Board of Directors

Anne

Anne Boucher aboucher@nanps.org

Evan

Evan Prodromou eprodromou@nanps.org

John

John Foster jfoster@nanps.org

President

John is a retired teacher and botanist, who enjoys volunteering with environmental groups
that advocate for native plants and their habitats.

Jenn

Jenn MacAusland jmacausland@nanps.org

Jennifer

Jennifer Bellaire jbellaire@nanps.org

Lesley

Lesley Wheldrake lwheldrake@nanps.org

Lesley’s interest in native plants has grown steadily over the past several years as she has worked to re-naturalize her east-end Toronto yard with local species. A longtime reader of The Blazing Star, she values NANPS as a trusted resource and community. Lesley brings over 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, technology, and digital government, and currently serves as Director of Strategic Delivery with the Government of Canada’s Digital Service. She is pleased to join the board and looks forward to supporting the Society’s outreach and conservation efforts.

Mark

Mark Bekkering mbekkering@nanps.org

Starting in 2017, Mark Bekkering has transformed his Toronto home into a thriving pollinator garden featuring 30+ native plant species. Now retired, Mark spent over three decades in city government, focusing on environmental policy, and guiding initiatives like TransformTO and PollinateTO during his time as Manager of Policy in Toronto’s Environment & Climate Change Division. His work has consistently aimed to balance environmental sustainability with economic and community well-being.

Nicole

Nicole Rivers nrivers@nanps.org

Sarah

Sarah Gladki sgladki@nanps.org

Sarah is a non-profit leader working to help communities in need across Canada. Her drive to help promote the importance and use of native plants was lovingly nurtured by her mother.

Sibylle

Sibylle Foppa sfoppa@nanps.org

I was born in Vienna, Austria, and grew up in Bern, Switzerland. After immigrating to Canada in 1987, I raised 3 children here. I hold a Master’s level degree in psychology and have worked as a psychotherapist in a variety of settings for the past 35 years. My passion for nature and native plants began in childhood, when I would roam the Austrian countryside around my family’s summer cottage for countless hours, observing wildlife and gathering wildflowers into beautiful bouquets. I have been a native plant gardener for 25 years and am currently working to establish my third native plant garden, after moving to a new house recently. In the past, I have been a member of 3 different boards of directors / executives (Stouffville Recycling Group, Ballantrae Scouts and Airborne Trampoline Newmarket). I am thrilled to bring my experience and passion to NANPS!

Terrie

Terrie Miller tmiller@nanps.org

Terrie is a retired financial executive with a strong interest in the environment and a background in strategic planning.

Valerie

Valerie Groves vgroves@nanps.org

Valerie’s passion for native plants began upon reading Doug Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home in 2009. As a professional gardener, her work focuses on native plant installations and ecologically-minded garden maintenance. She is excited to bring her practical knowledge to the NANPS.
Valerie is an active volunteer in her community, serving as an executive on school councils, and leading community garden planting and maintenance efforts.