Meet the Green Toronto Award judges for 2008:

Candice Batista is the host, creator and producer of A Greener Toronto TV series airing on Rogers TV. She is an environmentalist and green living advocate who has dedicated her life to animal rights and the environment. Before creating A Greener Toronto, Candice spent almost 4 years at The Weather Network working with leaders in both the meteorology and climatology fields. In 2007, Candice was endorsed by the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, certifying her expertise in the scientific breakdown and communication of weather patterns. From her new in-depth understanding of global weather patterns, Candice became increasingly distraught with global warming and climate change. Her love of the natural world and all its inhabitants led her to create and develop her own environment show.

A "Greener Toronto" was born out of Candice's deep desire to open people's eyes to the realities of today's world. With her show, Candice wants to honor those people and businesses who are trying to make changes in the world. Live greener lives, as well as inspire others how they can do the same. Along with her work, Candice is also an active volunteer with numerous organizations within the environmental community.

Joe Castaldo, Canadian Business Magazine

Roberto Chiotti is a Toronto architect and founding partner of Larkin Architect Limited. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and a founding member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Greater Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council. Roberto also has a Master of Theological Studies from University of Toronto. Roberto has authored numerous articles on sustainable design on topics of LEED, the Integrated Design Process, Green Design, Sacred Space, and the Cosmological Response to the Ecological Crisis as it relates to architecture and education. His firm's St. Gabriel's Church is the first worship space in Canada to achieve LEED Gold Certification and is the recipient of the 2007 Green Toronto Award Green Design Award.

Chris Chopik is a community builder, environmentalist, writer and car-free-realtor. In addition to his successful real estate business, Chris currently serves as a volunteer on several boards and advisory committees including LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests), Toronto Real Estate Board's Green Task Force, Green Enterprise Toronto, Conservation Council of Ontario, West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy, Green Neighbours Community Action in Ward 21, Power To Choose, and Pledge To Green. Chris has written many green lifestyle articles and advocates that future friendly houses are worth more. Chris is deeply committed to enabling other realtors to become 'agents of change' as they advise developers, homeowners, and communities, demanding a higher standard of building efficiency and SMART development.

Cam Collyer has been the Manager of the Evergreen's award-winning Learning Grounds Program since 1997. The program helps Canadian schools to green their school grounds through a national network of design professionals, grants, research and a large suite of publications. Most of Cam's work has been in the field of environmental education and includes sitting on the board of Green Teacher magazine, past steering committee member of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation's Green Street program, and work with the North York Board of Education, the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School, and Peterborough's Kawartha World Issues Centre. Cam speaks regularly on topics of school ground greening, environmental education, and building the relationship between children and nature.

Michael Curry is a Managing Partner of Investeco Capital - a private equity firm focused on acquiring interests in profitable, private, North American companies in the healthy food, renewable energy, water and waste technology sectors. Michael's responsibilities at Investeco include identifying investment opportunities, assisting with due diligence and the analysis of investment candidates, and helping drive company growth strategies once an investment has been made. Michael is vice chairman of the board of Organic Meadow Inc., Canada's largest organic dairy company and a portfolio company in Investeco's first fund. Formerly, Michael was co-owner/operator of a successful building materials distribution business and spent seven years in the reforestation industry.

Gideon Forman is Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), an organization of over 2,700 medical doctors and concerned citizens who speak out on environmental health issues. Gideon played a key strategic role in the successful campaign for pesticide bylaws in Toronto, and has done extensive pesticide education work across the country. He was also Vice President of Strategic Communications Inc, a consulting firm that provides research, fundraising, and campaign advice to non-profit organizations. Gideon's work has been broadcast on CBC radio and appeared in The Nation and The Canadian Forum, among others. In 2007, he won a "Virtuoso Award" from the International Association of Business Communicators for developing a campaign to ban pesticides in London, Ontario.

Jordy Gold is a sustainability consultant, journalist and speaker. After working on climate change issues in Thai villages and trade and sustainability issues in Geneva, he became the Director of Business Development at Corporate Knights Magazine. Jordy has interviewed leaders like Jane Goodall and David Suzuki for his series about the future of the planet and the economy. Recently he wrote the cover feature on '50 Green Canadians' for Green Living Magazine. Jordy holds a Master's degree in environmental policy from the IIIEE, Lund University in Sweden, is a Green Toronto Award advisory board member and also contributes to World Changing Canada and ReNew Magazine.

