MEET
OUR TEAM
Stop Trashing It Ambassadors are passionate individuals making honest efforts to live low waste while trying to help others in their personal low waste journeys too.
They are local e-community leaders!
Jessica panetta
Montreal, QC
She/Her
While studying Marketing at McGill University, Jess developed a passion for business sustainability and organizations that benefit the planet and society. Whether she’s running marketing campaigns for a social enterprise or making national news headlines for a non-profit, she is determined to use the “gift of gab”, for good causes. Jess believes that no action is too small to make a positive impact, and that eliminating single-use plastics is a great step in the right direction. In her spare time, Jess loves to try new vegetarian recipes, do yoga and play the ukulele.
Jennifer NeilsON
Lower Sackville, NS
She/Her
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Jenn has a passion for helping others. For one of her big goals this year, she pledged to reduce single use plastic in her home, which lead her to becoming an ambassador for Stop Trashing It. She writes a personal finance and travel blog over at Will Save For Travel, and believes going green can save you money. In her spare time you can find her on a deck chair during sunny days, writing, reading, and planning her next vacation.
Fidan KarimOva
Montreal, QC
She/Her
Fidan was our first-ever ambassador and is passionate about all things water - drinking it, diving in it, and cleaning it. She will be organizing a few cleanups in her area and on her upcoming work trips. Keep an eye out for her posts and tips for cleaning our planet.
Kate Devenne
Dartmouth, NS
She/Her
Kate has always had a passion for the environment, which was one of the reasons she decided to completely change her lifestyle, and go vegan. After having her daughter, was when she had a revelation about the plastic epidemic we are facing today. It was then she decided to work towards making a change, and start to eliminate single-use plastics from her home while trying to motivate others to make a change. She loves spending time outdoors and being with her family.
Meredith crawley
Halifax, NS
Coming Soon
Niki FOLEY
NS and NL, CAN
An outdoor guide, wilderness adventurer, and educator, Niki is passionate about the ways outdoor education, recreation, and environmental stewardship can be used to empower + educate youth, and build community capacity. She takes these passions into her with a strong belief that a love for nature and wild places is key to inspiring children, youth, and adults towards earth-loving actions and zero-waste ambitions. In 2020 she is particularly committed to finding ways to bring zero-waste and sustainable practices into her work in the outdoor recreation industry. In her spare time, Niki can usually be found reading, and chasing sunsets and sunrises while paddling, camping, running, and hiking.
Drew DeCOSTE
NS and NL, CAN
Drew is a creative person who is passionate about the environment, inclusivity/accessibility, family and art! Through her education at Saint Mary’s University and personal growth, Drew has turned her life around and now strives for a low-waste and low-impact lifestyle. Drew is currently completing a Master’s of Resource & Environmental Management and wishes to eventually pursue a career in environmental management and would be happy to find herself working within waste management, active transportation, urban planning and environmental education. When she’s not at school or busy with her job as a waitress, you’ll find her cuddled up with her cat Marshmallow, painting, thrifting or making vegan cooking videos for fun on Youtube!
Halifax is where Drew was born and raised and it’s where she feels she’s meant to make her mark and enact positive change.
Instagram: @drewalexandra8
AmbassadORS.
Stop Trashing It Ambassadors are passionate individuals making honest efforts to live low waste while trying to help others in their personal low waste journeys too.
They are local e-community leaders!
Jessica panetta
Montreal, QC
She/They
While studying Marketing at McGill University, Jess developed a passion for business sustainability and organizations that benefit the planet and society. Whether she’s running marketing campaigns for a social enterprise or making national news headlines for a non-profit, she is determined to use the “gift of gab”, for good causes. Jess believes that no action is too small to make a positive impact, and that eliminating single-use plastics is a great step in the right direction. In her spare time, Jess loves to try new vegetarian recipes, do yoga and play the ukulele.
Instagram: @panettajess
Jennifer NeilsON
Lower Sackville, NS
She/Her
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Jenn has a passion for helping others. For one of her big goals this year, she pledged to reduce single use plastic in her home, which lead her to become an ambassador for Stop Trashing It. She writes a personal finance and travel blog over at Will Save For Travel, and believes going green can save you money. In her spare time you can find her on a deck chair during sunny days, writing, reading, and planning her next vacation.
Instagram: @willsavefortravel
Fidan KarimOva
Montreal, QC
She/Her
Fidan was our first-ever ambassador and is passionate about all things water - drinking it, diving in it, and cleaning it. She will be organizing a few cleanups in her area and on her upcoming work trips. Keep an eye out for her posts and tips for cleaning our planet.
Instagram: @fikari
abbey rOBERTSON
Wolfville, NS
She/Her
Abbey is a recent graduate of the Marine Environmental Technology diploma program at the Marine Institute of Memorial University. She will be spending the next year completing a bachelor’s degree. She is passionate about marine conservation and enjoys sailing, hiking, cycling, and playing music.
