SYC Staff

to meet our executive committee, click here)

National Director

Youri Cormier - director@syc-cjs.org

Born and raised in Quebec City, Youri Cormier studied International Business and Community & Public Affairs at Concordia University, following which he completed an M.A. in War Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada. Until recently, Youri was teaching Human Rights and Justice and International Politics at Johns-Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth (Princeton, Los Angeles and Saratoga Springs). In 2002, he won the National French Language Debating Championship in Ottawa (he gets a kick out of arguing with people). Youri has been involved in SYC initiatives since 2003, when he contributed to the pilot Sustainable Campus project at Concordia and later the Deconstructing Dinner Caravan, which biked the West Coast From Canada to Mexico to protest the WTO in Cancun. After his term at SYC, Youri plans to return to school in order to pursue a PhD in International Relations, because he’s passionate about teaching, discussing foreign policy and conducting research in the field.

Sustainable Campuses National Coordinator

Anjali Helferty - national@syc-cjs.org
Anjali is a graduate of Queen's University in Environmental Chemistry. She was involved with the Sierra Youth Coalition for almost three and a half years as a volunteer before being hired as National Coordinator for Sustainable Campuses in summer 2006. She also worked full-time in student government at Queen's University as Social Issues Commissioner in 2004-2005. She was profiled in the 2007 'Green Issue' of Vanity Fair along with other young people running the Campus Climate Challenge, and most recently featured in Alternatives Journal. She loves working on campus sustainability and is particularly enthusiastic about integrating social and human rights issues into the environmental sector.

Sustainable Campuses Prairies Coordinator

Jeh Custer - prairies@syc-cjs.org
Jeh is currently in his final year of undergrad at the University of Saskatchewan, where he is involved with campus sustainability through the student union and as a volunteer. He recently received an Honorable Mention for the AASHE Student Sustainability Leadership Awards. Jeh is a rockin' guy who is really into yoga and advancing campus sustainability through student unions. This January was his one year anniversary with Sustainable Campuses!

Sustainable Campuses Atlantic Coordinator

Cait Champion - atlantic@syc-cjs.org
Cait graduated from Acadia University in 2007 with a B.Sc.H. in Environmental Science. While at Acadia she was involved with campus sustainability as Acadia Advanced Waste And Resource Education (AWARE) coordinator and the Acadia Students' Union Sustainability Office coordinator. As Sustainability Office coordinator she worked with many campus stakeholders to gain administrative support for the CSAF, now in place at Acadia. Cait loves the outdoors and has spent the past summer working with Northern Flying Squirrels in Fundy National Park, NB, where she also enjoys exploring the coast by kayak and on foot. She is proud to be part of the campus sustainability movement that continually demonstrates the impact that dedicated, enthusiastic youth can have in creating positive environmental and social change.

Sustainable Campuses Quebec Coordinator

Maryève Charland-Lallier- quebec@syc-cjs.org
Maryève was involved in Sustainable Campuses for two years before becoming the new Québec RC. She is completing a Masters in Environment at the University of Sherbrooke, writing her thesis on territorial approach towards the adoption of Local Agenda 21. She spent her last summer in Peru, working in reinforcing capacities on environmental and health issues. Since then, Spanish had become her second tongue... relaying English to third position! Maryève is passionated by sustainability and communication issues, ecotourism, travel, dancing, photography, kayaking, literature, chocolate (!) and by almost anything that could be interesting on this earth!

Sustainable Campuses Quebec Coordinator - Campus Climate Challenge

Zahra Moloo - climat@syc-cjs.org

Sustainable Campuses BC Coordinator

Maggie Baynham - bc@syc-cjs.org
Maggie joined the Sustainable Campuses team in August 2006, after returning from Bolivia. She is in her final undergrad year at the University of British Columbia, and is currently making new friends on campuses across BC. She's also an excellent dancer and speaks Spanish.

Sustainable Campuses Ontario Coordinator

Monique Woolnough - ontario@syc-cjs.org
a thousand year old tree once whispered secrets in mo's ear. she has
kept these with her in her work as an environmental educator in
Algonquin Park and a campus activist. she recently graduated from
Guelph in International Development, Specialty in Gender. mo is
passionate about addressing the intersections between environmental
and social issues. she is usually busy having long conversations,
discovering new recipes, dancing or taking notes in literature of all
kinds.

Sustainable Campuses PaperCut Campaign Coordinator (Atlantic)

Rachel Derrah - papercut@syc-cjs.org
Born and raised in the rural-est of rural New Brunswick, Rachel has grown up intrigued by the natural and built environment. She is currently studying urban design and environmental planning at Dalhousie University with a focus on political ecology and regional economics. Rachel has been involved with community-based action including the launch of a student-led initiative to establish co-operative housing for students in Halifax, regularly contributing to SEEK, the newsletter providing a snapshot of happenings in the region related to Planning & Design, and helping to spark the new craze of Parking Meter Parties which playfully make a statement about the use of our public spaces. Rachel loves community activism but her absolute favorite way to pass time is with some funky music in the sun.
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Administrative Coordinator

Greg Ross - info@syc-cjs.org

Greg Ross, an Ottawa native, graduated with a BComm from The University of Western Ontario. He played five years of varsity football along with three years of varsity basketball. During his university summers, Greg tree planted in Northern B.C. for four years, planting approx 300 000 trees. Every tree planted made him realize that his passion in life lay within the environmental field. Currently, enrolled at the University of Ottawa for a degree in environmental studies, Greg loves his position with SYC due to the fact that he feels like he is contributing to the “green movement”. Also a volunteer with Ecology Ottawa, Greg plans to work hard in order to fulfill his stewardship towards the earth and its wonders.

Sustainable High Schools Coordinator

Andre Farant - andre@syc-cjs.org

After completing a B.A. in English Literature at Carleton University in his home town of Ottawa, Andre lived in Montreal, the Upper Laurentians and South Korea. He has held a variety of jobs, from security guard to male model to working for the Attorney General’s office. He is both local and organic, and is also fully biodegradable. He has lived most of his life out of doors and now reads more than he sleeps. Andre is currently SYC’s Sustainable High Schools coordinator for the Ottawa region.

Sustainable High Schools Project Liaison

Emily Menzies - emily@syc-cjs.org

Youth Representatives to the Sierra Club of Canada Board of Directors

Mélanie McDonald

Jeca Glor-Bell - jeca.glorbell@gmail.com