Our Staff
Dawn Tremblay
Executive Director(she/her)
About me
Dawn Tremblay is a settler of French and Irish descent, born in Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́, Denendeh (Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories), and raised in Sǫ̀mba K’è, Denendeh (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories). She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in Political Science and French. After returning home, Dawn sought out northern focused educational opportunities. First, she completed a certificate in Circumpolar Studies online through the University of the Arctic. Next, she became involved with the Dechinta Bush University, where she enhanced her passion for land-based intergenerational learning. From 2015-17, Dawn was a Jane Glassco Northern Fellow in the third cohort of the program. Her policy research area was waste management in the Northwest Territories with a focus on used-tires and organics recycling. She also can be seen around town volunteering for different sport organizations.
Dawn has been part of the Ecology North team since 2010. She enjoys laughing with her son, and going for walks with her dog.
Emily McInnis
Office ManagerAbout me
Emily is a long-time Yellowknifer – her family moved up in 2005 and the north has been home since. She is a lifelong learner and artist who has previously worked in communications and various office settings.
Emily shares her love of our varied ecosystems with her two children, Simon and Hazel. When she’s not crocheting, baking, or buried in a book you can usually find her trying to get a cool macro shot of whatever insect pauses long enough.
Brandon Pludwinski
Education Program Manager(he/him)
About me
Brandon is of white settler descent and grew up in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario), and now lives in Sǫ̀mba K’è, Denendeh (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories). He enjoys being out on the land, canoeing, watching the sunset, playing guitar, running, and reading. In more recent years, he’s been fascinated by the relationships between capitalism, colonialism, and environmental change and how different programs and services can reinforce or reject these relationships. He hopes to spend his time and energy supporting programs and services that help bring about positive change and social justice.
Hannah Ascough
Public Outreach Project Officer(she/her)
About me
Hannah is a white settler of English and Scottish descent. She relocated to Sǫ̀mba K’è, Denendeh (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories), from Katarokwi (Kingston, Ontario), in 2023. She loves running, hiking, and reading any fiction she can get her hands on. A creative writer in her spare time, Hannah is interested in stories of all types and, particularly, the important role that storytelling plays not only in navigating the climate crisis, but in collectively imagining hopeful futures. She’s passionate about climate movements that are both fun and instructive, and firmly believes that all justice is climate justice.
Derek Simmers
Environmental Education Project Officer(he/him)
About me
Derek is a settler of German, Norwegian, and English descent, hailing from a small farming community in Treaty Six territory (southern Alberta), and currently residing in Sǫ̀mba K’è, Denendeh (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories). Since arriving, he’s fallen in love with the natural, and cultural richness of the region and is eager to learn with others by working on projects that support ecological and social connection in the North.
Derek has a background as a visual artist, which is where his love for the natural world has been well rooted. He is happiest when creating things with other people. He regularly volunteers with folks at Makerspace YK, has coordinated with the Yellowknife Farmers Market, and has painted a number of murals in cities across the country.
In addition to that, he is a lover of good books, good meals (with good company), and taking walks in good weather.
Our Volunteer Board of Directors
Eric McNair-Landry
Bio coming soon!
Rajiv Rawat
Bio coming soon!
Dylan Cook
Bio coming soon!
Lauren Nolan
Bio coming soon!
Ben Linnaker
Bio coming soon!
Suzanne Carriere
Bio coming soon!
Vivian Peng
Bio coming soon!
Jared Tordoff
Bio coming soon!
Brenda Van Hauvart
Bio coming soon!
