Mission & Board of Directors

OUR MISSION

Teach and model a new way of living, focused on sustainable development and leadership for change. In educating, the goal is to improve the connection between society and Nature through an interdisciplinary and experiential approach. The following objectives support the mission:

Objectives:

To use Nature as teacher and guide
To link people emotionally and spiritually to the environment
To raise environmental awareness and literacy
To promote a holistic approach to learning about the environment
To run an innovative social enterprise seeking to generate revenues to support core operations

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chris Adam

Founder and Executive Director

Chris directs the sustainability and Living Campus office at Dawson College in Montreal.
He has been recognized nationally and internationally for designing and implementing sustainability-related projects and leadership in education, and was most recently recognized with the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, one of the highest civil awards. His background in wildlife management, leadership training, and entrepreneurship provides a holistic filter through which he works.

His passion is developing Living Schools that reconnect people, community and Nature.

KEN THORPE

Treasurer/ Financial Advisor

Currently a Financial Advisor at PEAK Investments and Guillemot Holdings, Ken got his start with an Undergraduate degree in Accounting from Montreal’s Concordia University. Building on that foundation, he has continued in the field of finance for more than 30 years. One of the original members of the Board of Directors for Earthvalues, he is no stranger to working with Non-Profits. Having sat on over ten boards, he has leant his expertise to organisations such as Nature Canada and Bird Protection Quebec (BPQ), both of which have worked on projects with Earthvalues. Indeed, Ken first learned about Earthvalues through BPQ and quickly came on board. With his added experience in Development & Fundraising, Ken has held the positions of Treasurer, President, and Secretary within the organisations he is involved in.

Ken is married to a fellow avian enthusiast, Janice, and they have two sons: one who is currently working toward his PhD at McGill University, and one who lives abroad as a musician, thanks to his Jazz Performance degree from the same university. His love of birds has contributed to him having seen over 680 species in North America and many more internationally. Most importantly, Ken has visited Simeon Pompey’s Caribbean birthplace of Saint Vincent more recently than Simeon himself.

MYKA TAYLOR

Secretary/Faculty Dawson College

Growing up on a hobby farm in rural Quebec, Myka learned about hard work through responsibility, commitment and compassion by taking care of her animals and the surrounding environment. Completing a professional program in Community Recreation and Leadership Training (CRLT) at Dawson College provided her with many opportunities to be a leader, facilitator and mentor. She didn’t shy away from being a full-time student while simultaneously balancing a full-time job. After CRLT, her next building block came in the shape of graduating from Concordia University in Human Relations, with an emphasis on Management. Myka is currently completing her Master in Sustainability, Creativity & Innovation with the University of Cape Breton.

Over the last decade, Myka has used her skills and expertise in many areas: La Maison des jeunes in Huntingdon as Director, seven years being a Volunteer Ski Patroller, working in promotions assistance at CHOM & Virgin Radio in Montreal, a Faculty Advisor at Dawson College, coordinating wedding planning, being a Coordinator of Innovative Programing for Trail’s End Camp, Nature Canada and Catherine O’Brien’s Sustainable Happiness program.

PATRICE TURCOTTE

Director/Faculty CEGEP Saint-Laurent

Patrice has held a love of the outdoors his entire life. After graduating from Dawson College’s Community Recreational Leadership Training program, he continued his studies at l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: he received his Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor & Wilderness Intervention, and followed that up with a specialist diploma in Outdoor Education & Therapeutic Adventure. Second only to his love of the outdoors is his passion for helping others. Patrice has worked with at-risk youth for over 15 years at Dans La Rue, a Montreal-based charitable organization offering resources and services for homeless youth and young adults, offering outdoor workshops. He has also participated in research groups, done consulting for the Minister of Health of Québec, and worked to improve the life of youth through EDJEP.

With a strong belief that most everyone is searching for meaning in their lives, from volunteers to donors to the youth he works with, Patrice is driven to support people find their motivation to help others in need. One of his proudest accomplishments to date is running outdoor workshops (such as canoe-camping) for homeless youth, ten times per year.

SIMEON POMPEY

Director/Faculty Dawson College

Simeon is a husband and father of two children. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Concordia University. Born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies, Simeon emigrated to Canada at the age of 12. As a student at Dawson College in Montreal, he played basketball and was named MVP in 1983. He was appointed head coach of the Men’s AA Basketball team and held the position from 1986-1989 (League, Regional and Provincial champions 1986).

Simeon has worked for the City of Montreal, and been a contributing member to six different organizations in and around the city. In 1996, he began working for Comité Jeunesse Notre-Dame-de-Grace as the director of animation. In 2004, he was recruited by Dawson College to teach in the Community Recreation and Leadership Training department where he continues to teach today.

An avid golfer, Simeon competes regularly as a Class A golfer and has won numerous tournaments, including: four-time winner of the prestigious Jacky Robinson Invitational Golf Tournament and the Dr. Oliver Jones Golf Tournament. He was voted the International Contributor of the Year in 2010 by The First Tee for his dedication and commitment to teaching life skills through the game of golf to young children.

BRIAN O'CONNELL

Director/

Entrepreneur

Brian has been involved in Graphic Arts and Printing since his school days. Since 1991, he has owned and operated his own printing company: Centre d’affaires et Imprimerie du Coin, located in Montreal. Though he specializes in commercial printing for real estate agencies, Brian brings his many years of experience to Earthvalues in order to ensure we achieve top-level quality of our printed media.

Community involvement is also something that Brian holds in high regard and has been recognized for: he has been the president of the Côte-St-Luc Housing Co-Op for the past 10 years, which is the top Housing Co-op in Quebec as of 2019. He has also worked with other community-based organizations such as Support Montreal and First Tee of Montreal. As well as sitting on the Board of Directors for Earthvalues, he is also a Board Member for the Comité Jeunesse NDG with fellow EVI Board Member, Simeon Pompey.

Passionate about ensuring youth have ample opportunities to improve their health & wellness, Brian is excited about using the Earthvalues Mission to that end.