Our Team

As Riverkeeper Elizabeth (Algonquin/Irish) works as a strong advocate for a healthy watershed for generations to come, as well as providing a voice for its entire ecosystem.
Elizabeth has close to 20 years experience within the federal government and her community, working on partnerships and community development which bring together federal, provincial and Indigenous collaborators toward common goals linked to sustainable development.
Her favourite water activities are canoeing, swimming and collecting rocks along the shoreline of the Tenagàdinozìbi (Gatineau) river, McGregor Lake in Val-des-Monts, as well as other rivers, lakes and streams!
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As the Executive Director, Patrick is responsible for leading the team and managing the organization according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors.
Patrick holds a B.Sc in Biology from the University of Ottawa as a Loran Scholar and a M.Sc. in Forest Science from the University of British Columbia. Patrick has prior experience with working on provincial, national, and international environmental files while serving as an Executive Director for CPAWS Quebec.
His favourite river activities are paddling along the Dumoine River and swimming.
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Chloe is passionate about inspiring donors to be more engaged with the causes they believe in and works to steward Ottawa Riverkeeper supporters so they feel closely connected to the projects we do and can see the impact of their gifts.
She holds a B.A. from Concordia University in History and has worked in fundraising for over a decade. Chloe enjoys lazy, sunny beach days on the Ottawa River with her kids. Playing and swimming in the water and occasionally scuba diving and checking out old wrecks in the St. Lawrence River.
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Larissa investigates the numerous issues facing our watershed and oversees our community-based water monitoring initiatives. She works with Riverwatchers throughout the Ottawa River watershed, learning first-hand from the people invested in caring for this river and finding ways to support their efforts.
Larissa has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from Concordia and a Masters in Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University. She has worked with communities to advocate for renaturalisation projects along urban waterways and has encouraged the adoption of practices that protect freshwater lakes and rivers. Larissa's favourite river activity is to explore the tributaries and see how these smaller streams have shaped the land around them.
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For Dave, his role in the organizational support and development of Ottawa Riverkeeper is an opportunity to serve the river community, protect a critical watershed and work alongside some fantastic people. Previously, he held numerous positions with MEC, most recently as Ottawa store manager. Dave thrives being outside with friends and family and the swimmable, fishable (and canoe-able, and sail-able, and windsurf-able!) Ottawa River has always been a source of adventure.
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Katie is responsible for planning and managing Ottawa Riverkeeper's events, which raise essential funds and help bring the Ottawa River into the community spotlight. She also coordinates Ottawa Riverkeeper's fantastic team of volunteers whose collective efforts and skills help make Ottawa Riverkeeper's work possible.
With a B.A. in Rhetoric and Professional Writing and a Graduate Certificate in event management, Katie is committed to bringing people and communities together in support and celebration of the River.
Katie loves being on the water, from whitewater canoeing to a good old lazy river float, and has rarely met a body of water she won't jump into.
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Matthew loves to engage with the public about environmental issues and the science surrounding them. As Communications Manager, he gets to connect with the online community and spread information about Ottawa Riverkeeper’s mission and activities.
He has a B.Sc. in Biology from U of T, and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Visual Communications from Fleming College. He loves spending time reading outside by the water.
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Katy holds a B.Sc.H in Biology from the University of Waterloo and an M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Ottawa. Her research has focused on the production of harmful algal blooms in Canadian freshwaters. Katy also has experience in the private sector where she worked as an environmental consultant and risk assessor.
Katy loves all activities around the water, be it canoeing or kayaking, exploring the natural flora and fauna, or just relaxing by the shore.
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Mark has always been captivated by the beauty of the natural world, both aesthetically and in terms of the fascinating complexity of ecosystems.
With an H.B.Sc. in Zoology and M.Sc. in Integrative Biology from the University of Guelph, and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Visual Communications from Fleming College, he is committed to sharing his love of science, animals, and the environment with anyone and everyone, particularly through visual mediums like graphics and photography.
Mark’s favourite watershed activities include taking the (electric) motorized floating dock out on Lac Barnes in Val-des-Monts, and hiking river-side trails with his wife, dog, and camera.
The Ottawa River also holds an extra special place in Mark’s heart, because he proposed to his wife along its banks in Orléans!
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As Community Outreach Coordinator, Alejandro is responsible for connecting with the communities of the Ottawa River watershed in person and online. This allows him to pursue his passion of sharing environmental research with the people who most need it in and around his hometown of Ottawa.
