Who We Are
Supporting environmental leadership and climate action in schools
Since 2005, EcoSchools Canada’s award-winning certification framework has provided independent reporting and recognition for schools and outdoor and environmental education centres. Reaching about 1 million students annually, we are the largest bilingual, voluntary environmental certification program for K-12 schools in Canada.
We support engagement across all levels of the education sector – from students and teachers to trustees and parents – through training workshops and webinars, annual conferences, educational resources, and national campaigns.
We can help you
Build
environmental leadership and capacity for students, staff, and communities
Improve
the operational efficiency of school buildings
Connect
to local resources through a strong network of regional and national partners
Recognize
excellence with robust reporting and a collective impact framework
Growing our network
After over a decade of growth as Ontario EcoSchools and numerous requests to expand into new regions, we formally incorporated as EcoSchools Canada in 2017 to enable us to begin working with school communities from coast to coast to coast.
If you are part of a school community and would like to learn more about our program, visit the What is Certification? page for more information.
Connecting to an international community
EcoSchools Canada is the Canadian National Operator of the international EcoSchools program, overseen by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As a member of FEE, EcoSchools Canada is part of a community of 74 other national EcoSchools programs around the globe.
Our mission
To nurture student leaders, reduce the environmental impact of schools, and build sustainable school communities.
Our vision
Every School an EcoSchool. From individual behaviours to collective impact, all members of a school community are empowered with the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and desire to act as environmentally responsible citizens.
Our values
We All Belong
Woven into everything we do is a commitment to diversity, inclusivity and openness. We support inclusive EcoTeams which create a strong sense of belonging for students. We reflect this value in co-creating a community in our work and our networks.
Open and Accountable
As a certification program that supports school communities, we strive to be fair, truthful, and transparent. We love new ideas and aim to bring an open mind to the complex environmental issues facing our network.
Action-Oriented
We believe in thinking critically about the systems that shape our world, society, and communities and work to find solutions to make them better. We thrive on hopeful thinking and positive outcomes and infuse our work and program with this perspective.
Learn where we’re going in our 2020-23 Strategic Plan.
Our Team
Poppy Burbidge
Data and Administrative Assistant
Ryan Dyment
Co-Executive Director
Sierra Frank
Frédérique Guay
Bilingual Program Coordinator
Ayoub Hammoudi
Bilingual Program Manager
Clara Luke
Senior Program Manager
Jose Marulanda
Communications
Manager
Alex Ramos
Graphic Designer
Emilie Rayner
Program Coordinator
Erin Ring
Project Manager
Board of Directors
Lindsay Bunce, Co-Chair – Associate Director, Sustainability, Simon Fraser University
Ryan Silva, Co-Chair – Senior Director, Account Management, Broadridge Financial Services
Raquel Fontaine, Treasurer – Senior Manager, Risk Management, TD Bank Financial Group
Barnaby Chan, Secretary – Co-Founder @ Harbinger
Jacob O’Connor, Board Member – Chief Operating Officer, Rythmia Life Advancement Center
Jeremy Lin, Board Member – Associate, Associate, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Bala Gnanam, Board Member – Sustainability, Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations at BOMA Canada
Christina Nestor, Board Member – Director HR Canada Life
EcoSchools Program Advisory Committee (EPAC)
Steve Allum, Halton Catholic District School Board
Xena Biffert, Calgary Catholic School District
Suzanne Burwell, Halton District School Board
Peggy Cheng, Toronto and Region Conservation, Peel EcoSchools
Leandra Coore, Durham District School Board
Bobby Crowe, Halton Catholic District School Board
Dr. Xavier Fazio, Brock University
Beatrice Groux, Conseil scolaire Viamonde
Alice Hovorka, York University
Stuart Murray, Anglophone East School District
Tanya Murray, York Region District School Board
Erin Mutch, Thames Valley District School Board
Olena Olafson, Calgary Board of Education
Lewis Molot, York University
Jenn Vetter, Toronto District School Board
Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
Abdullah, HDSB, grade 11
Cara, SCDSB, grade 11
Erica Independent/Private, grade 12
Izabelle TDSB, grade 11
Maya DPCDSB, grade 9
Samuel YRDSB, grade 10
Sarah, YRDSB, grade 11
Sehij Peel, grade 10
Valentina, YRDSB, grade 11
Yasmine YCDB, grade 11
Maggie Chang, Post-Secondary Advisor
Finance Committee
Freda Bi, Senior Analyst, Corporate Strategy, Morneau Shepell
Priscilla Leung, Senior Manager, Valuation Services, KPMG
Belinda Mark, Director, Adams & Miles LLP
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Dr. Marisol Campos-Navarrete, Impact Learning Manager, Sheridan College, EDGE Impact Entrepreneurship Hub
Katie Harper, Senior Advisor, Project Neutral
Anisa Heming, Director, Centre for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council
Antoine Marchal, IT Projects Manager, Coop FA