Principal Landscape Architect + Planner, MA (Planning), BLA, BA, OALA, APALA, AALA, CSLA, RPP/OPPI, MCIP

Sheila Boudreau is Principal Landscape Architect + Planner, and Co-founder of SpruceLab Inc. A Landscape Architect and Registered Professional Planner, she has over 30 years of experience. She initiated SpruceLab to be collaborative and nature-based with a community focus, and the intention to prioritize Indigenous voices and decolonize her practice (to honour her Mi’kmaq ancestors).

Program Coordinator, DCS, DEC, PDC

Gwen Lane, DCS, DEC, has an Honours Diploma in Community Worker / Social Service from George Brown College, and a Permaculture Design Certificate from Verge Permaculture. She supports designs, and plays a key role in the creation and delivery of community and Indigenous engagement plans that are culturally appropriate (including First Nations consultation). Gwen is a member of Sagkeeng First Nation, and a Sixties Scoop survivor. She has been reconnecting with her Indigenous Identity and Heritage through Ceremony, Culture and Community for the past 14 years. For the past three years Gwen has led “Earth Tending”, SpruceLab’s six week Indigenous green infrastructure paid training program (where she also mentors support staff).

Landscape Designer, BA (Hons), MLA

Cesca Boldy, BA, MLA, holds a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture (MLA) and a BA (Hons) in Landscape Architecture and Planning from The University of Sheffield, UK and brings over 8 years of experience, contributing her skills to diverse projects in both public and private sectors at a vast range of scales acquired both in the UK and Canada. At SpruceLab, Cesca manages landscape architectural projects including the preparation of conceptual designs, presentation packages, and detailed construction drawings. She recently completed the Project Management Fundamentals course at University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, strengthening her management knowledge and equipping her to support project coordination at SpruceLab. She also supports community and Indigenous engagement, and contributes to the research and writing of reports to support the work of the firm.  

Landscape Designer, Landscape Architectural Technologist (Hons.), Horticulture Technician Certificate

Kerri-Lynne Garlinski is a Landscape Designer at SpruceLab Inc. She has completed Landscape Architectural Technology (Hons.) from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and has a level 2 Landscape Horticulture Technician Certification from Vancouver Island University. Kerri-Lynne brings 8 years of professional experience working as a LAT designer and has been a part of urban community gardens for over a decade, as well as history with food production on a family farm and an assistant horticulturalist in a Woodland Garden. Kerri-Lynne is a Member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, with an interest in traditional harvesting. 

Landscape Designer, MLA, BA (Hons.)

Natalie Sisson has a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Guelph. She has a keen interest in exploring how design can foster a closer relationship between humans and nonhumans to create resilient and dynamic communities. As part of this interest in cross-species community building, she hopes to explore ways that green infrastructure can be utilized to benefit communities and reduce energy costs. She believes that it is extremely important that access to green space and places to be connected with plants are available for everyone.  

Designer, BAcd (Hons), Creative Problem Solving ceritified, RSE Framer

Ashley MacDonald, BA (Hons), RSE Famer, is a Designer with SpruceLab, and holds an Honour’s degree in Furniture Craft and Design from Sheridan College and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Problem Solving from the University of Buffalo. She is a mixed urban Indigenous designer and artist from the Cayuga Nation of Six Nations of the Grand River. She specializes in integrating Indigenous values into design, ensuring meaningful and authentic representation at every stage. She also leads Dbaajmowin, our site furnishings program dedicated to developing and coordinating opportunities for Indigenous representation. Ashley is involved in design work from the research stages, engagement, through to the production of concept plans through to technical drawings (preliminary shop drawings for fabrication).

Program Assistant, DEC, DCS

Belinda Messon, DCS/DEC, has an Honours Diploma in Community Worker / Social Service from George Brown College, and over 12 years of office experience previously. Her current role is Program Assistant where she supports Indigenous and community engagement, the Earth Tending program, and administrative tasks for the team. Belinda is active within the Native community by providing support to her neighbors who have difficulty with health problems, attending events, and engaging in community focus groups.

