EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Matt joined Friends of Allan Gardens (FOAG) in 2021 as a volunteer who quickly became enthralled by the beauty of the gardens. Since joining, Matt has grown the organization’s awareness and impact. Matt combines his expertise in landscape design, community engagement and horticulture to lead FOAG in its mission to imagine and realize the revitalization of Allan Gardens, for all. For fun, Matt likes to garden, travel, and cook for his family and friends!

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Li is passionate about coordinating events and building strong community relationships. With a background in providing equitable services and policy work, they are excited to bring their expertise to serve Friends of Allan Gardens. They have a Masters of History with a specialization in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies from the University of Toronto. In their spare time, you can find them reading about Traditional Chinese Medicine and hanging out with their cat and dog!

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

Ethan Keyes is a mixed heritage (Irish and Ojibway) artist and earthworker who couldn't be happier to be spending his days at Allan Gardens. Working with the surrounding community, planning programming and taking care of the gardens is all he could ask for. He has a special interest in native plants and ecological restoration and loves to bike wherever and whenever (as long as there's no snow).

HORTICULTURALIST IN RESIDENCE

Amanda is an Urban Farmer, landscape apprentice and houseplant enthusiast. Amanda brings her focus in decolonizing horticultural spaces, passion for growing, and dedication to fostering community to the FOAG team. When she isn't at the Allan Gardens conservatories, she runs an online space called @theblackplanter dedicated to documenting her experiences with growing.

HORTICULTURALIST IN RESIDENCE

Vanessa is a passionate plant lover and tropical specialist. She started as a volunteer at Friends of Allan Gardens in the summer of 2023 to connect with more local plant lovers and it quickly became an integral part of her life. She is now a Horticulturalist in Residence leading the Greenhouse Plant Care sessions. When she’s not at the gardens she enjoys hosting/going to music events, doing all the crafts and playing with her bird and cat!

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Michael helped found the Friends of Allan Gardens in 1999 to steward and enhance one of Toronto’s oldest and most important downtown green spaces. Michael is a registered architect, principal and co-founder of ERA Architects and has spearheaded many ground-breaking heritage projects in Canada, including the transformation of the Distillery District. Michael frequently contributes to discourses on architecture, heritage, urbanism, culture, and landscape and is the author of numerous articles and books including Concrete Toronto and The Ward Uncovered.

BOARD MEMBER

With an MArch from UAUIM Bucharest, Romania, and PMP and LEED ID+C certifications, Dana has 30+ years of experience in design, facility management and business development in the retail and education sectors and currently works for Toronto Metropolitan University as Facility Manager, University Libraries. A transplant to Toronto, Dana is a long time volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario and loves exploring diverse cultural and natural spaces, here in Toronto and around the world.

BOARD MEMBER

Julius Aquino, a licensed landscape architect in Ontario with 20 years of experience. He specializes in streetscape, public space, and green infrastructure design, and currently works as a project manager with the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division. His past roles include positions at DTAH and IBI Group. Julius holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University, with a focus on urban ecology and horticulture. He has served on the editorial board of OALA’s Ground magazine and is part of an electronic music collective promoting Toronto’s underground artists.

BOARD MEMBER

Laura started as a director with the Friends in 2018 to help advance various agreements and governance initiatives. Laura is a municipal and land use planning lawyer with a well-known downtown firm. Before law, Laura worked with the provincial government in policy positions related to climate change and housing. Laura attended McGill University for undergrad, has a master’s degree in urbanisation and development from the LSE and a JD from the University of Windsor. Laura is drawn to Allan Gardens and its unique power to unite all different people over a shared interest in nature and beautiful spaces.

BOARD MEMBER

Seana has over 30-years of experience working at the intersection of community-based participatory engagement, environmental sustainability, and social justice. She is a founding team member behind the development of Evergreen Brick Works into a showcase of industrial heritage adaptive reuse and a hub for applied urban sustainability. Seana has served in executive positions with change making organizations including Evergreen and the Centre for Social Innovation, in addition to working in both the public and private sectors. Seana has served on several boards including Park People, The Centre for Social Innovation, and more!

BOARD MEMBER

Adriana is a finance executive with extensive experience in real estate, infrastructure, financial planning, and strategic operations. She has led FP&A and finance teams across corporate and investment-focused organizations, supporting long-term planning, budgeting, and organizational growth. Adriana brings strong analytical and governance skills to Friends of Allan Gardens, contributing to the organization’s financial stewardship and mission.

BOARD MEMBER

Brendan has been involved with Friends of Allan Gardens since 2010, contributing to key initiatives like Hoarding Suggestions (2013), the Refresh document (2017), and Growing With The City. He is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, following over a decade of practice in Toronto, including as an Associate at ERA Architects. Brendan holds degrees from Guelph, Edinburgh College of Art, and UC Berkeley. His work focuses on transforming overlooked spaces through community-led, culturally informed design. He co-leads plazaPOPS, creating inclusive public spaces along Toronto’s strip-mall corridors.

BOARD MEMBER

Steven has been collaborating with the Friends since 2022 on initiatives around Growing with the City, community engagement, horticultural and cultural programming. He is a landscape designer and planner with ERA Architects focusing on conservation through reactivation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Alberta, and Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph where he was recognized as a 2022 LAF Olmsted Scholar. His current practice focuses on leading with landscape, and intersections of planning and design with the stewardship of equitable and resilient places. Steven is excited by the cross-pollination of horticulture, community-building, and cultural landscape in the stewardship of Allan Gardens.

BOARD MEMEBER

Sophia joined Friends of Allan Gardens in 2024. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Sophia currently works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Tribe Property Technologies, with over five years of experience in financial statement consolidation, data analytics, forecasting, and budgeting. Prior to joining Allan Gardens, Sophia actively volunteered at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and served as a student mentor with JA Canada. She views her involvement with Allan Gardens as an opportunity to learn and grow, and she is committed to using her accounting expertise and professional experience to support the organization’s financial reporting and infrastructure.

COMMUNITY LIASON

Anastasia is a public health professional with a focus on community engagement and knowledge mobilization, usually related to mental health and substance use health. Having volunteered with Friends of Allan Gardens since 2023, Anastasia supports FOAG's mission of shared stewardship through the development of programming with health and social good organizations.

FARMERS’ MARKET FACILITATOR

With a career spanning a range of social justice, nutrition, and public health initiatives across Australia and Canada, Hélène brings her expertise to the Allan Gardens Farmers Market. She helps nurture community engagement, champion local growers, and keep money circulating where it matters most — right here at home. With her blend of expertise and good humour, she works to make the market a place to connect, learn, and grow.