Gimaa R. Stacey Laforme

Gimaa R. Stacey Laforme is the elected leader of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Born and raised on Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Gimaa Laforme has served his community for over twenty years being first elected to council in 1999. Gimaa Laforme is committed to increasing involvement and communication between Elected Council and both on and off-reserve membership. He is very active throughout Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation's Treaty lands and Territory, which encompasses 3.9 million acres of Southern Ontario, not only as Gimaa, but as a notable storyteller, poet, and published author. 

Afreen Ghouse

With a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Afreen currently works in the world of politics for the Milton Member of Parliament. Her areas of expertise are community consultations, facilitation, communications, event management, and media relations. In her spare time, she loves roller skating, and reading books, manga and webtoons.

Derek Barber

Derek started his journey into urban agriculture twenty years ago by growing food on a balcony.  Since then, he has grown veggies in backyard gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and even rooftop gardens.  Seven years ago, he decided to turn this passion into a career and became a member farmer on urban agricultural farmland in Downsview Park in Toronto. He has since completed certificates and diplomas in Horticulture, Sustainable Urban Agriculture, and Growing Plants for Profit from the University of Guelph.

Derek started Homestead TO as a means to increase food security within Toronto. Through Homestead TO, he has taught hundreds of people to grow food at home, helped start community gardens, facilitated gardening programs, and worked with community co-ops to increase food security in their neighborhoods.

Eddy Robinson

Eddy has 20 years of experience working with Indigenous communities, social servicing agencies, and various levels of government organizations. He is a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation. He holds a Masters of Education Degree from York University as well as a graduate diploma in Urban Environments. In his role as a speaker and educator, he has traveled internationally speaking about a number of topics including Truth and Reconciliation, the impacts of Indian Residential Schools, intergenerational trauma, Indigenous identity, Indigenous ways of knowing, Anti-Indigenous racism, ally-ship, as well as sharing his own story of adversity. 

Eleanor Hayward

Eleanor has 20 years’ experience as a health professional in Halton Region as a Registered Massage Therapist, and is passionate about empowerment, embodiment and evolution for holistic wellbeing and personal development. She is working towards her undergraduate degree in Social Psychology & Political Science part time at McMaster University. Since Girl Guides in her youth, Eleanor has felt a strong sense of Earth stewardship and has a world vision of connected relationships for social and environmental justice. Building on her leadership experience as co-founder of MiltonGreen Environmental Association Inc., Eleanor was proud to stand as 2018 Candidate for the Green Party of Ontario, then 2019 for the Green Party of Canada in Milton, to represent our community in the principle of sustainability for seven generations and beyond.

Jessey Njau

Jessey was a technology enthusiast for most of his career, working in various roles in the tech industry. However, as he learned more about industrial agriculture's environmental and social impacts, he became increasingly interested in urban farming to promote sustainability and improve access to fresh, healthy food. Despite having no prior experience in agriculture, Jessey decided to make a career change and become an urban farmer. He began volunteering at local farms and taking online permaculture and urban agriculture courses.

Eventually, Jessey founded Zawadi Farm, and as a full-time urban farmer, he now works to cultivate various vegetables and herbs in an urban setting. In his spare time, Jessey remains up-to-date on the latest developments in agriculture technology and is always looking for ways to incorporate innovations into his farming practices.