ABOUT US
NCGC is driven by a passionate and dedicated board of directors, staff, volunteers and interns (and one cat).
Meet the team and board of directors - front row (left to right) Aimee O’Connor, Brittney Potvin, Hillarie Zimmerman, Stephanie Dixon (retired). Back row (left to right) Marcia Davison, Rosemary Oslund, Emily Mann, Meera Sarin, Tracey Wallace, William Gagnon. Missing: Board member and Secretary Jane Downing and Christopher Tse
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Emily Mann, Vice Chair
With a long standing interest in social justice and global issues, Emily is thrilled to be involved in the work of NCGC to support youth involvement in international programs and increase awareness of global issues in Canada's north. Emily has a keen interest in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and has researched implementation of the goals at the municipal level and within organizations on behalf of UBC Sustainability and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. Currently, Emily works as an environmental consultant in Whitehorse. Emily has a BA in International Relations and a Masters of Public Policy and Global Affairs and has completed coursework and research studies in Romania, Bulgaria, and throughout Southeast Asia.
William Gagnon, Chair
William Gagnon is a green buildings specialist and decarbonization expert, with a building engineering degree (Concordia University), grad-level studies in sustainable carbon management (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) and a Climate Fellowship from Cornell University (Ithaca, New York). His most recent work includes the creation of a strategy for the Northern Building Retrofit Economy.
William is a trained UNLEASH Innovation Lab facilitator. He lives, works and plays on Chief Drygeese Territory of the Yellowknives Dene; he is an advocate for LGBTQ2+, and is a “northern vegetarian”. William is a carbon-neutral individual. In 2018, he was nominated as one of the #30under30 Sustainability Leaders by Corporate Knights magazine.
Jane Downing, Secretary
Originally from Montreal, Jane holds a BSc (Life Sciences) from Queen’s University at Kingston, and a Master of Education degree from the University of Athabasca in 2017. Jane has completed coursework in Gender and International Issues in Distance Education as well as Inclusive Leadership. In her work with NCGC, Jane has rekindled a lifelong passion for gender equality and inclusion and is interested in how education can further the pursuit of a just and equitable global society and move us closer to achieving these goals.
Christopher Tse, Treasurer
Chris was born and raised in the Fraser Valley, BC. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Victoria. Over the years, Chris has worked in human rights journalism, community development, facilitation, and social justice education, and has spent significant time living and working around the world, including in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Additionally, over the last six years Chris has worked in migrant advocacy and border issues education in the Arizona/Sonora borderlands, examining the linkages between border imperialism, migration, and environmental justice. His research focus in grad school was on how forced migration informs displaced youth’s sense of identity. Chris is an accomplished spoken word artist representing Canada twice in world competition and previously completed a stadium tour across North America with the renowned Kenyan Boys Choir.
Meera Sarin
Meera Sarin has been a social justice educator for over a decade at FH Collins Secondary School. Social Justice education is a priority for her as she facilitates a vibrant and engaged group of youth that volunteer in the community and elevate the social justice consciousness at the school. The youth that Meera works with understand the value of acting locally to make a difference globally as we all work towards achieving the SDGs. Meera also teaches a Social Justice 12 course at FH Collins that encourages her students to understand that they can make a difference in their community and their world. Her involvement with NCGC is critical to her work as a social justice educator. Meera has enjoyed raising her family in Whitehorse and belonging to a community that honours diversity and change.
Hillarie Zimmermann
Hillarie and her family have lived in the north for the past 22 years. Her northern adventure started in Inuvik, NWT where she joined Parks Canada as a planner. After fours years in Inuvik, she and her family moved to Whitehorse where they have lived for the past 18 years. Hillarie currently works for Yukon University as an instructor and enjoys working with students from around the world. Hillarie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cape Town and Masters of Science from the University of Guelph. She loves to travel with her family and recently returned from a six month trip around the world. Over the last 10 years, Hillarie and her family have worked on various projects around the world including conservation work in Ecuador and Mongolia and election monitoring in Ukraine.
Meet the staff
Tracey Wallace – Executive Director
Tracey Wallace has a long-standing interest and passion in social justice and human rights. Volunteering for three years with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) in Swaziland launched Tracey’s career path of working with Canadian and international educational and community development organizations, predominately in Southern Africa and northern Canada. Prior to joining NCGC in 2014, Tracey worked with the Yukon Human Rights Commission and Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE).