The Concordia Greenhouse is hosting our Annual General Meeting on Monday, January 19th, 2026. This years Board of Directors applicants are:
Leila Wilman
Undergraduate
Hello! My name is Leila Wilman, and I would love to be considered for the Board Member position as a part of the Concordia Greenhouse committee. I am a second year student here at Concordia University, studying Psychology (BA). I grew up in Iqaluit, Nunavut and have shared a love for planting and greenhouse projects for nearly my entire life. Since I can remember, the house I grew up in was filled with plants. This is quite the feat in the arctic, considering the drastically cold temperatures and often experienced lack of sun. Still, my mother absolutely loved gardening, and I was eager to help her plant seeds, work with soil, set up mini greenhouses, and maintain the many plants she owned.
Since moving away from home for university, I have not had many opportunities to continue gardening. I have visited the Concordia Greenhouse a handful of times, and grown interested in working alongside members of the committee. Recently, I saw it advertised on social media that the organization is seeking members to take on roles such as this one, and thought I should give it a shot. I am motivated to join to regain my childhood skills, make connections with other plant lovers, and be a part of a wonderful committee!
I consider myself a very reliable person, never missing deadlines and maintaining a steady routine. I am creatively inclined when it comes to designing posters, ads, etc. I am also extremely organized, which will allow me to easily communicate with other members, attend training sessions, board meetings, and function with optimal productivity and smoothness. I love to create task lists, plans, set monthly goals, etc. to maximize organization and ensure flow of work. I also work well with others, and love to work with other like-minded people who share interests. Over summer, I worked with a suicide-prevention organization in Nunavut called Embrace Life Council. Here, I worked interpersonally with many community members to set up events, create merchandise, and bring people together for workshops. I believe this allowed me to gain community-building and communication skills necessary for roles like this.
Overall, I would love to be a part of something which provides students here at Concordia with positive and uplifting outlets. Gardening is such a grounding skill, and can be beneficial to so many. I believe the work done in the Concordia greenhouse is very important and should be taken seriously. I hope to hear back from you soon, and even if I am not selected for the role, I will likely begin volunteering after finals. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Akhyra Renomeron
Undergraduate
Greetings! I am applying to join the Concordia Greenhouse board of directors! The greenhouse shaped my journey as a student. I first encountered the Greenhouse back before I was even a student, in 2016, and I’ve watched it evolve over the years into a hub for learning, sustainability, and connection. Now, in my third year at Concordia, I feel ready to contribute to its next chapter(s). I am prepared for the responsibilities of a member, including participating in two- three weekday evening meetings per month. I’m also interested in receiving the specific training required to take on whatever roles are bring asked of me. I welcome the opportunity to learn, to organize, coordinate and ensure smooth flowing meetings.
I am an undergrad student in Indigenous Studies with a minor in Sustainability, I approach environmental work through a decolonial, land-based, and relational lens. My academic and personal experiences have taught me to think critically about how knowledge is shared, who has access to green spaces, and how we can shape ecological projects that honour multiple cultural relationships with plants and land. I hold a DEP in horticulture, and have completed my apprenticeship with City School Farm. These experiences have given me solid hands-on skills: plant care, food-growing systems, garden design, and the day-to-day realities of running community green spaces.
Beyond academia, I bring over a decade of experience facilitating community wellness through yoga, energy healing, and gatherings. This work has trained me to create safer, communicate clearly, accessible spaces where people feel included and supported —these skills can easily translate directly into community-oriented projects like the Greenhouse. I’ve collaborated with grassroots groups, mutual aid networks, and I understand how to mobilize community energy with care and intention.
My motivation for joining the board is: I love this space (13th floor), the Greenhouse and City School Farm were inspirations for me to want to become a student, and I want to support it in ways that are meaningful and sustainable. I want to help ensure that it continues to thrive as a sanctuary, and a community resource. I hope to support projects that expand accessibility, and bring in diverse voices whose relationships with plants and land are often overlooked in institutional settings.
I bring commitment, experience, and heart and I would be honoured to contribute to the Concordia Greenhouse’s ongoing growth!
Thank you!
