Youth Jury
Sunny Johal is a 2nd year pharmacy student at UBC. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Sunny enjoys going for long runs, playing tennis, kayaking, sailing, and snowboarding.
Laura Finkler-Kemeny is a high school student in Vancouver, BC, an environmentalist and a keen mountaineer and climber. Her other interests include cello, scrapbooking and skiing.
Diego Cardona Ospina was born in Colombia and came to Canada in 2005. He’s in grade 9 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver, where he is a member of the model UN club, the debate club, and many other activities.
Kim Webber is from the Nuxalk Nation. Using video and film Kim has helped raise awareness about the legacy of Indian Residential Schools and the experience of youth who grew up in foster care. She’s the mother of Lucius and a full-time student.
Bacilia Ramirez is a member of the Crowessess Nation in Saskatchewan and proud mom to 7 year old daughter Tikiya. She helped produce and film Residential Truth–Unified Future, a documentary on the impact of residential schools. She received the Award of Excellence in Youth Leadership in 2008.
Colin Siu is a first year student at UBC who likes getting involved outside of school and believes in the importance of experiential learning paired with a sense of social responsibility and global citizenship.
Angela Yang — bio to come.
Saveneet Sandhu — bio to come.
Kayla Siu — bio to come.
Adult Allies
Lindsay Cole is the Greenest City Planner at the City of Vancouver. She is responsible for facilitating the development of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, as well as ensuring that there is creative and rigourous public dialogue that informs the development and implementation of the plan. Lindsay has been working on sustainability initiatives for the last 14 years as an activist, student, teacher, co-op member, consultant, and civil servant.
Ryan Kadowaki is the Senior Coordinator for the Climate Change and Clean Energy program at the David Suzuki Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria and will begin his Master’s in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University this fall. Ryan is also a presenter with The Climate Project Canada and delivers educational talks focused on climate solutions to the public.
Ajay Puri volunteers, works and provides important scientific research to improve the lives of many marginalized populations including at-risk youth, visible minorities, sex workers, and people suffering from mental health and addictions. He has co-founded and continues to co-lead many initiatives including Bridge to a Cool Planet, Rangi Changi Roots, Coop Culture, and East Of Main.
Denise Philippe has more than 20 years experience working with environmental and community development not-for-profits and recently joined Metro Vancouver as a sustainability advisor. Denise has worked on issues ranging from green space planning, protection and restoration to waste management, multiculturalism, public health and public art.
Mike Weinmaster sees vertical gardens as the ideal way to bring nature back into urban centres and create living works of art for the public to enjoy. Together with his partner, Patrick Poiraud, he created the company Green over Grey – Living Walls and Design Inc. He has a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure.