Former Team Members

Rayford earned a Bachelor of Environmental Science from York University in 2023. While working with TerraHumana Solutions, he analyzed the cultural and historical connections between the people of Kanesatake and the land.

Noah graduated from McGill University in 2019, specializing in sustainability. Before joining TerraHumana Solutions, he served as a project manager at Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest-de-l’Île, focusing on transportation issues in Montreal’s West Island. His professional interests include urban planning, sustainable transportation and land-use development. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Planning at McGill, Noah brings his expertise and dedication to advancing sustainable urban solutions.

Ms. Gabriel is a member of the Mohawk community of Kanesatake and the owner of Nations Garlic, a certified organic farm on traditional Mohawk territory. As an environmental and agricultural consultant, she collaborates with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to foster sustainable practices in Kanesatake, Kahnawà:ke and beyond. While completing her bachelor’s degree at Concordia University, Valerie continues to inspire change by blending traditional knowledge with modern environmental stewardship approaches.

Nikita is pursuing her master’s in environmental assessment at Concordia University, focusing on environmental justice and the resilience of socio-ecological systems. She has analyzed the impact of land-use changes on vulnerable communities and co-edited Youth for Nature, a children’s e-magazine about nature. Since joining TerraHumana in 2021, Nikita has focused on studying the effects of environmental contaminants in the Kanesatake Mohawk community, contributing her academic expertise and passion for equitable sustainability.

Shir is pursuing a bachelor’s in environmental science at McGill University, specializing in hydrology and aquatic ecosystems. As the regional director of Sustainable Youth Canada, she has developed projects integrating environmental education into school curricula, empowering youth to address local issues. During her 2020 internship with TerraHumana, Shir researched waste management in northern Quebec and advocated for composting infrastructure at Dawson College, demonstrating her commitment to actionable environmental change.

Emma completed her 2019 internship with TerraHumana as part of the United Nations Association of Canada’s Green Spaces Program. A recent graduate in biology and environmental geography from McGill University, Emma is passionate about environmental policy. She represented Sierra Club Québec at the 2018 UN Convention on Biological Diversity. During her internship, Emma conducted an impact assessment in Hudson, Quebec, collaborating with the community on potential effects of residential development on local green spaces.

Gabrielle Ednie, a recent graduate of McGill University with a degree in environmental biology, interned with TerraHumana in 2020. Her work included collaborating on a biodiversity assessment in Hudson, Quebec, evaluating the ecological state of a wetland area in partnership with local residents. Gabrielle also led the creation of a citizen science toolkit to support community-led environmental initiatives. After her internship, she began a master’s degree to deepen her expertise in environmental conservation and sustainability.

Tianai Zhou holds a master’s in Bioresource Engineering from McGill University. She joined TerraHumana Solutions in 2020 as an independent consultant for the Environmental Contaminants Program, working with the Mohawk community of Kanesatake. Tianai’s work focuses on heavy metal contamination in agricultural environments, particularly the human-environment relationship. At TerraHumana, she coordinated laboratory analyses at McGill and contributed to scientific research, promoting sustainability and practical solutions.

Ms. Hardad is a sustainability professional with over 20 years of experience in environmental operations. She has developed and managed programs in waste management, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability strategy and policy. Julia has worked in various sectors, including government, construction, high-tech and renewable energy. She is also skilled in preparing environmental reports (GRI Standards, CDP, ISO 14064-1), sustainable corporate value, stakeholder involvement and environmental regulation.

After a successful career in information technology, Nathalie Gendron transitioned to biology, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Specializing in ornithology, she is expanding her knowledge in plant identification to conduct plant inventories while continuing her bird surveys. Nathalie is passionate about sharing her expertise on avian wildlife and is actively involved in TerraHumana Solutions’ project on bird protection awareness and leads guided birdwatching tours for local clubs.

Marc-André Poirier is studying bird diversity along the shorelines of Kanesatake, focusing on the nesting period in 2024 and migration in 2025. He holds a bioecology degree from Cégep de Sherbrooke and is finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at UQAM.

With over a year of experience at Héritage Saint-Bernard as a project manager for land protection and management, Marc-André also worked as an environmental consultant for Enviro-Guide, inventorying amphibians and reptiles across various ecosystems.