, working for a YMCA day camp teaching kids about nature and building an interpretive trail system, working for my home town hydro commission repairing sod and digging trenches and working in a greenhouse that supplied tree seedlings to a northern reforestation company.
- After graduating from University I spent 30 days in northern Ontario with Outward Bound participating in a leadership course. I am sure I learned more about human nature, myself and my values in those 30 days in the woods than I have in the rest of my lifetime to date.
- In 2000 I completed a post-graduate outdoor education and recreation course at Seneca College. I was appointed leader for our environmental action course that year and our class managed to complete an interpretive trail on campus as an extension of the Oak Ridges trail system.
- In the late spring of 2000 I moved to Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary I worked briefly for an arborist and for a garden centre as their wholesale sales person. My major work experience out west was for one of the largest landscaping companies in Canada. There I began as a gardening team leader and quickly progressed to become the greenhouse supervisor, a position I loved and spent sixty hours a week committed to.
After a few years in Calgary the time came to move back to Ontario. Re-united with my talented sister we formed Gaia's Gardens, our long-time dream. Our unique personalities, uninhibited creativity and intense passion for the environment make this company unique and exciting-not your average landscape duo!!!
