Having grown up on Vancouver Island, I spent my formative years building a relationship with the ecosystems of Saanich. My passion for plants began in high school, where I was an active member of the Environmental Leadership club, which led me to apply to and complete the Seed the City Summer Work Experience Program, and volunteer at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary doing restoration work. These experiences introduced me to many different facets of sustainability and horticulture, and formulated my decision to pursue horticulture as a career. Throughout my life, I gained an understanding about the importance of sustaining the Earth’s natural systems, and in the wake of the harm that is coming to the environment in recent years, I knew that I wanted to do something about it. In 2025 I completed the Landscape Horticulture Technician Certificate at Pacific Horticulture College, which is allowing me to put my enthusiasm for sustainability and horticulture into practice.