Rob Grand is the owner of Grassroots Environmental Products, Toronto's largest green lifestyle retailer. Grassroots started in 1994 as a small store in the Annex and has since expanded to include two stores, an e-commerce website, wholesale and commercial sales divisions, and environmental consulting services. Grassroots won a Market Transformation Green Toronto Award. Prior to opening Grassroots, Rob spent many years working with non-profit environmental organizations in various capacities. In his 18 years of environmental work, Rob has become a leading advocate, spokesperson, and educator on green lifestyle products and issues. He has served as a director of several environmental organizations, and currently volunteers as a director with the Coalition for a Green Economy, Green Enterprise Toronto, and the Local Food Plus Foundation.

Carla Grant is the Executive Director of the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding of Ontario's forests. She also sits on the board of the Ontario Professional Foresters Foundation and several forestry-related committees. Carla holds a degree in Forestry and Environmental Management from the University of New Brunswick. In her position at the OFA she is an advocate for private land forestry and for the cause of forest education across the province. Carla is also responsible for co-ordination and fundraising for Ontario Forestry Association forest education programs aimed at youth. She travels extensively to promote the stewardship of forests.

Ian Hamilton, Director of Campus Planning & Facilities, Ryerson University

Tyler Hamilton is energy reporter for The Toronto Star, where much of his coverage focuses on clean technology and energy developments in Canada and abroad. His award-winning column Clean Break has become a must-read for followers of the alternative energy sector, and his blog, also called Clean Break, has attracted a loyal global audience interested in clean energy developments in Toronto and across Canada. Prior to joining The Star, Tyler was technology reporter with the Globe and Mail. He has also written green stories for a number of U.S. publications, including MIT's Technology Review and Greentech Media.

Lenard Hart has been active in the Green Building industry for over 10 years. Starting out as a green renovator in Toronto, he eventually went to work for EnerQuality Corporation, managing the Federal R-2000, EnerGuide for New Houses, and ENERGY STAR for New Homes programs in Ontario. More recently he headed Summerhill Group's Building Initiatives department, working with gas and electrical utilities to create and implement demand management programs, and consulting for Home Depot. He is currently working as a freelance consultant, on leading green building projects including the Eco Logic project in Newmarket (Canada's fist subdivision being built to LEED Platinum standards), and the Archetype Sustainable Housing project. Lenard specializes in consumer engagement tools and market based environmental change.

Franz Hartmann, Executive Director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has been advocating for a green Toronto since 1990 when he first volunteered with TEA. In 1998, after eight years of studying and participating in urban environmental politics in Toronto, he received his PhD in Environmental Politics from York University. In 1998, he also became the Environmental Advisor to Councillor Jack Layton. Since then, Franz has been involved in advocating green energy, smog, waste management and green economy solutions at the municipal and federal levels. Highlights include helping write the City of Toronto's first-ever Environmental Plan and helping develop a Kyoto Implementation Strategy for Canada. He currently teaches at the University of Toronto's Centre for the Environment.

Deborah Kaplan, Executive Director, Zerofootprint

Monica E. Kuhn, BES, BArch, OAA apprenticed in architectural offices in Austria and California, before settling in Toronto to work with now Architects Alliance for five years, prior to establishing her own practice in 1994. Over the years, the small firm has become known for its residential, environmental, and green roof / rooftop garden design. Monica has been instrumental in launching the green roof movement in Canada, and is currently a Board Member for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. She has co-authored several research papers on green roof technology, and has taught and lectured throughout North America on urban greening issues and permaculture. Monica is active in Toronto's Green Community, and has consulted for various local organizations.

Joe Lobko is a Toronto architect whose work has been focused on the community and non-profit sector as well as urban design. As a principal of du Toit Allsopp Hillier Architects, a multi-disciplinary firm of architects, landscape architects and urban designers, he is responsible for leading a broad range of projects. Many of them have explored new territory, including the award-winning L'Arche Dayspring Chapel; the first legal live/work project in Toronto; serving as professional advisor for the first affordable housing design competition as part of the Regent Park renewal initiative; and his participation in the development of an urban design plan for the West Don Lands brownfield site. Volunteer efforts include being past Chair of the Toronto Society of Architects, and a member of the Beautiful City Roundtable.

Peter Love is Ontario's first Chief Energy Conservation Officer and heads the Conservation Bureau, a division of the Ontario Power Authority. He provides leadership in electricity conservation and demand management and is advancing a conservation culture in Ontario. Mr. Love has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the area of energy efficiency. As the Executive Director of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, he was a leading advocate for energy efficiency and its related benefits to the economy and the environment. An active volunteer and community activist, Love has served on the National Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency, and as the director of the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain. Mr. Love's commitment to sustainable buildings and energy efficiency earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from Sustainable Buildings Canada.

Chris Lowry, M.Ed. is the Network Director of Green Enterprise Toronto (GET), an alliance of local, independent values-based businesses and customers. GET is the Toronto network of the international Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). Chris is an entrepreneur who has founded and managed both independent media production businesses and non-profit organizations. As a specialist in information, education, and communications he has won many awards for his work. He co-founded Street Kids International, and has also worked to promote the use of nature-based expressive arts with children as a mode of social and environmental regeneration. In 2004 he completed a Masters in Philosophy of Education at OISE. He recently served on the faculty of the Institute Without Boundaries, at George Brown City College School of Design.

