Builder Bios
Construction Manager, College Instructor
Chris Magwood unwittingly stumbled down the sustainable building path by trying to make a better home for his family. The off-grid, straw bale house completed in 1998 was the start of an unintentional but fascinating career as a builder, designer and now teacher. Along this path, he has co-authored three books on straw bale building, edited The Last Straw Journal, organized an international straw bale building conference and been a speaker and teacher at sustainable building events across Canada and around the world. He is now happily ensconced as the lead instructor for the Sustainable Building Design and Construction program at Fleming College, where he and a merry band of students dazzle the building industry by making buildings that are remarkable examples of what’s possible in sustainable building. He really, really likes cheese. For more info visit:
www.chrismagwood.ca.
Project Coordinator, College Instructor
Health and Safety, Plumbing, Exterior Framing
I love farming and jammin’ with folks.
Purchasing, Radiant heating, South roof
Over the past 30 years, Kate has followed a somewhat meandering path, pausing to accomplish things as diverse as being a dog sledder, studying Neuroscience and getting a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Along the way, she has taken time to learn about building first-hand by renovating her entire house and has often perused the internet looking for sustainable architecture programs in the hopes of finding some way to fulfill her love of nature, people, and science. Being here, she finally feels like she may have found at least part of the answer.
Media – broadcast, Radiant heating, Entry shelter
Website, Renewable energy, Floors
I dedicated myself to the sustainable building career path in 2007, but first packed mud into tire walls of an earthship when I was 18. I have taken courses from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and a 3.5 month Natural Building Internship at O.U.R. Ecovillage which involved getting my Permaculture Designer Certification. I have done sustainable building design and/or construction work on thirteen projects in British Colombia, Ontario, South India and Vermont. Project sponsors included the Government of Canada, the Vancouver Olympic committee, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Creating sacred space and combining Permaculture with good building design are some of my favorite things…oh and homemade chocolate…oh and Life.
Tool coordinator, Electrical, Brick/block wall
Library/site services, Bathroom fixtures, Site baled walls
From a political and artistic back ground, she is so excited to begin hands-on work for this unique and beautiful sustainable building!
Print media, Solar hot water, Living roof
In 2006 Dave received a bachelor of commerce from McMaster University. In 2007 he travelled and volunteered throughout South America. He spent 2008 building and renovating, with a family-run general contracting company in Strathroy, Ontario. He is currently working toward his arboriculture certificate from Fleming College in Lindsay.
Final document, Constructed wetland, Foundation
Born in the home of the Nanaimo Bar, Jason currently lives in Peterborough, Ontario. He is a licensed carpenter and has delusions of becoming a sustainable renovator and builder. Soon to be a father, Jason hopes to improve his child’s world, one construction job at a time.
Site tours, Interior doors, Prefab bale walls
Jamee couldn’t quite understand why she was so happy to leave her cozy suburban Toronto life and move into a city proper when she left home for university. She later realized that it was the completely unsustainable lifestyle of suburbia that got her itching to get out. That realization, and her scientific understanding of nature and the “environment”, led her to the realm of sustainable building. She hopes to pursue sustainable building design and construction as a career, and possibly satisfy her travel bug while learning more about natural/sustainable buidling from countries around the world.
Waste coordinator, Electrical, Foundation
Born in Barcelona and currently living in Montreal, Bernat has a background in Environmental Sciences and Computer Animation. He feels that participating in this project represents a natural step for him. He is very excited to be involved and can’t wait for you all to come and see it!
Photo documentation, Lighting, Site baled walls
24 years old, and born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Jeff earned a Construction Engineering Technologists Diploma from George Brown College. While studying conventional building practices, he soon discovered sustainable building. The idea of constructing with as little impact on our natural environment and its inhabitants, appeals to his desire to positively contribute to our environment. He is very excited to be involved with The Camp Kawartha Environmental Centre and plans to continue building or renovating sustainable buildings when the coarse is complete.
Photo documentation, Rainwater collection, Exterior siding
She is taking on any kind of work in the eco-building field whether paid, internships or/and volunteer work. She is currently based in Peterborough, but is willing to travel and work for extended periods of time. Manon also has a degree in Environmental Studies. She can be reached at 1-705-977-0174 or magagnon11@gmail.com
Health & Safety, Exterior doors, Prefab bale walls
Sean’s interest in the environment stemmed from paddling rivers all over Canada. He has always enjoyed carpentry, and in 2004 volunteered in Costa Rica doing sustainable building. He is very excited to get his hands dirty in all aspects of sustainable building.
Budget, Composting toilets, Interior siding & trim
Rob feels very fortunate to be participating in building the Environment Centre. Education will play a very significant role in the future quality of our environment and lives. Traditional building and building materials, have had a profound impact on our environment, landscapes and lives. Fleming’s program appeals to his interests in science, the natural world, and our homes. After years of college, university, time spent in labs and cubicles, he is very excited to work in the outdoors and to be challenged to think of “a better way”.
