Gabi Hentschke (Co-Chair)
Gabi has been involved with the Gardens Pods since 2020 and currently Works for Humber's Office of Sustainability as their Communications & Engagement Coordinator.
Gabi is responsible for the coordination of events and communications that promote sustainability at the institution. She seeks to bridge climate advocates and those passionate about sustainability at Humber with opportunities and with one another to build a connected community based on respect for the planet and its inhabitants. Gabi is deeply interested in youth leadership, food justice, and urban agriculture.
Ashelyn Fung (Humber CSI Lead)
Ashelyn is the Project Manager for the Centre for Social Innovation at Humber College. She has a range of expertise from her years at various non-profit and post-secondary organizations in Toronto, Edmonton, and abroad. Functionally, her work has focused on organizational effectiveness, event planning, marketing and communications, and project management. She holds an MBA from the York University (Schulich School of Business), specializing in social sector management and sustainability.
Robin Salt (Plant Advisory Lead)
Bio to come.
Dean Ruhnke (Humber Arboretum)
Rabia Shafiqua (Pod Lead)
Vanessa Keall-Vejar (Co-Chair)
Vanessa has been a resident of Central and South Etobicoke since 2005 and has had extensive capacity-building experience from partnerships within the TDSB, Youth sports, Participatory policy research and more.
Currently, she is the Director of CBASE in partnership with TCBN, and has just completed her Post-Graduate education in Content Strategy.
She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Community Development and originally began her academic career in Vancouver having previously studied at UBC.
A life-long learner, she is currently completing her Project Management designation.
Vanessa is also a lucky mother, consultant, social enterprise owner, and outdoor/sport and animal enthusiast.
She is particularly interested in research surrounding land equity access and the merging of complimentary human centered disciplines/intersections to help solve urban agriculture concerns.
Isha Green (LAMP CHC Lead)
Isha Green is the Health Promoter and Community Health Worker (Youth Focused) at LAMP Community Health Centre (CHC) and currently serves as Co-chair on the Garden’s Education Team. She has over 10 years experience working with various populations and demographics within Etobicoke. Isha oversees LAMP Good Food Markets which ensures healthy food security for seniors and families within the South Etobicoke area. She is also actively engaged in the planning and development of LAMP CHC’s Youth programs and other major events such as the annual Back to School Health and Wellness Fair. Isha’s passion for serving the community in which she was raised has allowed her to take a compassionate and empathetic strength-based approach to providing her community with resources necessary to combat systemic barriers such as food insecurity, homelessness, inequity in education and Anti-Black racism.
Carly Spragg
Carly Spragg has been a resident of South Etobicoke since 2018. Looking to get involved with the community as well as support social and environmental initiatives, she was welcomed on to the Gardens Advisory Committee in 2021. Carly has a background in nursing and is passionate about gardening, local food and biking around the city.
Bri Gardner Ford
Bri Gardner Ford is a community developer, Churchwarden, and masters student at the University of Toronto.
Bri was born and raised in Mimico and worked her first job as a youth leader at LAMP CHC.
Since then, Bri has a history of advocacy including as a founding member of the South Etobicoke Community Land Trust to push for solutions to the homelessness crisis in the Etobicoke. Bri is excited to join the advisory council of the GARDENS pod project to continue to support food security in the lakeshore.
The GARDENS Advisory Council
We are a collaborative grassroots group made up of residents, agencies, and community college and faith groups living in and around the South Etobicoke Community. The project team has an extensive educational background in areas such as health promotions, health and nutrition, food security, and urban studies. Partnerships have been formed on a number of initiatives. Some of us have had considerable experience working together (at least 15 years) on various projects.
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
LAMP CHC is a multi-service, community based charitable organization that provides a wide range of programs and services to improve a person’s health. LAMP uses a coordinated approach to connect people to medical services and other programs that build personal resources. By providing services that improve physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being, people can better control their health and environment.
Cadillac Fairview has been a marquee partner since 2020! the have donated over $10,000 to our community and continue to be a pillar in supporting the quest to end hunger in South Etobicoke!
A community group of local residents and park users dedicated to protecting, enhancing and preserving the naturalized areas of Colonel Samuel Smith Park in South Etobicoke, Ontario.
The Humber community is comprised of 27,500 full-time and 56,000 continuing education registrants across three campuses. Our students, faculty, and staff contribute to the local communities and there are many volunteer opportunities and ways to celebrate Humber’s diversity.
LEGS is a gardening and environmental society that aims to create and maintain harmony between the land and the people. They strive to create and protect beautiful landscapes while also protecting the wildlife that surrounds us. They also advocate for healthier, stronger, and vibrant neighbourhood ties through gardening.
