How long have you been involved with the HNC? A member since 2012, on the Board since 2017

Past roles: Director at Large

Why did you get involved with the HNC? This club has some amazing people involved with it, as members, volunteers and staff, and because it dates back to 1919 — I wanted to help usher the decades of work through to the next chapter!

Favourite local Sanctuary: Cootes Paradise is a one of a kind place, and where you’ll find me a lot of the time.

Favourite local bird: I’m partial to Chimney Swifts, who have adapted to live alongside people but also spend their nights dwelling within gritty, sooty chimneys. How much more Hamilton can you get?!

One thing you wish more people knew about the HNC: I wish more people knew that the HNC is constantly morphing and evolving and striving towards a fruitful future, but that it takes collaboration and community. Want to give back somehow? Reach out!

How long have you been involved with the HNC? I have been volunteering with the HNC since moving to Hamilton in 2012 and joined the Board of Directors in 2020.

Past roles: My experience with the club began through assisting our Land Trust Manager on different projects throughout Hamilton and the club’s nature sanctuaries. My background in horticulture and arboriculture allowed me to participate with activities ranging from community gardening and tree planting to delivering educational presentations and tours for club members and area residents.

Why did you get involved with the HNC? The HNC is the perfect outlet to focus my volunteer efforts as a local resident. The club’s goals align with my personal ideals and I am passionate about our many ongoing projects.

Favourite local Land Sanctuary: Cartwright Nature Sanctuary

Favourite local flora: Eastern hemlock

One thing you wish more people knew about the HNC: The HNC’s projects reflect the diversity of the Hamilton Area. From continued efforts to expand the urban forest to maintaining the club’s 500+ acres of Nature Sanctuary, the HNC promotes healthy systems throughout the Hamilton Study Area. There are numerous ways to participate in club activities and become more familiar with the area’s landscape and the flora and fauna that inhabit it.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? Since 2021

Why did you get involved with the HNC? I have been involved in the Bird Group for a number of years and decided to get more involved.

Favourite local trail: I really enjoy the Dundas Valley trails.

Favourite local bird: The Carolina Wren. I am from Toronto and never saw one. Now they visit my house regularly. Powerful voice!

One thing you wish more people knew about the Hamilton: How much green space there is.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? I’ve been on the Board since 2020

Past roles: Field Events Director

Why did you get involved with the HNC? My passion for nature, community building, and desire to protect, preserve and raise awareness about our local environment.

Favourite local trail: The mighty Bruce! Particularly as it runs through Dundas Valley and Spencer Gorge

Favourite local fauna: I love herptiles – Jefferson salamander, red-spotted newt, spring peeper frog, spotted turtle and Eastern milksnake to name a few…

One thing you wish more people knew about Hamilton: Cootes Paradise is one of the most important migratory and biodiversity hotspots in the country, which makes it even more important to protect for future generations.

Coming soon.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? Two years as a member before joining the Board in 2022.

Why did you get involved with the HNC? I am a former educator with a passion for nature and wanted to share what I know and learn what I don’t.

Favourite local Conservation Area: The Hermitage and Fifty Point beach

Favourite local flora: I love the wetlands that are found on the Hamilton Mountain farmland.

One thing you wish more people knew about Hamilton: I wish more people knew about the prime 1 farmland and wetlands that are found just south of Hamilton’s urban area.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? 

I moved to Hamilton in 2018 and discovered the Club shortly after the pandemic started, during the time when we lived in isolation but could work outside together. Spending time with other folks who love working in nature helped me get through that very lonely time. 

Why did you get involved with the HNC? 

Being new to the area, and freshly retired, I knew that I needed to be of service to feel fulfilled. I knew that I needed to find projects that would get me out of my analytical comfort-zone, get back to my roots of spending time with nature, and support our environment. I was lucky to find the HNC and volunteered at several events before finding my groove on projects focused on restoring areas which had become overgrown with invasive species. Through the years I have seen these spaces become more welcoming to diverse species. This in turn has attracted humans who engage with these spaces in more respectful ways than in the past.

Favourite local sanctuary:

I have a special fondness for the spaces that we maintain/oversee that are easily accessible to Hamilton residents. Our pollinator gardens in public spaces downtown, the Captain Cornelius Woodlot on the mountain, and the fabulous Sheelah Dunn Dooley sanctuary a short drive from downtown.

One thing you wish more people knew about the HNC: 

Membership is nominal, and supports important advocacy work, such as Hamilton’s Biodiversity Action Plan that was spearheaded by HNC and has now been adopted by the City of Hamilton.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? Since 2017

Why did you get involved with the HNC? I joined the staff as the Trees Please Coordinator back in 2017, later Stewardship and Education Coordinator. Since leaving my role in 2020, I’ve stayed involved and eventually became an Editor for the Wood Duck. Now I’m excited to grow even more as the Outreach Director.

Favourite local flora: Butterfly Milkweed, planted abundantly in my garden

One thing you wish more people knew about the HNC: That anyone can and should get involved, in any way they’d like. It’s a great community of like-minded people passionate about nature, and a fun way to get out and explore Hamilton.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? I have been volunteering with the Club since 2022. My first experience was digging out Buckthorn alongside the crew at the Sheelah Dunn Dooley Sanctuary. I joined the Board in 2025.

Why did you get involved with the HNC? I wanted to help the community and globe more generally. Being part of projects to protect and restore the natural environment is one way of doing both. The Club provides a great way to work outdoors and to learn more about nature.

What are your interests and passions? Most of my career involved working with governments and electric utilities on policies and programs to reduce air pollution. My special interests were the prospects for moving away from the use of fossil fuels through greater energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. I am retired now but still follow the improvements being made in technologies to harness the sun and the wind and finding more efficient ways to use energy.

How long have you been involved with the HNC? I got involved with the club when I moved back to Hamilton in 2023, attending field events and club meetings both to continue learning and meet more like minded folks. I joined the Board in 2025.

Why did you get involved with the HNC? I’m always excited to connect with fellow nature enthusiasts, and joining the Board felt like a good way to use my skills to give back to the HNC community. My background is in environmental education and I also have Board experience from my time as President of the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario.

Favourite local sanctuary: I love paddling on Cootes Paradise! You may spot me carting my canoe down Longwood to launch at Princess Point.

Favourite local fauna: I love all kinds of bugs, especially when exploring with kids. 

One thing you wish more people knew about Hamilton: There is nature to be found in all corners of the city, from the urban to the rural.

Coming soon!

How long have you been involved with the HNC? Staff 14 years, Board member about 3 years before becoming staff, volunteer about 20 years

Past roles: Secretary, general sanctuary volunteer

Why did you get involved with the HNC? There were lots of opportunities to be actively involved in protecting and learning about nature locally in a welcoming environment.

Favourite local Land Sanctuary: Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary, HNC’s first and a gem

Favourite local bird: Turkey Vulture, not everyone sees their beauty until they’re seen soaring in the sky.

One thing you wish more people knew about the HNC: Nature is everywhere in Hamilton and HNC has been involved in restoring and protecting a lot of it for a long time. There is a role for everyone to be involved in the work!