Meet the Green Toronto Award judges for 2009:

Paul Bubelis is the Executive Director of the Sustainability Network, an environmental support centre serving Ontario, the Prairies and the Atlantic, which he co-founded in 1997. Prior to his work here, he served as executive director of the Ontario Environment Network and spent five years at Environment Canada managing the community funding programs of the Ontario Region. He sits on the board of the Clean Air Partnership (Toronto Atmospheric Fund Foundation) and Earth Day Canada. Paul obtained a master's degree in science from the University of Toronto.

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.

Sonya Fiorini-Carinci is Sr. Director, Corporate Social Responsibility at Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest retailer, with more than 1,000 stores across Canada serving 12 million customers each week. In this role, Sonya is responsible for the development and execution of CSR initiatives which is a key element of the companies commitment to progress, be accountable and transparent. Prior to her role as Sr. Director, Sonya was Manager, Environmental Affairs for 10 years at George Weston Limited, parent company of Loblaw Companies Limited, where she executed the companies Environmental Management System with her colleagues and performed risk assessment audits at distribution centres and stores nation wide. Sonya holds a specialized honours degree in Environmental Studies from York University (1996).

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 one part journalist, one part consultant and is entirely committed to driving the sustainability agenda across sectors around Canada and abroad. He has worked on everything from climate change to international trade to e-learning in places like Thailand, Switzerland and Sweden. Last year he wrote a cover story for Green Living on the 50 Green Canadians and spoke about living greener lives at the Eaton Centre. He continues to interview leaders like Jane Goodall and David Suzuki for his Corporate Knights series on the future of the planet and the economy and also writes for World Changing Canada. Jordy holds a Master's degree in Environmental Policy from the IIIEE, Lund University in Sweden, is a judge for Planet in Focus and is a founding member of OpenCity Projects.

Grant Gordon is founder and creative director of Key Gordon Communications Inc., a Toronto-based advertising & design firm dedicated to all things eco. In 2001, after working at several ad agencies in Toronto and Montreal, Grant broke away from the mainstream to found Key Gordon with partner Key Publishers. Since Key Gordon's inception, Grant has stuck slavishly to his firm's motto, "Branding the good guys." Key Gordon's portfolio of work ranges from branding for energy conservation programs to organic food, alternative energy, air filtration, water purification and several ENGOs. Two years ago, Grant led the team at Key Gordon in creating the award-winning FLICK OFF global warming activism campaign. Grant lives in Toronto with another green at heart, Gill Deacon, and their three young boys.

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.

Christopher Harris is a community leader in the High Park area of Toronto. His motivation is to reduce the impact of global warming, in order to make this world a better place for his daughter, her future children and grand children. In his former role as condominium president he developed and oversaw innovative energy and water conservation projects, reducing electricity and gas consumption in his complex by more than 22% and water consumption by 40%. His condominium was the winner of the Green Toronto Award for Energy Conservation in 2008, and an Award of Excellence for Water Conservation in 2007. Christopher’s other community work includes co-founding and developing the High Park Volunteer Stewardship Program into the largest volunteer led volunteer organization in Toronto; a group whose goal is restoring the ecosystems of the natural areas of High Park to pre-settlement conditions. To keep his life vibrant Christopher recently returned to school and is studying Law at Osgoode Hall.

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, Deborah has been the Executive Director of Zerofootprint since the organization was founded in 2005. Deborah holds an M.Phil from Cambridge University, England, where studies focused on conservation and preservation in the Department of Archaeology, Heritage Management and Museums. She also holds an Honours BA from the University of Toronto, Canada specializing in Anthropology. Deborah has held positions at the UJA and the Gardiner Museum. Deborah speaks frequently on issues related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), Green IT, and sustainability and branding. In 2008, she was a judge for Sunlight's Eco Action Kid's Environmental Awards; the Green Toronto Awards; and the Canadian Investment Award's Green Company Award for Environmental Leadership.

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.

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.

Gerald Mak, is a student leader currently studying at Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University. He recently graduated from Earl Haig Secondary School, and was the student trustee at the Toronto District School Board. At the age of 12, he started his first environmental club in middle school. He continued his passion for the environment at Earl Haig and became the director of the environmental club four years in a row. During his time as a student trustee, Gerald visited schools across Toronto where he shared his ideas with other schools including special conferences. He has also planned over 10 community cleanups across Toronto since the age of 14. At a young age, Gerald has received many honours and awards including the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers, Youth - Green Toronto Award, Rotary of Toronto Youth Civic Leadership Award, Jim McQueen Excellence in Education Award, and many more.

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 McCausland is the principle of I get it done, a consultancy that offers strategic and communications services to businesses that are moving towards sustainability. With relevant partners, she advises companies on how to go authentically green, and then helps to communicate their progress to key stakeholders. She motivates people to build sustainable and rewarding enterprises by raising awareness about environmental issues and implementing practical solutions.

A passionate green that inspires others, Janet's background includes developing programs such as The Green Toronto Awards, The Natural Burial Association, the re-branding of an ENGO to better reflect their mission and launching a $12.4m national millennium initiative.

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.

Kevin McLaughlin is President of AutoShare, Toronto's smart alternative to owning a car. He has been active in developing urban environmental solutions for over 15 years, including co-founding Vancouver's Co-operative Auto Network and Evergreen, a national non-profit Bringing Nature Back to our Cities initiative. Kevin also helped to launch Vancouver Television. He lives in Toronto's Cabbagetown.

Rosalyn J. Morrison is Vice President, Community Initiatives, at the Toronto Community Foundation, a public foundation which connects philanthropy to community needs. She leads the development of grant programs; collaborative community projects; and the annual release of Toronto's Vital Signs®, the Foundation's quality of life report. Previously she worked in the arts and culture sector, most recently as Executive Director of the Ontario Crafts Council, developing and implementing strategic plans and establishing partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, public galleries and museums, and private and public funders. Rosalyn's community involvement includes a provincial appointment to the board of governors of the Ontario College of Art and Design, where she is Vice Chair of the Board and a role on the Strategic Initiatives Advisory Committee, George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

Candida Paltiel is the Artistic Director/CEO of Planet in Focus which she joined in 2005. She is also a filmmaker, writer and producer who has worked on a variety of award-winning documentaries and series programming broadcast on CBC, CTV, TVO and Vision TV in addition to having taught in the Film Program at Ryerson University. She received her BA in Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film from Columbia University, NYC, in 1984. Under Candida's leadership, Planet in Focus has significantly expanded its national and international programs. Planet in Focus won the Green Toronto Award last year in the Environmental Awareness category and is the Primary Partner managing the new Green Screen Toronto initiative.

Beverley Townsend is the Manager of Environmental Sustainability at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario. In this role, Beverley is responsible for raising the level of awareness among staff, volunteers and students of environmental initiatives that can be implemented within the hospital. More specifically, Beverley plays a strategic role in creating, implementing and maintaining a program designed to achieve savings by directing focus to sustainable practices and behaviours throughout Sunnybrook and within the healthcare community. Ms. Townsend holds a degree in chemical and biochemical engineering from the University of Western Ontario (2005), and a Master's in Business Administration from Schulich School of Business at York University (2007).

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.

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.