Eryn Buzza
I am originally from North Burlington, Ontario where I grew up with a strong connection to nature and forests along the Niagara Escarpment. My appreciation for environmental landscapes led me to study Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph. I am a Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist, ISA Certified Arborist and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, as well as an associate member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. I spent 3.5 years working in Planning with the City of Vancouver, and recently moved on to a position in Urban Forestry with the City of Victoria. Through the MUFL program I aim to develop my skills in leadership and UF management, with the goal of contributing to the sustainable growth of the urban forest for the benefit of generations to come. I have an identical twin and in my spare time I enjoy yoga/meditation, canoeing, hiking and backpacking.
Heidi Chang
Hello, my name is Heidi! I was fortunate to live in many different cities around the world including Kuala Lumpur, Taichung, Shanghai, and Houston. The one thing that remained constant was my love for the outdoors. It wasn’t until I moved to Vancouver and joined Scouts where I learned to properly appreciate the outdoors and the importance of giving back to my community. My experience with Scouts ultimately led me to pursue a degree in forestry at UBC, where I recently graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Forestry with a minor in Commerce. My goal in the MUFL program is to gain valuable skills that will guide me to become a creative and competent leader in the field of urban forestry. I aspire to work with cities in the public or private sector to help further improve my community directly by creating new urban forestry policies and developing, implementing and improving green space projects. Outside of school, you can catch me kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, camping, or making cards!
Frederic Delannoy
I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario and completed my undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Architecture with a focus on urbanism. Since a young age, I have always loved the outdoors and travelling which got me thinking about different urban designs and how successful their impact was on local ecosystem and residents. While I did enjoy my degree, I felt that my love for the outdoors and nature was not being engaged enough. I wanted to explore this interest more by pursuing the MUFL program to further develop my skills and knowledge on those topics, as well as be exposed from the perspective of other professions. Later, I wish to work with municipalities to create better urban spaces that incorporate forestry to promote healthier cities and residents.
Hendri Detleefs
I am native to South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1998. Preserving nature has always been my passion. Where I currently live I have started a small arboretum with some interesting trees and I wish to plant more. My children are taught the importance of trees and what benefits they provide for us and the environment. Our property backs onto a conservation area and my children love going for hikes and seeing the beautiful Niagara escarpment. I have a vast knowledge of construction and arboriculture and my goal is to find a balance between both. In my current role at work, I must find a way to protect and preserve trees in an urban setting and accommodate development. I wish to expand my knowledge to find more ways and tools to preserve trees in an urban setting.
Zach Ferance
Originally from Kamloops, I have spent most of my life in the lower mainland. Settling in North Vancouver I transferred from Capilano University to UBC for the Forest Sciences program. At UBC I worked on a few projects within the faculty involved in renewable materials and pathogen genomics. Before graduating I began building a tree service company. The knowledge I have gained from my undergraduate degree has informed my practise of arboriculture significantly. Within the industry, I have witnessed a great need for more refined approaches and practices to Urban Forestry so I am excited to collaborate with like-minded professionals in the MUFL program. I hope to further my professionalism, and skills and bolster my company’s ability to carry Urban Forestry into the future.
Adam George
I come from Fort Erie located in southern Ontario which is part of the Carolinian Forest, not the Boreal. Before this program I studied English literature at Simon Fraser university and before that forestry and environmental sciences at Algonquin college in Ottawa. I’ve worked hard hands-on jobs in the past including: Arborist apprentice, carpenter, scaffolding, research, restaurant, tile setting, and more. My favourite hobbies are skateboarding, travelling, exploring, and learning new things. I decided to take this master’s program to advance my career in forestry and create a fulfilling job.
Robin Hastings
Originally from Leicester in the UK, I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Sheffield in 2006. Shortly afterward I started my career in arboriculture, working for a local tree care company before moving to Vancouver in 2011. I have since worked in both the private and public sectors and decided to apply for the MUFL program, with the aim of expanding my knowledge base and career horizons in Urban Forestry. I like to stay busy and active; from small carpentry projects to hiking and ski touring I’m most relaxed when I’m staying occupied.
Simon Hovington
I am from the beautiful city of Montreal, Quebec. I studied Urban Planning and have a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Montreal. Prior to attending UBC, I worked as a landscape architect at one of the largest urban planning and landscape architecture firms in Montreal, where I still work part-time as a student. I have a profound interest in cities, as I find it fascinating to witness what we can create together as a society. Given the impact of climate change, it is crucial to rethink how we plan our cities to ensure their sustainability for both current and future generations. This is why I decided to further my education in urban forestry. One of my goals is to work for a city or organization that promotes stronger guidelines for creating greener cities.
Clara Jeanroy
Passionate about the relationships that humans have developed with their living environment, I aspire to help re-naturalize and restore urban areas, to create a safer and more resilient future. This drive encouraged me in pursuing the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership at UBC. Initially from a town near Paris in France, I started studying a Bachelor of Biology at Sorbonne University, then followed by a Master in Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University in The Netherlands. During this program, I wrote a thesis on the development of green spaces for and with children in two European Cities. Before attending UBC and for the completion of my previous master’s, I undertook a 5-month internship at the SOLIDEO: the Olympic Delivery Authority of the Paris 2024 Games, on the inclusion of biodiversity and the engagement of citizens towards nature. I also had various experiences volunteering in organizations such as the IUCN, which led me notably to participate in the 2020 World Conservation Congress. Collaborating with people highly motivates me and I love to hear about other cultures. Hence, I am an enthusiastic traveller and greatly enjoy strolls in nature as well as dancing.