Junior Designer, BDes (in progress)

Katerina (Kat) is a Junior Designer based in Toronto with a strong focus on environmental and community-centered design. She has lived in Toronto for most of her life, and her deep connection to the city fuels her passion for designing meaningful spaces where the environment is an integral focus. Her experiences living and traveling in several countries have shaped her adaptability and broadened her understanding of diverse cultural perspectives. She is currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Design at OCAD University (4th yr), where her thesis explores agricultural architecture within urban settings through sustainable and adaptive reuse strategies. Her summers spent canoeing the lakes of Kenora have fostered a strong personal connection to the land and a deep respect for sustainability and wildlife. 

Indigenous Advisor, Art & Culture

Karl Chevrier, a talented, accomplished contemporary artist and traditional craftsman from the Anishinaabe community of Timiskaming First Nation, compares his practice to birch bark canoe making and “everything that goes with it”. His works of art blend tradition and innovation, carry strong messages and reflect his renewed commitment to causes that are close to his heart, including identity, protection of the environment and mutual aid. Chevrier has a sensitive soul and is proud of his origins. His fondest wish is that his efforts, works and teachings serve as beacons for others who also follow a road to healing. Besides giving lectures and workshops promoting full autonomy, Chevrier opens the door of his workshop to all those seeking to learn : “I can only plant a seed; then it’s up to them to make it sprout, grow and bear fruit.

Indigenous Advisor, Landscape Architecture

Josephine Clarke has 10 years’ experience in New Zealand as a landscape architect, cultural advisor, project manager, environmental project adviser, kaitiaki team leader and site manager. She creates her own identity under her Earthfeather brand. Josephine specializes in several fields of landscape architecture and urban design particularly in cultural expressive design and integrated design for the public and private sector in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and wider Waikato Region. Josephine has worked closely with a wide range of clients including privately owned companies, district councils, developers, architectural, ecological and planning firms, Māori organizations, iwi groups, several community groups and private landowners. Josephine’s professional goals focus on the inclusion of Te Ao Māori values as an approach to design integrating cultural integrity and authenticity to produce cultural expressive and integrated designs.

Indigeous Advisor, Business Coach

Christal is a SpruceLab Director, and has been a lifelong social entrepreneur. From co-founding an international youth humanitarian charity (Live Different) to launching her own social enterprise in circular fashion (Brave Soles), Christal has had a wide range of experience and entrepreneurial adventures around the world. As a Métis woman, she also has a strong passion for equity, community, and connection, and a deep respect for generational wisdom and practices. Christal has spoken to hundreds of audiences and has coached and mentored many clients one on one. Her work is focused on helping others to find their own resilience, uncover new ways of thinking, and support their dreams of social change. As a professionally trained coach, she has worked with various clients including the Mètis Nation of British Columbia, Alma de Samana in the Dominican Republic, SpruceLab, and Elizabeth Fry Foundation. She also serves as an advisor for the Social Venture Zone at Toronto Metro University and has been an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Fashion Zone, a member of the Creative Innovation Studio at Toronto Metro University. Christal loves working with and supporting entrepreneurs and social change makers to grow their ideas, build their brands, and get clear on what they want to create in the world. She has been a featured guest on numerous podcasts, radio shows, magazines,and television appearances both nationally and internationally.

Indigenous Advisor, Business

Chris is a SpruceLab Director with decades of experience: developing and implementing projects; designing curriculum and policy; building strong relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous government, non-profit organizations and the resource sector; and advocating for Indigenous inclusion across multiple industries. He is an advocate for economic reconciliation and advises on procurement and economic development practices for working with Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs. Chris has worked within Indigenous government and with Canadian government (provincially, federally and locally) for 20 years, and has organized joint ventures, MOUs and contract agreements between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders. As a Métis citizen, Chris understands the perspective of Indigenous communities and the importance of building long lasting, positive programs and partnerships between Indigenous people and community stakeholders. Through his work with NVision Insight Group, Northern Strategic Partners, Mitacs, and Right To Play, he has engaged with over 400 First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada and retains valuable experience creating sustainable strategies for involving Indigenous communities in the work of the private and public sectors.

Indigenous Advisor, Education, Art & Culture

Amber Smith-Quail is an artist, educator, mother, wife and auntie who divides her time between South Algonquin and Tkaronto. She is a member of Alderville First Nation and has over 14 years of experience working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and youth in Toronto’s city core. Her mission has been to use the power of art, language and culture as an instrument of healing and believes that art is medicine. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre from the University of Guelph as well as a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education with a focus on Urban Indigenous Education, both from York University. (Illustration of Amber by artist Tobie Loukes).