Canadian Urban Forest Network

Adrina C. Bardekjian MFC, PhD

Director of Research and Engagement, CUFN Chair

Dr. Adrina C. Bardekjian is an urban forestry researcher, writer, and educator, and has contributed to urban forestry for almost 20 years. She has a Master of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto, she received her PhD from York University, and completed her Postdoctoral research with the University of British Columbia. Her academic research focuses on the social aspects of arboriculture and urban forestry, specifically arborist perspectives towards identity and labour, and women’s participation, leadership, and gender equity. Dr. Bardekjian has a number of publications and is one of the editors the book, Urban Forests, Trees and Greenspace: A Political Ecology Perspective. She has produced short films to communicate her research to wide audiences including, Women Branching Out. More recently, Dr. Bardekjian, is co-creator of the monthly discussion series, Where Women Choose to Walk: Paths to Improving Cities and Nature. She is also an Adjunct Professor with Forestry, at the Institute of Forestry & Conservation, Daniels Faculty, University of Toronto. Dr. Bardekjian is the recipient of several awards including the Society of Municipal Arborists Award of Achievement and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Honourary Membership Award. In her role with Tree Canada, Dr. Bardekjian directs the Research and Engagement unit, and leads the development of various research collaborations and strategic initiatives with diverse partners, including the Canadian Urban Forest Network and national urban forest Conference.

Anthony Daniel

Québec Representative

Anthony is a biologist who has been involved in urban forestry for 20 years. He has been working for the City of Montréal since 2005 for which he has held several positions: tree inspector, research adviser, and now planning adviser in the Urban Forest division of the City’s park department. In the past, Anthony has been a phytoprotection consultant in the Montréal area. One of his firms, Arthropodia, has won three prestigious prizes in the 2002 edition of the entrepreneurship Quebec contest. He is also co-author of a book on pesticide alternatives to fight against common garden pests, published in 2005. He now works on a program that aims to increase the City of Montréal’s canopy index to 25% by 2025. Since 2011, he has been involved in the city’s strategy to reduce the impacts of the emerald ash borer on its urban forest.

Danijela Puric-Mladenovic, PhD

CUFN Steering Committee Member

Danijela has a B.Sc.F and M.Sc. F (majors in Landscape architecture/ urban forestry)   from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and a PhD from the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto.  Danijela has been involved with a wide range of urban forestry research activities and applications at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, where is she holds a status of Assistant Professor (status only). Danijela has been involved in different aspects of urban forestry for over 25 years, from academic science and research, teaching,  developing practical applications to  working with community groups. Besides expertise in urban forestry, she has developed a proficiency in landscape and green system planning, dendrology, vegetation and spatial analysis, predictive modeling and mapping, application of GIS and remotely sensed techniques to forest management and mapping, and in  developing and implementing   urban forest innovatory and monitoring protocols.

Heather Fraser

Atlantic Representative

Heather Fraser has over 35 years experience in forest management and watershed protection.

She has been working for the City of Moncton for over 25 of those years specializing in developing forest management programs for municipal forests while designing and supervising water quality monitoring research opportunities with Maritime Universities, linking Moncton’s managed forests  and water resources to outdoor science based education with local area schools, bringing children (K to 12) outdoors to learn about nature, climate change and the environment around them, including the urban forest and its values.

Community demonstration forestry projects have been ongoing in Moncton’s forests for decades  under Heathers direction with the opportunity to showcase sustainable forestry practices over time – this Forest 2020 site will be unveiled in 2 short years and contribute to educational efforts for all to enjoy. Heather sits on many Boards relating to forestry, water quality and maple syrup production in NB.  She runs the only municipal sugar bush operation in Canada – from managing the hardwood forest, tapping the trees, running the Evaporator, making various maple products and developing an educational program for visitors during the annual maple season.

Peter Wynnyczuk

Ontario Representative

Peter Wynnyczuk has been involved in urban forestry for over 35 years in many capacities, from Arborist to Urban Forestry Supervisor in both the private and municipal fields. He has helped foster local tree awareness and enhancement through various programs. Peter participates in improving safety and awareness in the urban tree profession through various Urban Forestry Committees. Recently, Peter has been honoured to accept the position of Executive Director of the Ontario Urban Forest Council, helping to continue the aims and goals of the organization founded in 1963. This year, Peter founded P & A Urban Forestry Consulting Ltd., and looks forward to expanding the support of trees in our communities.

Nadia Pedley Chan

Pacific Representative

Manager, Trees and Landscape, Planning and Development Department, City of Surrey

Nadia Chan has worked in urban forestry for 20 years in municipal, consulting and non-profit settings. She is the Manager, Trees and Landscape with the City of Surrey’s Planning and Development Department. Nadia is currently on the executive of the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia and BCIT’s Forest and Natural Areas Management Program Advisory Committee. She is a past Director with the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Sima Yakir Feuer

Prairies Representative

Sima Yakir Feuer is an Urban Forester with the Province of Manitoba’s Department of Agriculture and Resource Development, Forestry and Peatlands Branch.  She graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a BSc. in Environmental Studies, the Vancouver Island University as a Forestry Technologist, and completed the University of Manitoba’s Arborists Training Course.  Sima brings a strong collaborative approach, which fosters teamwork and results in effective partnerships.  With over 20 years of experience in forestry and urban forestry, she is a founding Director on the board of the Manitoba Urban Forest Council and has chaired and been an active member on a number of boards and committees, including Trees Winnipeg, Manitoba Heritage Trees, Manitoba Envirothon, and Green Kids.