• About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback

Watersheds Canada – Work, Live & Play in Healthy Lakes and Rivers

Partners Login Sign Up
  • Our Programs
  • About Us
  • What’s New
  • Blog
  • Gift Catalogue
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Programs
  • About Us
  • What’s New
  • Blog
  • Gift Catalogue
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Staff & Board Members

Staff & Board Members

Watersheds Canada Staff

 

Robert Pye

Executive Director

Robert’s conservation career started when a college internship earned him a full-time communications role at the OFAH. After 25-years with the OFAH, Robert now proudly joins Watersheds Canada as the Executive Director. Robert is the author of a national award-winning outdoors program. He was on the communications frontline on some of the biggest topics to face our natural resources. As a senior nonprofit association director, he developed major branding campaigns, introduced new corporate partnerships, and modernized revenue generation programs to support conservation. In 2009, Robert achieved “Certified Association Executive (CAE)” designation from the Canadian Society of Association Executives. Robert is a Public Relations graduate from Durham College, and a Skills Canada-Ontario alumni. He is an accomplished speaker and writer.

As a child, Robert’s passion for freshwater was developed along the banks of his hometown trout stream. Today, his family proudly owns heritage property near Peterborough where they produce maple syrup, manage forests, and host environmental field trips for high school students. Robert’s outdoor passions include fishing, backcountry camping, as well as hunting with his two boys and English Setters.

 

Barbara King

Director of Programs and Partnerships

Barbara King has served in leadership roles with the organization since 1999. Barbara has been integral in working with lake groups and other non-profits on action-oriented stewardship programs into large multi-stakeholder initiatives that can be launched on a national level. Collaboration and partnerships are at the centre of her work with sharing and capacity building for groups that work with landowners to protect Canada’s lakes and rivers.

Barbara holds a Master’s in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University and an environmental management diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College. She brings extensive experience in leadership with over 20 years of direct project development experience and expertise. Barbara lives on a lake with her family in Maberly, Ontario. She enjoys mountain biking, swimming, and exploring nature.

 

Deborah D’Amico

Senior Development Lead

Deborah will be working with Wintergreen Studios, Sustainable Capacity Solutions, and Watersheds Canada as a shared Senior Development Lead. Deborah has had a lifelong connection to nature and the environment, though her professional journey has taken her through many other organizations and sectors – something she is today passionate about contributing to the environmental sector. Deborah has art and art history degrees from the University of Toronto and University of St Andrews, Scotland, and has worked in communications and fundraising for the health, arts, communications and charitable sectors over the last two decades.

Over the last few years, Deborah has resparked her love of nature by volunteering at the Toronto Wildlife Centre’s nursery and starting an environmental certification program through the University of Guelph. In her spare time Deborah can be found on a trail somewhere with her nearest and dearest, including her two senior dogs.

Melissa Dakers

Habitat and Stewardship Program Manager

Melissa Dakers joined the Watersheds Canada team in 2015, after taking time to raise her two sons. During that time, Melissa was a very active member of the Mississippi Lakes Association, where she was the Water Quality & Lake Steward on the board of directors for twelve years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Mississippi Lake Plan Committee, where she has lent her expertise to the completion of the Mississippi Lake Plan, and was an active co-chair and member of the Environmental Committee.

Melissa studied Natural Resource Management at Guelph University and Ecosystem Management at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay. Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority employed her for 6 years directly after graduation, as a Water Quality Technician and Watershed Monitoring Supervisor. Liaising with other agencies, partners and lake stewards to promote and educate them on environmental practices is her passion. It is a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together.

Melissa lives and plays on Mississippi Lake with her husband and two boys, year-round. When not at home crafting, you will find her camping or paddling around in her kayak and always with a smile on her face.

