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 Hartmann is the Coordinator of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario and has a long history in building alliances and community engagement.

Franz served as Chair of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance (2014-18)  and Coordinator (2019-2024) and helped the Alliance build vast community support for the Greenbelt. 

Franz was the Executive Director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) for eleven years. Under his leadership, TEA succeeded in getting key environmental policies adopted at City Hall, including a new climate action plan and a zero waste plan. Franz expanded TEA’s community engagement activities in all areas of the city and enlisted many non-environmental community partners. Prior to working at TEA, Franz was the Environmental Advisor to City Councillor Jack Layton and oversaw Jack’s civil society engagement activities in Ottawa.

Franz has taught numerous environmental policies courses at the University of Toronto and is regularly asked to deliver lectures and talks across Ontario. Franz has a PhD in Political Science at York University, enjoys science fiction and wood working and lives in Toronto