Akhyra
Rosalie Katharine Chady
Undergraduate
I’m an undergraduate student in my third year (still with a few to go!) studying
Environmental and Sustainability science. I switched degrees recently and have really wanted to get more involved in green projects on campus, something I felt was lacking in my first two years of study. Because of this I started visiting ABCompost this semester and really loved it! It was a small break from our busy (and decidedly lacking in green space) downtown campus and the worms are really awesome. I was already curious about the Greenhouse and ABCompost was so easy to join, spending my Wednesday afternoons there helped me start imagining incorporating more Greenhouse projects into my time at school. My high school years were shaped by grassroots climate justice organizing with Sustainabiliteens Vancouver, which gave me a crucial foundation in understanding various kinds of climate action, on a municipal scale and also tackling conflicts on the federal level. I served for a period on the Sustainabiliteens leadership board, and during that time we continued building a network of city climate action groups, organizing protests and fundraising events as well as developing our collective vision of climate justice work. We also strived for our organization to be anti-oppressive and without hierarchy; it was entirely volunteer-based and we functioned as collaborators and friends. Understanding one another through this shared vision was really important to our organization. Having lost that during my first couple years as an undergrad, I am really seeking to feel involved in long-term sustainability work again, here in Montreal.
I am looking for communities that are building liveable urban futures and urban agriculture, food programs and green spaces are fundamental to this. Students span all levels of food and ecological literacy and providing places to learn and expand our autonomy in these areas is really empowering. I’ve always felt close to nature and I’ve always been happy to grow closer; learning about all the plants we house at the Greenhouse would be a joy. I’m an engaged and detail-oriented learner, no work that I do will be neglected – I’m careful and highly motivated to do well in any setting. I want to learn more about how to work together without hierarchy, and the tools necessary to keep a non-profit running – such as applying for grants and budgeting finances as a fee-levy group. I’m eager to do this at the Concordia Greenhouse. Montreal is a city that people love actively and I want to be part of that labour; every neighbourhood is comprised of people that believe firmly in its present and future – to me that is what sets it apart. The Greenhouse shares a similar vision for Concordia students and its position in this city, as a group that looks toward our futures by involving students in the present. I see myself having a future in climate mitigation and climate action – I chose my program of study for that reason – and the Greenhouse is a space that’s already putting this together and bringing it to the student body, and I want to be part of it!
Chan Chun In Mathew
Undergraduate
Before coming across this student-run initiative an hour ago, I was doing a lot of internal thinking and reflections as to how I can stay grounded, have a healthier routine, and also be connected to my community, and surround myself with warmth and positive energy, so when I saw the recrutiing announcement from my discover page on social, I knew this is my calling and the moment for me to take actions and make my desire into reality.
As an international student living alone in a foreign country, I have a lot of experience in navigating different challenges, cultural differences, or even just living alone in general, so in a way, I am a very resilient person, and I am the type of person who would always address and try to find ways to solve issues. With this unique background, I really learned how important small, regular rituals are for my well-being and sense of belonging.
For me, that’s where gardening comes in place. Growing up, gardening was that one activity that my mother would never skip every weekend. From moving pots, trimming leaves, or even just checking each plant with care, it almost seemed to me that she was taking this activity as a self-care ritual. I initially didn’t understand the quietness, repetitiveness and the intentions behind them, but as I grew older and started craving for something much slower and settled, I started to really appreciate the beauty behind this Sunday routine that my mom is still having to this day, the structure, peacfulness and the sensation that you get after seeing your craft blossom is almost live changing, and who doesn’t like them some plants! But on the other hand, this is the exact solution to the task that I have been having – building a sense of responsibility and companionship that I have been missing. Being away from your home and living alone is really tough, but to me, gardening is really the perfect way to connect back to my roots, my heritage, and just bring back that structure that I have been craving for.
I want to be very transparent in terms of my gardening background. I am still a beginner; however, I am comfortable learning as I go, and just get out there and ask questions, and do different hands-on practices. I really enjoy places where people can share their knowledge and be open about their experiences, uplift each other and be others’ mentors. To me, that is just the right place for me to get those genuine connections.
On the more practical side of things, many of my previous work and volunteer experiences have been very community-based and care-focused. With my past opportunities working in camp support, student teacher, event coordinator and long-term volunteer for the local elderly community here, I have learned how to have clear communication, show up to different events consistently, work in a collaborative manner and build the community together as a collective.