Alejandro has prior experience working for research institutions such as the European Commission, the University of Toronto, and the Ministry of Education in Spain, and has spoken in the United Kingdom about his ongoing projects in wildlife conservation.
He holds a Master of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management from the University of Oxford and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese Literature from the University of Toronto.
Furthermore, Alejandro is passionate about sharing his love for environmental conservation through his nature photography with which he aims to demonstrate the inextricable connection between nature and humanity in the 21st century. In fact, he held the photographic exhibition “Nature and Culture: Italian alpine reflections” in 2019 in Italy.
One of Alejandro’s favourite pastimes is laying in the ice and snow along the Ottawa River in -35°C weather to photograph the diversity of birds, especially ducks, that overwinter in the region.
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Katya is currently studying to be a high school teacher at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. As the Youth Leadership Coordinator, she is responsible for creating and facilitating educational programming for the Youth Water Leaders Program. This initiative allows Katya to use experiential education methodologies to teach young people about the importance of loving and protecting the natural world.
Katya’s favourite activities include rock climbing, canoeing and mountain biking. She grew up in Ottawa; swimming and playing in the Ottawa River watershed. She continues to camp, bike, and paddle in the area, and has recently taken up white water canoeing. She hopes to move back to the Ottawa area permanently after finishing her education to further enjoy the wonders of the local lakes and rivers.
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Pier-Antoine holds a B.A. in Translation from University of Montreal (2020). In summer 2017, he worked as an intern in Ottawa Riverkeeper’s communications team. In June 2020, he came back to the organization to help the team with French translation. He also works as a freelance translator and reviser in the fields of literature, environmental science and visual arts.
Pier-Antoine is born in Rouyn-Noranda, a mining town located in the northern part of the Ottawa River watershed, where he currently lives. In the winter months, he enjoys ice skating on lakes. In summer, he likes swimming and canoeing, as well as harvesting wild plants and going fossil hunting on the shores of Lake Temiscaming.
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Specializing in science, natural history and public affairs, Martin has worked as a freelance photographer for over 25 years. Photography has taken him across the country from the Canadian High Arctic to the halls of Parliament Hill.
Pivoting from a long-time supplier to a part-team member, Martin will be helping the Ottawa Riverkeeper team with communicating its on-going initiatives and events. Having spent so many summers in the North, Martin is eager to explore the incredible watershed we have in our own backyard and help make it accessible to more of the public.
Martin is a graduate of Ryerson University and holds an MA in Journalism from Indiana University. He is a former academic advisor and teacher for the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa. You’ll see him on the water with his kayak and his camera.
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Ian is a data specialist who grew up canoeing and kayaking in Ottawa, and is excited for the opportunity to help protect our river.
He is an Oracle Certified Professional with an Information Systems Developer diploma from Willis College, and has over 20 years of experience working in local community-based charities.
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For Melinda, providing strong administrative support to the team is a chance to share her passion for protecting the waterways and to ensure that Ottawa Riverkeeper can focus on what they do best.
She knows the cultural importance of identification to place in bringing about change and hopes to grow the sense of pride locals have for our watershed. Having travelled the world, volunteering for WWF and other environmental organizations, she is so grateful for the opportunity to be helping watch over the waters she grew up in. Being dubbed a “water baby” from birth, she loves swimming, canoeing and has recently fallen in love with Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP).
Melinda has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
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Maddie is an intern with the RBC Career Launch Program. She is thrilled to be spending three months working with Ottawa Riverkeeper, where she will be helping plan this year’s Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Event, and Annual Public Meeting. Maddie holds a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University in English Literature and gender studies.
Growing up, Maddie enjoyed spending time at the family cottage on Lake Mazinaw. Maddie loves The River by Helen Humphreys, a book that both celebrates and examines the Napanee River.
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Brittney is a communication intern with the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Social Communication program at Saint Paul University. She also holds an advanced diploma in Advertising and Marketing Communications Management from Algonquin College. She is excited to spend three months with Ottawa Riverkeeper, where she will be working with the communications team focusing on social media and writing content.
In the winter months, Brittney enjoys skating on the Ottawa canal and at outdoor rinks. In the summer months, she likes to swim, kayak, and hike. Brittney is born and raised in Ottawa and is looking forward to learning new things from a local organization like Ottawa Riverkeeper.
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