Fleming College

Women in Trees Conference and Awareness Day at Frost Campus to take place April 22

City of Kawartha Lakes ON – (April 13, 2017) – How long has it been since you climbed a tree? Come climb trees like a girl at Fleming College’s Women in Trees Conference and Awareness Day on Saturday, April 22.

The conference, which will take place at Frost Campus in Lindsay, Ont., is a free event to showcase the variety of roles and opportunities for women in the fields of Urban Forestry, Forestry and Arboriculture. A panel of female industry experts will speak about their experiences and pathways to fulfilling careers with trees.

The event will be filled with networking opportunities, story-telling, and will culminate with the ‘Women in Trees’ group climb. Participants will be climbing with a harness and ropes, with expert instruction and supervision with the goal to have 100 women in trees.

For more information, please contact Katrina Van Osch-Saxon at Katrina.van_osch-saxon@flemingcollege.ca or 866-353-6464 ext. 3274. To register, contact Adele Russell at adele.russell@flemingcollege.ca or 866-353-6464 ext. 3234.

Here is the full agenda:

• 9 a.m. – Registration and refreshments
• 10 a.m. – Hear from inspirational women who may change the way you think about opportunities for women and trees (Room 250).
  Introduction: Katrina Van Osch-Saxon, Professor
  Panelists: Adrina Bardekjian; Daniele Fleming; Jessica Kaknevicius
• Noon – Lunch (provided)
• 12:45 p.m. – Let the climbing commence!

Panellist Information

Adrina Bardekjian
Dr. Adrina Bardekjian is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the University of British Columbia and a Totten Fellow of the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. She also works with Tree Canada as Manager of Urban Forestry Programs and Research Development, directing the Canadian Urban Forest Network and Strategy. Dr. Bardekjian holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from York University, and remains an active board member of the Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition. Her academic research focuses on bridging interdisciplinary perspectives in urban forestry, by exploring underrepresented narratives and transdisciplinary education. She has a number of publications and is one of the editors of the text, Urban Forests, Trees and Greenspace: A Political Ecology Perspective (2014). She is the recipient of several awards, including York University’s Graduate in Environmental Studies Community Excellence Prize (2012), the Canadian Dermatology Association Public Education Award for her film, Partners In Action: A Shade Policy for the City of Toronto (2014), and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Honourary Membership Award (2016) in recognition for her efforts to promote and advance the ideas of arboriculture and urban forestry. For more information: www.adrina.ca @AdrinaBard

Daniele Fleming
Daniele is a graduate of the Forestry Technician program at Fleming College. She started her career with Ontario Hydro in 1989, as the first female Mechanical Heavy Equipment Operator with Forestry Services. In 1991, Daniele became one of the first of five females hired by Ontario Hydro as an Electrical Forestry Apprentice, working in Parry Sound. Due to cut backs, Daniele left Ontario Hydro and took a position with Vaughan Hydro Forestry as a Utility Arborist. Eventually, she worked her way into a management role as the City Forester for the City of Vaughan, supervising Arborists and various contractors. In 2001, Daniele returned to Hydro One as a Utility Arborist Foreperson. She also took on the role as a Union Chief Steward, representing 800 Hydro One members province-wide. Two years later, Daniele was offered a full-time position with the Power Workers’ Union as a Staff Officer, where she currently represents over 2800 members with Hydro One. The most exciting part of her current role is being able to give new young graduates the same opportunities that she had when she started with Ontario Hydro.

 Jessica Kaknevicius
Jessica holds a Master of Forest Conservation and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. She has been with Forests Ontario (previously the Ontario Forestry Association) since 2009, heavily focused on building the education and awareness programs. Her current work aims to dispel myths and broaden the understanding of sustainable forest management in Ontario. Jessica worked previously in community tree planting and restoration, chain of custody auditing, and research. Above all, Jessica is passionate about engaging directly with youth and the public to talk about our forest resources, as well as driving Women in Wood – a networking group focused on bringing together women from across the forestry and wood related sectors.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.

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Media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370