Media – broadcast, Renewable energy, Metal roof/truss
An Architectural Technician from Lindsay, Ontario, Ryan, has always found natural building and renewable energy fascinating. His construction background includes timber frame, log, and conventional home design and construction with fine woodworking and canoe building on the side. In his spare time he enjoys snowboarding, back country camping and cross country mountain bike racing. His travel experience to Africa inspired him to look at natural building techniques. With the help of the SBDC instructors, classmates and all others involved, he plans to stay on the path of sustainable building and design. He also plans to paraglide through the Columbia Valley south from Golden while eating his favourite falafel pita!
Media – print, Counters & benches, Entry shelter
Serrah has a background in a variety of visual arts and craft disciplines, and her interests in sustainable building are equally varied. With a knack for fine finishes, and a tendency to get her hands dirty, Serrah is always looking for new projects where she can lend an artistic eye or a steady hand. Typically working out of Nova Scotia, you may find her anywhere across Canada in the coming years.
Get in touch at serrahsketches@live.ca
Site tours, Plumbing, Exterior finishes
Sara Law has been on an ever-changing ride since she finished her Honours B.A. in Fine Art and English. Not knowing what to do with her life, she tried her hand at learning French in Montreal, art auctioneering on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and hiking her way around Vancouver. However, after a chance encounter with an art school friend, Sara discovered straw bale construction and was instantly fascinated. She researched as much as she could about sustainable building, and signed up for SBDC 2009 right away.
During the program, Sara was responsible for exterior finishes, plumbing, and site tours. She also helped with exterior framing and earthen plastering. Sara is now desperately looking for more sustainable building work, so any help would be greatly appreciated. She is more than willing to travel, and is also available to help out with any natural painting job. Currently, Sara is hunting down a carpentry apprenticeship in Ontario.
You may reach her at sara.law@gmail.com. She also has some of her paintings online at www.saraelaw.net.
Site coordinator, Ventilation, Interior finishes
As an Interior designer, Melanie loves working with people in creating uniquely functional and personal spaces. She believes that every choice we make and every thing we do connects us in an incredibly complex and beautiful web, and that it’s essential to acknowledge this. Thus she feels so privileged to be working on the Camp Kawartha project – applying her talents to such an amazing team, building an environment of inspiration for the children of a sustainable future.
Web site, Lighting, Hempcrete
People first noticed Ryan emerging as an eco-warrior when he began yelling at his grandparents to turn of the taps when they were brushing their teeth following a particularily spirited lecture in his grade one class. His concern for the natural world was only heightened by his summers spent camping and cottaging in Southern Ontario. He graduated with a BA from the University of Western Ontario, bought some suits and found a very nice desk to sit at. Finding that he wasn’t really getting what he wanted out of this job, he decided to try to make his passion his career. This is his first step towards that reality. His ultimate goal is to make sure that there is something left for his grandkids to yell at him about wasting.
Waste coordinator, Rainwater collection, Interior framing
Sustainability and a conscious effort to reduce our impact on our surroundings is something that must be considered when doing anything in life. The “Green” movement happening is something that should have happened years ago, and I believe is the most important contribution towards reversing and preventing the damage done by mankind. It is important that all of us take personal responsibility in our actions and of those around us to make a positive impact on this earth that we share.
Video documentation, Solar hot water, Lime plaster
Jon is an Architectural Technologist from Lindsay, Ontario. After working for several engineering companies and government agencies, he realized that he could not sit in a cubical for the next 30 years working on projects that damage the environment and waste valuable resources. A few years ago he decided to start his own architectural drafting and design business serving the Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough areas, with the goal of eventually specializing in sustainable design. Also, while doing mining exploration work in Northern Canada, he made a deal with himself while being chased by a 500 pound black bear that if he survived he would devote himself to helping the environment instead of destroying it. He likes really loud music and has the coolest dog in the world named Ozzy.
Contracts, Geothermal heating, Entry shelter
Purchasing, Counters & benches, Slip straw
Her Mission: hunt down and execute “The Good Life”
Health & safety, Windows, Earthen plaster
Dave has a fair amount of background in the construction industry. His carpentry and insulation skills have taken him to many industrial work sites across Canada. He is already enjoying the change to the more laid-back and friendly confines of Fleming’s Sustainable Building program. With a young one on the way, Dave’s priorities and passions are changing and he is happy to be doing something positive for the planet. He still loves the metal.
Video documentation, Ventilation, Soffit & fascia
Budget, Geothermal heating, Floor
Julie is here to have a great time learning as much as she can about sustainable building and having a sustainable lifestyle.