Sydney Griffiths
Guelph, ON
She/Her/Hers
I am from Guelph, Ontario and have just finished my second year of undergrad at the University of Guelph. I am pursuing an Honours Bachelors Degree with a major in Environmental Governance and a minor in Political Science. I have always been passionate about the environment and the interdisciplinary approach of my program of study has granted me a unique and broad perspective of a variety of environmental challenges and proposed solutions. Outside of my studies I love learning about sustainability and sharing the benefits of living a sustainable, low waste lifestyle with others. Currently, I am a peer mentor with the sustainability outreach program “My World, My Choice!” as well as a sustainability ambassador with our campus sustainability office. In both roles I seek to teach a variety of students about the importance of sustainability. In my personal life I am working to limit my waste and finding new ways to develop a more sustainable lifestyle all the time! I am very excited to be a “Stop Trashing It” ambassador and bring the information and experience I gain back to my endeavours here in Ontario!
Instagram: @sydney.griffiths
Twitter: @SydGriffs
Drew DecOste
Halifax, NS
She/They
Drew is a creative person who is passionate about the environment, inclusivity/accessibility, family and art! Through her education at Saint Mary’s University and personal growth, Drew has turned her life around and now strives for a low-waste and low-impact lifestyle. Drew is currently completing a Master’s of Resource & Environmental Management and wishes to eventually pursue a career in environmental management and would be happy to find herself working within waste management, active transportation, urban planning and environmental education. When she’s not at school or busy with
her job as a waitress, you’ll find her cuddled up with her cat Marshmallow,
painting, thrifting or making vegan cooking videos for fun on Youtube!
Halifax is where Drew was born and raised and it’s where she feels
she’s meant to make her mark and enact positive change.
Instagram: @drewalexandra8
Stephanie Hale
Ottawa, ON
She/Her
Stephanie is a Geography student at the University of Ottawa where she has spent the last several years assisting the university and its community in efforts to become more socially and environmentally responsible. Focused on reducing her own environmental impact through food choices, transportation methods and waste reduction, she is always open to exploring new opportunities to live sustainably and to speak out to industry and government to do the same. Stephanie enjoys drinking tea, travelling and cooking vegan food.
Instagram: @_stephaniehale
Ayla MarkOwski
Vancouver, BC
She/Her
As a student in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, Ayla has cultivated a love of plant life and its connection to the rest of the world’s ecosystems. Her experience lies with scientific interpretation, showing everyone the wonders of even the most unglamorous parts of the ecosystem! After graduation, she wishes to blend her two passions – the environment and education. You can catch her coming up with any excuse to go on an early morning hike any day!
Instagram: @aylakrys
Facebook: Ayla Markowska
Savandhi Silva
Toronto, ON
She/Her
I was raised in Sri Lanka and moved to Canada just two years ago.
As a child, I was drawn to nature and felt sensitively toward plants, trees and animals. But when I started studying Environmental Studies at York University, it took this passion to a whole new level. I learnt so many new things and was opened to so many new perspectives. A documentary we were shown about the impacts of single-use plastics on marine life was a huge eye-opener for me. Since then, I have barely used any straws and use a reusable mug whenever possible. I have also started the shift toward being a vegetarian. I believe that, in most cases, it is really easy to take action. But in order to do that, you have to cultivate a deep love for nature. I like spending time writing songs and playing the piano. My favourite thing to do is sipping tea while reading a book.
Instagram: @_savandhi_
LinkedIn: Savandhi Silva
Arianne LaBOissOnnière
Montrèal, QC
She/Her
Arianne grew up in Vancouver, BC, and is now located closer to her French Canadian roots, in Montréal, QC. Alumni from the University of British-Columbia in English literature, she is now pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Montréal, in environment and sustainability. Nature enthusiast, and lover of the outdoors, Arianne has given herself the mission to help ameliorate today’s local and global environmental issues by partaking in initiatives such as Stop Trashing It, Ocean Bridge, local garbage clean-ups, and environmental education conferences. In her spare time, she enjoys being creative with music, art, and yoga.
Instagram: @cinnamin_sticks
Anne OVERgaard -THOMsen
Halifax, NS
She/Her
Anne is going into her 4th year of her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Sustainability at Dalhousie University. Her interest in sustainability and the mission of Stop Trashing It began at a young age and has only increased while learning about the opportunities for individual and collective improvements in sustainable practices. Some of the areas that most interest Anne include farming, food systems, urban farming and urban forestry. Living in Halifax with roommates has provided challenges and opportunities for being sustainable and she hopes that platforms such as Stop Trashing It can share ideas and inspiration to reduce, reuse and recycle in our everyday lives. In her spare time, Anne enjoys being outdoors on hikes or camping, and photography.
Instagram: @annerovergaard
CarOLINE O'CONNOR
Burlington, ON
She/Her
I grew in Burlington Ontario, frequently hiking, camping, and going on canoe trips. My love and appreciation for the outdoors led me to attend Acadia University for a double major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Sociology. While studying, I completed my honours thesis on students’ receptivity to the movement to ban single-use plastic straws and attended a marine ecosystem field course in Mexico where I researched sea turtle nesting. Since graduating, I have completed a conservation internship in Seychelles and have volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center in South Africa. I continue to try and live a life filled with sustainable choices and advocating for a healthier environment!
Instagram: @carolineocaro
