The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee is a dynamic organization focused on the restoration of a large urban waterway in the City of Greater Sudbury. The Committee was formed in 1999 and became a Canadian registered charity in 2019.
Our Vision
A healthy and revitalized Junction Creek ecosystem
Our Mission
To lead the way for improving and maintaining a healthy Junction Creek watershed by:
- conducting research and monitoring programs to create understanding and inform sound decisions
- organizing restoration activities to recover and protect the watershed
- providing educational opportunities to share knowledge and promote its ecological, economic, and health benefits
- connecting the community with Junction Creek to empower long-term stewardship
Our Operating Principles (pillars)
A. Research & Monitor
Maintain a strong research program and long-term monitoring initiatives. Collect data and produce reports on the current state of various ecological components to create a better understanding of the Junction Creek watershed and for making sound decisions.
B. Restoration & Conservation
Develop data-based restoration and conservation programs. Identify areas that require improvement and prioritize efforts to recover and protect the riparian habitat and biodiversity of the Junction Creek watershed.
C. Education & Awareness
Develop and deliver interactive bilingual educational programs and resources to schools and the community at large. Provide educational opportunities to share knowledge and promote the ecological, economic, and health benefits of the Junction Creek watershed.
D. Connecting the Community
Enhance the Junction Creek Waterway Park trail, encourage citizen participation in activities and events that promote the creek, and foster relationships within the community. Connect the community with Junction Creek to develop an increased appreciation for the value of Junction Creek, and promote long-term stewardship.
Our Board of Directors
Daniel Campbell - President
Daniel operates a small environmental consulting company, Birchbark Environmental Research and is a past-professor in environmental science at Laurentian University. He firmly believes that you should judge a community by the nature it harbours and the water that it lets flow downstream. He sees Junction Creek as an expression of the City’s environmental renewal, but much work remains. If we understand and treat the creek and its entire watershed with love and respect, it will return these gifts and more.
Anne Denton - Treasurer
Anne has a profound love for outdoor activities and often finds solace and rejuvenation amidst the wonders of nature. Anne recognizes nature's invaluable benefits to our physical and mental well-being and is committed to preserving and enhancing these natural treasures. Anne is a proud francophone, mother of three, and professor at Cambrian College.
Kayla Nestler - Secretary
Kayla is the General Manager of L. May MFG Inc, home of the miner's lunchbox, an iconic product well-known and made in Sudbury. She has been a part of the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee in various roles since 2014. She have a BSc (Hons) from Laurentian University with a love for the outdoors and respect for all working environmental interactions that help boost the economy. She am a mother of 2, and an avid downhill skier.
Elizabeth Aho - Director
Elizabeth has years of experience working in Economic Development at the City of Greater Sudbury, with a diverse professional background including various fundraising and communications roles at many organizations, including JCSC. She has an Honours B.A. in Communication Studies from Carleton University and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Laurentian University. Elizabeth is passionate about contributing to the success of non-profits and charities in her community, and is proud to bring her skills and strengths to support JCSC on the Board of Directors and Fundraising Subcommittee.
Brigitte Angster-Beckett - Director
Brigitte is retired from Laurentian University, where she was a technologist in the Biology department. She is involved with several volunteer environmental organizations, and has a strong interest in human rights activism and climate change.
Peter Beckett - Director
Peter Beckett has a Ph.D in wetland ecology and has been a restoration/reclamation ecologist and wetland specialist at Laurentian University for the past 40 years, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and in the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. Peter is a member of an Advisory Panel that oversees the local landscape restoration projects and the transformation of the image of Greater Sudbury following impacts of mining and smelting. Peter has been a President and Director of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) and holds a Noranda Award for "outstanding achievements in reclamation" and in 2016 was awarded The Watkin Award for Reclamation by the CLRA and Pioneers in Reclamation Award by the American Society of Mining and Reclamation.
Erin Calder - Director
Erin enjoys adventures and the outdoors and is looking forward to sharing and exploring Junction Creek with her little turkey.
Gerard Courtin - Director
Gerard is semi-retired at Laurentian University as an environmental biologist and forensic botanist. He serves on several not-for profit boards and is strongly motivated to give back to the community in which he and his family has lived for the past fifty years.
Margaret Hoar - Director
Margaret is a retired professor in the joint Mitchener/Laurentian University Radiation Therapy Program. She now has time to volunteer with environmental programs, something she has always cared deeply about.
Yanghee Ki - Director
Yanghee Ki has been a lifelong educator and is passionate about community, environment, and sustainability. She worked as a middle school teacher, as vice principal of Korean culture school for a decade, and as principal and instructor at Sudbury Korean Heritage school for combined 3 decades. She plays a leading role in Delki Dozzi Garden, planting a pollinator garden and introducing popular vegetables in Asian cuisine, and is involved in the Global Garden. Yanghee is an occasional cooking instructor and hosts global cooking classes sponsored by City of Sudbury and incorporates health and sustainability into the lessons. She is also an experienced home composter and happy to help others get started.
Franco Mariotti - Director
Franco is a Biologist and Naturalist and is passionate about communicating the wonders of the natural world. He is an avid naturalist and a world traveler. During the 32 years of employment at Science North, he developed content for exhibits, videos, public programs and delivered hundreds of presentations. Franco is involved with numerous environmentally based community and provincial groups. More recently he has become involved in the production of documentary films dealing with environmental issues and acts as a Naturalist and Guide for One Ocean Expeditions in both Polar regions.
Allison Merla - Director
Allison works in the Environment Department at Vale. She believes that we all have a role to play in improving our environment and recognizes Junction Creek as a unique natural feature that is key in connecting residents and communities in creating a greener Sudbury.
Rachelle Niemela - Director
Rachelle worked for 23 years at Cambrian College and is a retired Information Technology Manager. She supported staff and students who used the various computer systems at the College and was a Project Manager Professional who directed the implementation of many computer, networking, and telecommunications projects. She is involved in a number of volunteer grassroots organizations. A proud grandmother, she believes in protecting the environment and making Greater Sudbury a great place to live.
Paula Worton - Director
Paula was taught to love this earth by her Dad. As a child Paula picked berries, nuts and fiddle heads with him. As a young adult this love developed into conservation, protection, and restoration. Paula understands how important nature is.
Awards
- SOLEC – recognizing exceptional performance and dedication to improving Great Lakes (2004)
- Urban Stewardship Awards of Excellence (2004)
- Certificate of Recognition - honouring 5 years of service from Nickel Belt MP, Raymond Bonin (2004)
- Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to the Children’s Water Festival (2006, 2008, 2010)
- Restoration and Rehabilitation Silver Award from Canada Post (2007)
- Tree Planting Challenge – recognizing efforts to plant trees (2008)
- R. Dymond Public Service Award (2008)
- Nickel Conservation District Authority – recognition for efforts to restore the creek (2008)
- City of Greater Sudbury Certificate of Appreciation (October 2009)
- Community Builders – recognizing extraordinary leadership (2009)
- Healthy Community Recognition Award – City of Greater Sudbury Healthy Community Cabinet (2010)
- Congratulations on Healthy Community Recognition Award from Nickel Belt MPP, France Gelinas (2010)
- Ontario Trillium (2010)
- Healthy Community Recognition Award (2010)
- Sunrisers Rotary Club – Recognition of efforts – Tree was planted in our name (2013)
- Hometown Heroes Group Award (2014)
- Certificate of Recognition - honouring 20 years of service from Sudbury MPP, Jamie West (2019)