Who We Are

Vicki has been working to protect and promote pollinators with Pollinator Partnership since 2011. As Director she oversees P2 Canada's research and programs, keeping on top of new and emerging pollinator issues and managing programs that includes pollinator habitat conservation and landscape management assessments; understanding and enhancing agroecosystems; landuse and pesticide policy review; support for threatened and critical species; and ecosystem service assessments in Canada. Vicki joined the San Francisco team after completing her Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. In 2015 she returned home to Toronto with the expansion of P2 Canada. Vicki’s interest in pollinators was sparked during her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph and has continued ever since. Her graduate research focused on understanding how native bees use gardens and habitats in cities. This focus on pollinators in human-dominated landscapes has continued throughout her career. Vicki’s contributions to pollinator research and conservation include numerous peer reviewed papers, book chapters, policy pieces, planting guides, and technical manuals. The outdoors has always been calling this city girl who enjoys skiing, sailing, hiking, and any excuse to get out of town.

Anthony Colangelo is a biology enthusiast who spends most of his time admiring and taking photographs of local birds and bugs. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at Queen’s University majoring in Biology, and researched interesting life history traits and parental care behaviours seen in many bird species during his undergraduate career. Anthony has worked through multiple field seasons on many study organisms including tree swallows, black-capped chickadees, and carrion beetles, and loves to be outdoors to conduct research. Based in Yellowknife, Anthony is excited to be working toward improving pollinator protection and health!

Adèle is a project coordinator for Pollinator Partnership Canada and Bee City Canada. She has been interested in pollinators since an early age due to an insatiable curiosity about nature. After completing a master's degree in political science at Université du Québec à Montréal, Adèle specialized in wildlife conservation. Her final research paper explored how wildlife species are put on the international political agenda, with a focus on bees. As a francophone, she is responsible for translating documents for P2C and Bee City Canada. Adèle is excited to work and learn from the amazing team at Pollinator Partnership Canada!

Samm believes that when we develop deep respect and care for non-human organisms, a responsibility to steward the land becomes part of all that we do—informing our actions and decision making. Her focus in environmental stewardship began through mixed media art, leading to the study of Indigenous environmental perspectives and practices, in addition to public education, community-building, stewardship, and behavioural change. Samm has worked in various types of garden spaces over several years. She uses outreach and education to share perspectives on working with the Earth, not against.

Adrienne works as the Grants & Program Manager for Pollinator Partnership Canada. She holds a BSc in Animal Biology, and an MSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph. She has also earned an Associate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from BCIT. Historically most of her work has been focused on non-profit organizations, and she has had the pleasure of working with many species including traditional companion animals, farm animals, wildlife populations, and more exotic or uncommon ones, such as cheetahs, native bees, and other pollinators. She is also a mom of two wonderful children, and a hobby beekeeper. Adrienne is very passionate about advancing the welfare of all species and hopes to be able to contribute and advance Pollinator Partnership Canada’s mission and vision in a very meaningful way.

Jordan Phelps is the Bee City Program Coordinator for Pollinator Partnership Canada. His passion for pollinators was sparked as an undergraduate at Western University where he studied animal cognition and learned about the incredible feats of learning and memory that bees and other small-brained but mentally mighty pollinators are capable of. He went on to complete an MSc at Western in neuroscience where he studied how exposure to common pesticides impacts the ability of bumblebees to learn about and gather food from flowers. This experience launched a lifelong interest in pollinators – not only for the good of our food crops and the ecosystem, but also because they are fascinating creatures to watch and learn from. Jordan is delighted to bring this passion to Bee City Canada, where he works with municipalities, Indigenous communities, campuses, schools and businesses to make meaningful change for pollinators.

Bob has been saving seeds and teaching about garden biodiversity for over 25 years. He mixes science and storytelling to reveal the secret lives of seeds, plants, and pollinators. Bob has been a member of Seeds of Diversity since 1988, and became our first Executive Director in 2002, after a career in software engineering. He teaches food history at the Waterloo Region Museum, and as a steering committee member of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, helps build the movement to preserve pollinators. He is a past President of the Culinary Historians of Canada, and delights in explaining how we can learn about future food sustainability by remembering past lessons.

Lorne Widmer has been passionate about pollinators and their habitats - both personally and professionally - for many years. Prior to retiring from the Ontario public service, Lorne played a key role in province-wide public consultations on Ontario's Pollinator Health Strategy, and later in drafting and implementing the provincial Pollinator Health Action Plan. Lorne has served on the board of Pollination Guelph since its founding in 2008. With PG, he supports various habitat projects - including the Gosling Pollinator Garden at Hospice Wellington; advocates at the local level for pollinator habitat; and, serves as Treasurer. He also served on the board of Bee City Canada, prior to its move to P2C.

While working for government in various roles, Lorne learned the importance of strong public policy and the role of advocacy to help promote positive changes in society and the environment. This certainly holds true for pollinators.

Lorne and his wife maintain a diverse garden at their home in Guelph, Ontario that is planted to provide ample resources for pollinators - and numerous other taxa. One of his great delights is spotting a Giant Swallowtail nectaring on Ironweed late in the summer.