Ben Marans is the Manager of Grants & Special Projects for the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. Working with all sectors of the community, and with city departments and agencies, TAF leverages its resources to develop innovative local actions that lead to significant emission reductions. Prior to joining TAF, Ben was the Project Coordinator for smartliving St. Lawrence, a successful community sustainability pilot project in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. Ben provided local residents with the leadership and resources they needed to help make their community a greener, healthier place to live. smartliving St. Lawrence won a 2007 Green Toronto Award and established a framework for other Toronto neighbourhoods. In his spare time, Ben serves on the board of the Conservation Council of Ontario.

Janet McKay is the founder and Executive Director of LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests). Janet began working in various environmental education positions with organizations such as Pollution Probe and the Women's Network on Health and the Environment. In 1996 she started a small, tree seedling distribution project. Twelve years later that project has grown to become LEAF, a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting and improving Toronto's urban forest. In 2003, Janet received the Arboriculture Award of Merit from the International Society of Arboriculture for her work in community-based urban forestry. In 2005 LEAF was selected as one of Toronto's "Vital Ideas" by the Toronto Community Foundation. In 2007, LEAF won a Green Toronto Award in the Education and Awareness category.

Alex Mlynek is Upfront editor of Canadian Business magazine. She has written about a number of topics on the environmental agenda, including articles on the Queen of England's efforts to go green, and the future of the hydrogen economy.

David O'Brien, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro began his career 33 years ago in Sudbury where he rose to City Manager, and he has also been City Manager of Ottawa and Mississauga. Mr. O'Brien also served as Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister of Energy between January and July 2004. In 2005, Mr. O'Brien received the Ontario Energy Association Leader of the Year Award, establishing him as one of the most influential leaders in the Ontario electricity industry. He is the Past Chair of the Ontario Energy Association, a Board Member of the Electricity Distributors' Association and a Board Member of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. Mr. O'Brien is also a member of the Campaign Cabinet of the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Angelo Poto is involved in the development and implementation of water efficiency and conservation programs in support of the City's Water Efficiency Plan. Some of these programs include toilet replacement programs, clothes washer programs and capacity buyback program. Prior to joining the Water Efficiency Group, Angelo spent over 10 years with the Energy Efficiency Office at the City of Toronto where he was involved in project development for the effective energy retrofit of City owned facilities as well as promoting energy efficiency in buildings for the private sector. Angelo was instrumental in the development and implementation of the City of Toronto's successful "Better Buildings Partnership".

Keith Stewart, Manager, Climate Change Campaign, WWF-Canada

Chris Winter is a conserver, both professionally and personally. As Executive Director for the Conservation Council of Ontario, with a Masters in Environmental Studies and 23 years of experience, Chris is one of Ontario's leading advocates for conservation. He is currently spearheading an initiative called "We Conserve" to create a united conservation movement in Ontario. He helped found and currently chairs the Ontario Smart Growth Network; he developed Jane's Walk as a community event to celebrate Jane Jacob's vision; he created the Doors Closed and Lighten Up campaigns to promote energy conservation by stores and homes; he helped design the Citizens Bank Green Mortgage to assist homeowners with energy retrofits; and he has designed Community Action Plans as a simple approach to involving community groups as partners in conservation.

Philip Winters, Chief Sustainability Officer, EnWise Holdings Inc. Prior to co-founding EnWise Power Solutions in 2006, Phil was the Director of the CleanTech Group at Enterprise Canada. He has also led the North American sales and marketing team for Sustainable Energy Technologies, a global renewable energy company. Phil spent the first decade of his career directing dozens of successful candidate and issue campaigns in the U.S. and Canada. As Western Director of the Center for Environmental Citizenship, he had extensive involvement with regional and national political campaigns. Phil is proud of his work with the David Suzuki Foundation National Business Advisory Council on Sustainability, and also sits on the Advisory Boards of EarthRoots and the Upper Canada College Green Schools Initiative.

Dathe Wong, Associate, Stantec Architecture Ltd., brings over 14 years of design and construction experience in a variety of building types and scales. A primary focus of his professional practice has been the exploration of the critical relationship between Architecture and the City. Over the past six years, Dathe has furthered his exploration to include elements of sustainable design and environmental building strategies. Dathe is actively involved with the promotion, research and education of design professionals with regard to sustainable practice and green building strategies. He is a LEED Accredited Professional, member of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council, Member of the Environmental Committee and Green Building Committee for the Toronto Construction Association.