Michael Gigliotti
Community Member
Hi there, I’m Michael – a Concordia Urban Planning grad whose path has been shaped by community, youth empowerment, and environmental work.
During my undergrad, the Concordia Greenhouse was both a community hub and a grounding space. In retrospect, my time in the Greenhouse played a role in shaping my path and the work I’ve done since: community resilience, sustainable agriculture, youth empowerment and climate initiatives in Montréal and abroad, including a Master’s in Strategic Leadership Toward Sustainability where my research focused on Youth Empowerment toward sustainability action.
During those years, the Greenhouse became an anchor in my daily life. I first connected with it through an Urban Ecology course and later as a volunteer, but it quickly became much more than an academic space. It offered something rare on a busy-city campus: light, calm, community, and a place to reconnect with nature and with innovative ideas. During the intensity of the 2012 student movement, when many of us were spending long days organizing and navigating uncertainty, the Greenhouse was a place to breathe and reset. Those moments shaped my lasting appreciation for the Greenhouse as a refuge and as a space where community, learning, and empowering opportunities came to life.
Over time, my relationship with the Greenhouse shifted from receiving to giving back. Whenever I was back in Montréal, I’d reconnect with the Greenhouse to pass along youth programs, internships, and other opportunities from the organizations I worked with. Those efforts even led two Concordia students to meaningful work and travel experiences. More recently, while helping organize the Canadian edition of the Social Forum of Intersections, I again relied on the Greenhouse to connect students with broader social and ecological initiatives. Today, my role it that of Urban Agriculture Project Coordinator for a Montréal based organization that runs agriculture, urban revitalization, circular economy, and youth employability projects.
I support collective and community gardens, local food-sovereignty initiatives, and community-led climate projects. I sit on several “tables de concertation” in the Sud- Ouest borough, including the different “Comité de Santé et Alimentation”, collaborating with residents, NGOs, growers, educators, and other community stakeholders, on tackling issues related to food security and community resilience. My work naturally involves connecting people, aligning initiatives, and building bridges, and I would be excited to extend these networks to the Greenhouse. I believe my experience in facilitation, partnership-building, youth engagement, and systems thinking would help the Board connect Concordia students and the Greenhouse community to Montréal’s broader ecological networks, while reinforcing the Greenhouse’s role as a hub for social and ecological innovation, as well as for learning opportunities. Personally, the Greenhouse has always been more than a physical space — it has been a safe haven, a community, and a steady part of my relationship with the Concordia community. I would be honored to support its mission and contribute to its future by serving on the Board of Directors.
Ashley-Maria
Community Member
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my application. My name is Ash and I’m an alumni of Concordia’s Human Environment program which I graduated from in 2022.
I’m interested in joining the Concordia Greenhouse board of directors because I would like to give back to the greenhouse for all it’s done for me in the past and to offer what experience I have for its future. A bit about me: I currently work at the Morgan Arboretum as a field tech where my responsibilities vary wildly from maintenance to education. I have some experience working with non profits as the Morgan Arboretum is one itself along with volunteering for several years at LeNichoir. At the Arboretum I have helped with major projects like getting our sugar shack back in working condition and assisting in research projects on invasive species management.
Some skills I can bring to the table are:
- Education outreach
- Grant Research
- Diplomacy
- Customer service
- Flexibility
I would love to see how the greenhouse evolves and to be a part of its future.
Sara Pancheri
Community Member
My name is Sara, and I am a Concordia University alumna (Geospatial Technologies Certificate, 2022).
I am interested in applying as a Board Member at the Greenhouse to gain more insight and experience with non-profit organizations, and non-hierarchical org structures. Though I have worked alongside non-profit orgs (Oxfam Quebec, Missing Maps, etc.), I have never been privy to the inner-workings of one.
Before Concordia, I studied to be an Environmental Technician through Dawson College’s Environmental Science program and Vanier College’s Environmental & Wildlife Management career program. During my time at Vanier, I lived in a Field Station in Gore county for 6 months; There, I learned about bird banding, insect collecting, plant identification & pressing, mammal management, etc. I can help setup or work with most workshops related to the environment, if needed.
At my current job, I help run an initiative called the YPN (Your Personal Network) which is a more age-inclusive offshot of the Young Professionals Network. We basically help people feel more comfortable in their workplace, and set up networking events with people of all ages to help build connections. If there could be a collaboration between our YPN and the Greenhouse, I would love to facilitate this.