Kelly Sumin Joe
Hi, my name is Kelly and I grew up in Vancouver, though I am originally from South Korea. Thanks to the friends and teachers I had growing up, I developed an interest in environmental studies though I was not sure how I could further build upon it. Eventually, I ended up pursuing a degree in Forest Resources Management at UBC and graduated just recently in 2021. I decided to apply to the MUFL program because I want to learn how to manage and be a part of improving the green infrastructures, parks, and forests in our city and the place I grew up in. I am especially interested in water systems and would like to learn more about how we can plan for increased water displacement during rainy seasons and also how to mitigate the problems that come with water shortages in drier periods. On a side note, I enjoy baking, dancing, playing instruments, and skiing!
Helena Knezickova
Hi, my name is Helena. I grew up in Czechia, where I experienced wildcrafting, foraging and gardening as family traditions. Today, my home is so-called Vancouver, BC, the traditional unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil Waututh), and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) nations. I graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and focused on ethics, environment and society. I also studied Sustainable Business at BCIT, Herbalism at Wild Seed School, and Climate Action and Community Engagement at UBC. I am expanding my farming and landscaping experiences with a permaculture design certificate. Passionate about urban green spaces, ethical foraging, sustainable food systems and animal rights, I am joining the MUFL because it brings me a step closer to contributing to creating resilient cities with natural spaces for human and non-human coexistence and opportunities for citizens to connect to each other, our roots and the environment. You can meet me at farmers’ markets, hiking, camping, growing plants or reading with a cup of tea. I aspire to work with local communities and the government to develop policies for a sustainable future.
Sylvain Martel
My passion for trees originates from growing up on a family woodlot near Quebec City. Life on this woodlot laid the foundation for my eventual career in urban forestry. Here, I learned not only how to propagate and care for trees, but also some basic knowledge associated with sustainable forest management. Professionally, I have been a silviculture worker, a logger, a climbing arborist, a consultant and a municipal arborist. I supplemented my over twenty-five years’ work experience with both formal (BCIT) and continuing (ISA/The Davey Institute) education. I studied natural resource management, urban forestry, arboriculture, and utility vegetation management. I am currently the Senior Arborist for the City of New Westminster, overseeing urban forestry operations and implementing urban forest related strategies. My goal is to remain a public servant during and after this course of study. I enrolled in the MULF program to strengthen my practice as a municipal arborist, and to develop my proficiency mentoring new urban foresters. My capstone project will be related to the development and implementation of urban forest management strategies.
Glenn Mullett
My name is Glenn, and if you’re wondering what I see out the window I’m probably just looking at a tree! I am from the United States and currently live on Vancouver Island. The subject of urban forestry was first introduced to me while studying at Lynchburg College in Virginia where I received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. I was fortunate enough to see what an effective urban forestry program looks like firsthand when I started my career as an arborist at the City of Aurora in Colorado. I was part of a team that maintained over 10,000 city trees at all stages of their development. We planted and watered nursery stock, pruned trees of all ages for structural and functional purposes, and removed trees that were hazardous or at the end of their life cycle. When I moved to Canada, I learned that the city in which I lived did not have nearly as many resources allocated to their urban forest. As a strong proponent of green and resilient cities, I enrolled in the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership Program at UBC to make connections and gain knowledge needed to enact effective city tree programs in growing communities.
Nicholas Ott
I was born in Oakville, Ontario. I was lucky to grow up next to a forest and spent countless hours climbing trees and walking the trials. As I grew older, the forest behind my house got smaller and I expanded my range to Bronte Creek Provincial Park and eventually Conservation Halton areas that protect – among other things – ancient eastern white cedars. Growing up in Oakville I quickly learned the value of nearby green space and protected areas. After college, I began working at a bank where I remained for 13 years, most notably as a financial advisor before transitioning to financial crimes. I enjoyed great experiences and successes but ultimately was not passionate about my profession and decided to follow my love for the natural world. I have since completed an undergraduate certificate in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Most recently I completed an asset management project as an urban forestry consultant and have begun an internship program with a local municipality’s Tree Protection Branch. I’m eager to blend my professional experience with the MUFL program to become a well-rounded urban forester.
Robert Sim
I am a Trent University and Fleming College Graduate. I graduated from Trent University with a B.A. in Geography in 2014 and graduated from Fleming College with an Arboricultural Certificate in 2015. I am from Brampton, Ontario but currently reside in Guelph and have been working in the forestry industry for the past 7 years. I have experienced different aspects of forestry from general tree maintenance, line clearing, data collection and tree preservation. I am currently working for the City of Toronto as an Assistant Planner of Urban Forestry. My goal with the MUFL program is to find solutions to incorporate the urban forest with infrastructure and construction. Gaining this educational experience will provide the practical skills and knowledge to reach my professional goals in the urban forestry industry. I aim to promote awareness of tree protection and preservation while sustaining urban infrastructure improvements. I want to bring solutions to metropolitan areas and help develop urban forestry planning and protection regardless of the size of the city. I am excited to use the knowledge and experience from the MUFL program towards my current job and future aspirations.
Andrew Zamin
Being immersed in nature has been an integral part of my life since my youth. To this day, I dedicate my time to hunting, fishing, and camping with my family in the beautiful forests of Ontario. This profound passion for the outdoors has led me through various roles and educational pursuits in the field of arboriculture. Now, I find myself in a leadership position in Urban Forestry with the Region of Waterloo. My primary objective is to ensure that future generations are not deprived of the knowledge, experience, and invaluable lessons that come from spending time in nature and make these opportunities accessible to all, through our urban forests. I aim to safeguard our urban canopy while fostering a deep connection between people and nature through a symbiotic relationship.