Gerry McKenna retired in 2020 from an exciting and productive 35 years with Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Gerry’s career at OPG primarily focused on developing and implementing biodiversity and wildlife habitat programs across OPG’s operations. These programs received numerous awards and recognition for conservation and stewardship for OPG. As the manager for OPG’s biodiversity and climate change program, Gerry promoted initiatives that reached beyond the property boundaries to establish regional-scale habitat projects that recognized the value of nature-based solutions for Climate Change mitigation and adaptation.

Early on, Gerry recognized the importance of using corporate lands for wildlife, including the opportunity to implement pollinator-focused projects as an alternative to traditional land management practices. Pollinator Partnership Canada provided vital technical assistance to advance pollinator habitat initiatives that continue to this day.

Since retirement, Gerry is active in conservation as a director on the boards of Pollinator Partnership Canada and the Willow Beach Field Naturalists. Gerry lives in Courtice, Ontario, Canada with his wife, Elizabeth Morrison and dogs Angus and Rusty.

Kelly Bills has been dedicated to pollinator conservation for over 7 years. Her focus is on large-scale habitat projects, plant-pollinator interactions, and agricultural and industry engagement. Kelly holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Anthropology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has also received a Master’s of Science in Environmental Management (Ecology Concentration) from the University of San Francisco. Her background in ecology, conservation, and culture has propelled her career in the non-profit sector. Prior to Pollinator Partnership (P2), Kelly worked at another bay area-based environmental non-profit called Conservacion Patagonica (CP). Kelly manages the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), National Pollinator Week, www.pollinator.org, and pollinator grants and scholarships. Kelly serves on the Board of Directors of Pollinator Partnership Canada, the Advisory Committee of the Monarch Joint Venture, and the Steering Committee for PlantAgents.

Terry Witzel’s career has focused on agriculture, food processing and food distribution. He is also interested in promoting sustainable food systems and serves as a member of the San Mateo County Food System Alliance. Additionally, Terry serves on the Agricultural Advisory Council for the California State Fair. He joined the Pollinator Partnership because of its emphasis on the global and economic importance of pollinators in food crop production. Most recently, Terry managed food solicitation and procurement for both a regional and a local food bank until his retirement in 2011. Previously, he managed the California office of American Farmland Trust, working to protect productive farmland for future generations. He began his career with the largest U.S. farmer-owned cooperative processor of private label canned fruits and vegetables and rose to the position of Vice President of Corporate Relations. Terry earned a B.S. in Agricultural Education from the University of California at Davis and an M.B.A. in Business Management from San Jose State University.

Carlotta James is an eco-landscaper, pollinator advocate, community organizer, and long-distance runner committed to environmental sustainability. A graduate of the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A. in International Relations and Political Science, she also studied Chinese at Yunnan University through the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program. Her global curiosity has taken her to work and travel across England, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, South Africa, Japan, and China. Based in Peterborough, Ontario, Carlotta is a driving force behind local ecological initiatives, including her work with Peterborough Pollinators. She is the co-founder of Three Sisters Natural Landscapes, through which she has had the opportunity to design and install over 200 pollinator-friendly gardens across Ontario. Carlotta also co-founded the Monarch Ultra, an international relay run and conservation project aimed at connecting communities across North America in support of biodiversity and Earth stewardship. Most recently, she earned her Permaculture Design Certificate from Finca Tierra in Costa Rica.

Megan is an outdoors enthusiast with a passion for pollinators and native plants. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at Simon Fraser University majoring in Biochemistry. Megan completed a law degree at the University of Toronto and currently works as a condominium lawyer focusing on dispute resolution and promoting good corporate governance practises. She is also a supporter of public parks and spends some of her spare time working to reduce the presence of invasive species in our environment and parks systems. Megan is delighted to join the P2C board, to work towards strengthening public engagement and collaborating with new stakeholders.

Michelle Holland is a public policy and sustainability leader with a strong track record of advancing urban environmental initiatives. As a former Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the Parks, Forestry & Environment Committee, she helped shape the city’s environmental agenda—expanding green spaces, enhancing biodiversity, and leading key climate strategies.
In collaboration with Bee City Canada, Michelle led the effort to have Toronto recognized as the first official “Bee City” in Canada, launching pollinator-friendly initiatives that continue to enhance the city’s ecosystems. She also initiated and led the development of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy—a landmark plan created with local organizations and Indigenous communities to protect and restore the city’s vast ravine network. Michelle’s environmental leadership extended to the global stage when she represented Toronto at the 2015 Paris Climate Summit, advocating for strong urban climate action and international collaboration.

Currently, she serves as Senior Director at CGI Canada, leading digital transformation initiatives for municipal governments. As a leader on CGI’s ESG Council, she advances sustainability through technology and builds partnerships that align corporate responsibility with environmental and community goals.

Michelle lives in Toronto’s Bluffs area, where she’s deeply committed to conservation and biodiversity. She tends to her own pollinator gardens, creating and nurturing spaces that support pollinators and other wildlife.

Taylor Ball brings a strong background in pollinator biology, developed through her work with government agencies, environmental consulting firms, and non-profit organizations since 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and a Master’s in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario, where she focused on bumble bee abundance in relation to pesticide exposure and the development of seed-saving gardens.Taylor began her career as a wildlife and aquatic biologist in the consulting sector before transitioning to the aviation industry in Victoria, BC. In her current role, she supports pollinator habitat enhancement and leads initiatives to introduce beekeeping operations at the airport, drawing from her own experience as a beekeeper. Taylor is passionate about ecological stewardship and is dedicated to connecting people with the habitats that need protecting.