I have also been part of many fundraisers (as an organizer and contributor – through baking, swim-a-thons, yard sales, etc.), and am ready to participate if the Greenhouse were to have any in the future 🙂
Skills/Assets I can contribute:
- Customer Service
- Patience
- Bilingual (English/French; professional level Spanish/Italian)
- 10+ years experience (through retail and IT support)
- Technical / Computer skills
- Fast learner
Jonathan De Luca
Community Member
I am enthusiastic, organized and dedicated to pushing for more sustainable cities and food systems. I graduated from Concordia many years ago and I’m currently studying to become a Landscape Architect. I have jumped head first into all that is horticulture, foraging, growing and conserving food and I hope to eventually work on integrating this into my eventual practice.
I have been involved in sustainable initiatives at Concordia through my work at Sustainable Concordia during my undergrad and have been active with the Projets éphémères initiative at UdeMs campus. My enthusiasm and networks could help create important links with experts and activists involved in the sustainable food system movement in Montreal. In fact, facilitating and organizing these connections and getting the expertise and activists together has been a major part of my career.
I would like to be part of the board at the Greenhouse to be able to use these skills with the organization. I also see this as an opportunity to learn and grow new skills.
Sam Henle
Returning Board Member
Community Member
My involvement with the Concordia Greenhouse Project began in 2022, as a sustainability intern. During my internship, I discovered a passion for green space management that led me to apply to the greenhouse Board of Directors, where I have now sat for three years. I have seen the Concordia Greenhouse Project through the closure of our space on the 13th floor, helped with the relocation to the current space on the 7th floor, and I hope to one day lead this organization back to its home on the 13th floor of the hall building. In the meantime, I want to help the CGP grow and thrive in its current location.
I also play a managerial role at McGill’s Morgan Arboretum, where I lead field operations. My time there has given me valuable experience in improving a space, as well as planning and implementing projects, activities, and initiatives with limited resources. The success I have found at both organizations perpetually improves my abilities at each of them. I hope this year to use my experience to help the Concordia Greenhouse Project truly thrive in its new space.
Thank you for your consideration.
David Norenberg
Returning Board Member
Community Member
I attended many extraordinary courses at the Greenhouse before COVID and I long for new offerings! The future of the Greenhouse is thrilling and its contribution to society is not only valuable but desperately needed, and I would love to be a part of its mission.
Next spring, I will complete a Master Gardener certification through Dalhousie University. Maintaining that credential requires continued contribution to the field. While I have already been imaging ways to educate and serve people in my neighborhood, the opportunity to unite my passion with Concordia Greenhouse’s mission opens up countless possibilities! My home gardens are based on permaculture principles with a goal of creating a ‘suburban homestead.’ Most of the plants in my yard are edible. Beyond the vegetable garden, I grow berry bushes, fruit trees, and plants and flowers I love to drop into salads to surprise people. My wife and I have been building a chicken coop, and this spring we hope to welcome a new team of “garden helpers.”
My professional experiences are unique assets for this role as well. I worked for years in higher education student services as a coach, advocate, and mentor. Currently, I am an instructional designer and trainer for a software company just down the road from the Greenhouse. I have experience with educational video and audio production, eLearning creation, as well as professional speaking, training, and facilitation. What I miss though is working closely with people. It would be an honour and privilege to be more engaged with the Greenhouse’s community.
Finally, I appreciate the presence of the phrase ‘mental health’ as it is subtly woven through the Greenhouse’s marketing and values. Here too I can contribute, certainly as a coach, but also as a practitioner of contemplative practices. As a professional, I found them invaluable in my practice and integrated them into my work, and was honored for that unique approach to serving people. Additionally, with a colleague, we developed a series of programs to help people explore their beliefs, and we sprinkled contemplative practices throughout. There was always a waiting list to join! Gardens (nature!) are a sanctuary for the spirit. I can imagine wonderful programs combining horticulture and contemplative practices that nurture and support the mental health of the community.
I am so excited about the opportunity to serve the Concordia Greenhouse community through this position!
If you are interested in applying for our Board of Directors, please fill out this form.
Concordia Greenhouse Project 