Michelle is a Métis and British-Canadian water protector who resides in Tkaronto/Toronto, Ontario. Her Métis roots are from Lac Ste. Anne, AB, and the lake’s original Cree name is manitou sakhahikan (sagahgigan) meaning spirit of the lake. She has been involved in advocacy for water protections, Indigenous sovereignty and justice, and climate justice for many years of her adult life in the Tkaronto area.

Michelle holds a BA in Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto and a MASc in Environmental Applied Science and Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. For the last decade, her learning and work has focused on freshwater issues affecting the Great Lakes and Ontario. She has worked as a researcher and analyst for organizations such as the Great Lakes Policy Research Network, the International Joint Commission, and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. In recent years, Michelle helped lead several Great Lakes focused campaigns for Environmental Defence Canada as the water program manager, including advocating for a shut down of the Line 5 pipeline. Now, Michelle works as an independent water protector and Great Lakes freshwater protections specialist. This includes continuing to work alongside Canadian and US NGOs, Indigenous communities and water protectors, and independent grassroots environmental protectors for the permanent shutdown of the Line 5 pipeline.

Michelle believes the Great Lakes are an important living relation for all who reside near these waters. Her hope is to see a shared reality for these water bodies where Indigenous and non-Indigenous nations come together to ensure the restored ways of living in harmony with the waters that is in alignment with the Seventh Generation Principle of leaving behind a healthy world for the next seven generations to come and honouring our responsibilities to be good ancestors.

Franz is the Coordinator of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario (ALO).  From 2007 to 2018 he was the Executive Director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance, a urban-focused environmental group. Before that he worked for Jack Layton, both when Jack was a City of Toronto Councillor and MP in Ottawa. Franz has a PhD in urban environmental politics from York University.  Franz has also been actively involved with the Greenbelt since 2009 and eventually became Chair of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance and then its Coordinator in 2020.  

This presentation will discuss solutions to the housing crisis in Ontario that will also create climate resilience, preserve precious farmland and natural areas. The presentation ends with actions everyone can take to help build a liveable Ontario.