Leora Berman is The Land Between founder and of The Land Between charity. Leora has been leading and developing large scale ecological projects for nonprofit groups and governments for 20 years. She began by studying Economics and English at McMaster University, but did not feel fulfilled with this learning and so pursued a focus in Hydrology and Environmental science at Sir Sandford Fleming College. She has since worked with governments and as an educator for the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs, with large charities of Wildlife Habitat Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada for wetland, landscape and species conservation; and she has worked privately in hydrogeological consulting, for septic designs, dam building, shoreline restoration and also goose control. As the Founder and COO of The Land Between, Leora is focused on building relationships, awareness and capacity. She is dedicated to grassroots, Indigenous and democratic systems and governance- and therefore, the reparation of the systemic socio-cultural issues in Canada. Leora also runs a private consulting firm that develops and supports social sector efforts in her communities.
Danielle Lachance, is a graduate from Trent University’s MSc psychology program, specializing in environmental psychology. Her research focuses on the influence the natural environment has on nature relatedness, well-being, and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. For her master’s thesis, she studied the effects of nature immersion and outdoor education in different outdoor spaces (green versus blue space) on students’ mood and concern for the environment. Danielle is an academic assistant in the psychology department at Trent, a research assistant in Dr. Lisa Nisbet’s Nature Relatedness lab, and a researcher for Land Between Charity.
Daniel Grenon, GIS Specialist, graduated from Nova Scotia Community College with an advanced diploma in Geographic Information Systems alongside having a BSc in Environmental Science from Acadia University. He hails from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and made the jump to Ontario to follow his passion and interests so he can contribute to the environmental and conservation field! Daniel loves sports, winning at board games and delicious coffee!
Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician, Citizen Science for herps. Meredith is a big time nature-lover and seaweed geek! Her ecology experience comes from her undergrad in biology and environmental science, and a Masters degree in intertidal community ecology. In her Masters’ thesis she looked at the impacts of seaweed harvest on the biological communities of rocky shores in Nova Scotia and Ireland. She is very excited to be part of The Land Between Charity team, and hopes to put her ecology knowledge, and love for field work to good use to help protect species and habitat in TLB. Meredith has experience teaching kids, youth, and adults, and looks forward to engaging with the public to help facilitate citizen science projects in TLB. She can hardly wait until turtle nesting season! When she is not at TLB she can often be found cuddling her rescue dog Ollie (who she adamantly refers to as her son), cooking vegan food, or working on an arts and crafts project.
Emma Halupka, Conservation Technician, Citizen Science for birds, is passionate about restoring natural systems in a way that builds community and honours Indigenous rights and knowledge. She has lived and worked throughout Canada, completing a BSc in Environmental Science at Dalhousie University and an MSc in Ecological Restoration at Simon Fraser University & British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her Masters project looked at quantifying and restoring physical attributes of old-growth forests in the Coastal Western Hemlock zone of BC. Through years of fieldwork planting trees, assessing biodiversity, and implementing restoration projects, Emma has grown a deep appreciation for the inter-connectivity of nature. She has helped to organize in both climate and social justice campaigns – and is grateful that this link between science and community is prioritized at the TLB. Emma is happy to be back in Ontario where she grew up, and is itching to try ice climbing in Haliburton County!
Siena Smith is a Conservation Technician with The Land Between focusing on the Habitat Restoration portfolio. Siena has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of British Columbia and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Assessment from Niagara College. She has worked in environmental consulting as an environmental monitor with AECOM Canada, and in biodiversity monitoring as an aquatic field technician with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. Siena is passionate about environmental conservation, cool plants, and all things outdoors. She is excited to be a part of the diverse team at The Land Between.
Jaime Kearnan, is the Communications Specialist and Content Creator for The Land Between charity, combining scientific research with art and design. She has a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Zoology and a post-graduate certificate in environmental Visual Communication. Jaime has always loved animals and at 8 years old made the consequential decision to purchase a leopard gecko that she still has today, 17 years later.
MaryJane Proulx, Communications and First Nation portfolio, is an Anishinaabeg/Scottish woman who recently joined The Land Between team as the Cultural Heritage Coordinator. MaryJane’s work with The Land Between focuses on the incorporation of First Nations history and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in multiple projects across the landscape. During the winter months of 2019-2020 MaryJane will be volunteering with The Land Between while attending school. Throughout her academic career at Trent University and Fleming College, MaryJane has been working to promote and support Indigenous perspectives as a researcher, writer and historian. She holds a Bachelor with Honours in History and Environmental Resource Studies, as well as a diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology. MaryJane has worked as an Artisan Interpreter and Tour Guide at the Canoe Museum for the past 3 years, carving paddles and teaching visitors about Indigenous-settler histories through the story of the canoe. She has also volunteered with Peterborough Green Up and the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative doing ecological work. MaryJane’s ultimate goal in both her personal and academic career is to bridge cultures through ecological problem solving and story-telling.
