Lightning Talks
Andrew Stevens
Councillor Andrew Stevens is sitting for his first term as a member of Regina City Council.
He is an associate professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Regina. He teaches and researches in the areas of labour relations, collective bargaining, sociology of work, and political economy.
Councillor Stevens received his Master’s and PhD at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He has served on executive boards for a number of local organizations, specifically the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Briarpatch Magazine, the Unemployed Workers Help Centre, the Regina and District Labour Council, and the University of Regina Faculty Association.
Councillor Stevens’ civic interests include improving public transportation and cycling infrastructure, working on implementing an effective homelessness and affordable housing strategy, advancing the Official Community Plan and improving our city’s environmental policies and practices. He would also like to see recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Report enacted at the municipal level.
He lives with his family in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood.
Daniel Mireault
Daniel Mireault is a Project Manager for the City of Saskatoon. In this position, he works on a variety of waste diversion initiatives, including the residential recycling programs and the City’s waste diversion strategy. He serves on the board of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council.
Daniel holds a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. In his free time, he enjoys reading, riding his bike, and recycling.
Dayle Schroeder
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Dayle is proud to be a part of a close-knit community in both her work and personal lives. While pursuing a career in dance, Dayle’s travels, both in Canada and abroad, resulted in a shift from a passion for the stage to an interest in “behind-the-scenes” management. Dayle’s newfound interests lead her back to Regina to explore the world of event management and production, particularly with non-for-profit and arts organizations. After graduating in 2010 from the University of Regina with a degree in Business Administration, she started working for the Regina Folk Festival as the Production Manager. Through this work, Dayle has taken on the management of the Festival’s “Greening Initiatives” program, creatively finding ways to reduce the RFF’s footprint in Victoria Park and beyond. In 2014, the Regina Folk Festival was awarded the SWRC’s “Greenest Event” award, and Dayle was asked to speak at the Council’s 2015 conference on RFF's Greening Initiatives. Dayle is currently fresh off her second maternity leave, and enjoying many new adventures with her husband, Devin, 3-AND-A-HALF year-old Emmery, and 11 month old Gabe. Dayle is very excited to be participating in this year’s SWRC program, and looks forward to sharing in some fresh new ideas!
Jamie Bakos
Jamie is a specialist in clean technology and has provided leadership in delivering clean technology projects in Canada and internationally for over 20 years. A native of Saskatoon, Jamie moved to Guelph, Ontario, in 1990 to complete one of the first Environmental Engineering degrees offered in Canada. Since then, he has worked for companies such as Domtar, Ontario Power Generation, Pillsbury/ Green Giant Canada, Wardrop Engineering and Ingenium Group. Jamie has served on several boards, including the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC) and the Canadian Bioenergy Association (CANBIO). He is committed to promoting the sustainable use of forestry, agricultural, and municipal biomass in renewable energy and bio-products applications.
Jenna Curson is a Waste & Recycling specialist in Saskatoon. Her educational background is in renewable and integrated resource management and she majored in sustainability. Jenna's career experience is eclectic, ranging from forestry, government regulation to banking. Jenna now educates students and the public on environmental impacts, diversion techniques and gives simple solutions for the citizens of Saskatchewan. Together she works with communities to create a green planet, one presentation at a time!
Mariana Brito
Mariana Brito hails from Tijuana, Mexico, where she attended the Escuela de Arte Culinario before training in Spain, New York, South Carolina, and Copenhagen under chefs of Michelin starred restaurants. Since moving to Saskatchewan, many have gotten to know Mariana from her time spent at Le Macaron, Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar and teaching classes at Schoolhaus Culinary Arts however she is still a new face as far as driving her own project is concerned. At The Backyard Mariana joins her global background with a passion for organic food and her strong relationships with local producers, she centres the flavours of modern Mexican cuisine in the landscape of the Canadian prairie.
In 2017 after successfully engaging the community in a crowdfunding campaign, The Backyard expanded and opened a Mexican food truck called Malinche. Malinche operates 4 months of the year bringing traditional Mexican Cuisine to the Queen City. Through this sister project, Chef Mariana has been reconnecting with her roots to bring us the best from her homeland.
Mary Forbes
Mary is a retired oil patch Archaeologist and formerly Parks Canada Award Winning Interpreter in Lake Louise. Mary has brought her skills to her hometown of Williams Lake in fun, engaging Waste Wise Education Programs taught regionally over an area approximately three times the size of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Matt Wolsfeld
Matt Wolsfeld is the Community Engagement Co-ordinator with the University of Saskatchewan’s Office of Sustainability. Having worked across a range of positions in both the public and private sectors, Matt defines himself on his ability to find shared spaces of understanding and to communicate nuance and co-operation in a world where these are becoming less common.
Sean Homenick
Sean has worked in the non-profit world for thirteen years and currently works with SARC and SARCAN Recycling as the Manager of Communications. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan with a specialization in Marketing and Management. Sean is proud to live in downtown Saskatoon with two exceptionally lazy greyhounds.
Sean Homenick is 6’9” in height. He did indeed play basketball and volleyball. Sean orders his shoes and pants online.
Deirdre Fritsch
Deirdre is the Project Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. Her work includes overseeing summer students and managing volunteers who carry out recycling education programs. Deirdre has been involved with SWRC since 2011, when she started as a summmer student. She has a degree in Land Use & Environmental Studies from the University of Saskatchewan.
Steven Dribnenki
Steven Dribnenki joined SUMA as Policy and Legal Advisor in 2014. He is responsible for policy and advocacy on the Environment and Intergovernmental Affairs files, operates the SUMA Legal Services program for members, and is SUMA’s in-house counsel.
Raised near Saskatoon, he attended the University of Saskatchewan where obtained his Bachelor of Laws in 2005 and his Bachelor of Arts (Political Studies) (with distinction) in 2006.
After completing his studies, he worked in the federal government in Regina and Ottawa before beginning his articles in Regina in 2007. Called to the Bar in 2008, he maintained a general litigation practice ranging from civil law matters to federal prosecutions before joining SUMA.
With SUMA, his role in environmental files has included taking part in provincial groups such as the Multi-Material Stewardship Western Advisory Committee and the Solid Waste Advisory Team, participating in provincial consultations, and conducting research into solid waste management issues.
Steven is currently serving as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association-Saskatchewan Public Sector and Municipal Law Section.
Sheri Praski
Sheri Praski is a Professional Engineer with EcoStrategies Consulting and is currently contracted as the Executive Director with SWANA NLC (Solid Waste Association of North America – Northern Lights Chapter). Sheri worked with the City of Saskatoon for 5 years as the Manager of the Environmental Services Branch; with Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation for 7 years; and in Environmental Consulting for a few years. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and is a Professional Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Canada. Sheri is active on several environmental boards and committees.