Chloe Lajoie

Natural Edge Program Manager

Chloe Lajoie is an outdoor enthusiast who has been studying and practicing Environmental Stewardship since 2009. She attended Nipissing University and graduated with an Honours Degree in Environmental Biology and Technology. As part of her program, she also attended Canadore College and completed the Environmental Technician – Protection and Compliance Program. While completing her studies, Chloe was able to take part in the Undergraduate Research Conference in 2013, presenting her thesis on the effects of Forest Tent Caterpillar outbreaks on Trembling Aspen. In the past, she has worked at Ferguson Forest Centre and Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Chloe joined the team at Watersheds Canada in 2015 as a Stewardship Program Assistant and is now managing our Natural Edge Program, working with landowners to create resilient shorelands to better withstand the impacts of climate change. In her spare time, Chloe can be found having fun with family and friends, camping, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and trying out tasty new recipes!

 

Monica Seidel

Communications and Fundraising Manager

Monica is a passionate environmental educator and communicator who is always looking for opportunities to connect people of all ages with nature and local wildlife species. She started working at Watersheds Canada in the summer of 2019, dealing with the communications, graphic design, and videography needs for the different programs. She has since transitioned to a role that focuses on fundraising, engagement organizing, communications and education outreach. She enjoys writing and using digital media to showcase and share the hard work environmental organizations are doing. Since graduating with an Environmental Science degree from Queen’s University, she has been fortunate to work at wildlife rehabilitation centres, a conservation authority, a humane society, and environmental non-profit organizations. She also has a Fundraising Management certificate from Algonquin College.

 

Nicole Dubé

Freshwater Health Coordinator

 

 

Nicole Dubé has been passionate about water issues from a young age. Whether she was doing a pond study at a local conservation area or swimming in the Great Lakes, you could always find her in the water. Her love of nature led her to work as an outdoor educator with a school board and local conservation authority.

Nicole graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Master’s degree in Social and Ecological Sustainability and a specialization in Integrated Water Management. Her research focused on community engagement about flooding in the town of New Hamburg, ON. She is interested in engaging a wide variety of people in environmental issues through art and scientific communication. When she is not at work, you can find her camping or playing with her cat named Waffles.

 

 

Chantal Lefevre

Natural Edge Regional Coordinator

Chantal Lefevre has always loved nature and exploring the outdoors, because of this, she explored a career that can benefit what she loves. She graduated from Fleming College with an advanced diploma as an Environmental Technologist and then obtained her BSc. in Environmental Science from Trent University, finishing her educational career in 2020.

Chantal has experience working with Quinte Conservation Authority, Thousand Island Watershed Land Trust, and municipal and provincial governing agencies. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and swimming with her dogs. Chantal is excited to bring her knowledge and enthusiasm to the Natural Edge program.

Karen Ballentine

Bookkeeping, Administration & Fundraising Support

 

Board of Directors

Watersheds Canada is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors:

Mary Ellen Stoll, Retired Manager, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Tom Whillans, Professor, Environmental and Resource Science/Studies at Trent University

Brett Painter, Biodiversity Indicators Lead, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Kat Kavanagh, Executive Director, Water Rangers

Bridget Andrews, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds

Stephen Blight, Retired Vice President, Capital Lands and Parks, National Capital Commission

About

  • Work, Live, Play in Canada’s Lakes & Rivers
  • Staff & Board Members
  • Annual Reports
  • Employment
  • Partners & Supporters
  • Our Impact

Get Involved!

Explore volunteer, internship and co-op opportunities.

Contact Us

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Sign up for our FREE newsletter to receive the latest news from Watersheds Canada:

  • Home
  • Our Programs
  • About Us
  • What’s New
  • Blog
  • Gift Catalogue
  • Contact
  • Donate
footer-logo
Phone: 613-264-1244Office: 115-40 Sunset Boulevard, Perth, Ontario K7H 2Y4
© Copyright Watersheds Canada. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Web design/development by 1dea Design + Media Inc.
  • Work, Live, Play in Canada’s Lakes & Rivers
  • Staff & Board Members
  • Annual Reports
  • Employment
  • Partners & Supporters
  • Our Impact
Enter the draw to win a hand-carved Common Loon!

In addition to being entered in the draw, you will sign-up for our monthly newsletter which gives you tools and information about protecting Canada’s freshwater.

Name
Address
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.