Mike Toffan
Executive Director
An outdoor enthusiast, Mike knew early on that he wanted a job that let him explore nature. As the founder of Project Forest and General Manager of Reclamation and Forestry for Tree Time Services, he’s contributed to the reforestation of tens of thousands of hectares across Western Canada. Aside from earning his B.Sc. in Forest Business Management, Mike also has a Technical Diploma in Forest Technology. His happiest moments? In the field, among the trees, where he gets to make a difference every day.
Josh Alexis
Indigenous & Rewilding Specialist
Josh Alexis is an Indigenous & Rewilding Specialist at Project Forest, a position supported by Pembina Pipeline Corporation. A Stoney Nakota from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Josh brings extensive experience in forestry and maintains strong relationships with numerous First Nations.
As a cultural knowledge keeper, Josh is deeply committed to bridging understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship. His work focuses on developing rewilding projects while strengthening Project Forest’s partnerships with First Nations. Josh views his role as an extension of his cultural duty to share knowledge and preserve traditional understanding of the forest’s importance for medicines, food, ceremonies, spiritual guidance, connection, and identity.
Josh is particularly passionate about creating lasting positive impacts that benefit both Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians. His approach emphasizes the profound connection between forest ecosystems and community wellbeing, drawing on generations of traditional knowledge. He sees his position at Project Forest as an opportunity to create a meaningful legacy for future generations while fostering stronger relationships between industry partners and First Nations. It is a chance to teach and celebrate our shared connection to Ina Makoce’, Mother Earth.
Bess Callard
Communications Specialist
As the Communications Specialist at Project Forest, Bess is instrumental in sharing our rewilding projects with our partners and supporters. With an extensive background in design and communication, Bess brings her passion for storytelling and sustainability to our online media and marketing platforms. After running her own design studio for over a decade, Bess is excited to join the Project Forest team and use her design and communication skills to promote projects that remove carbon from our atmosphere and make our world a better place to live, work and play. As a self-described Jr. Naturalist, Bess is always honing her plant identification skills and looking to nature for inspiration to bring back to her desk.
Angela MacKinnon
Community Engagement Coordinator
As the Project Forest Community Engagement Coordinator, Angela combines her two passions: the environment and Indigenous Relations. Over the last 16 years working in the environment industry focusing on land, environment and indigenous relationships, Angela brings her expertise to the Project Forest team and helps us help others. Some of Angela’s best professional moments include meeting new indigenous partners and learning about their culture and history. She sees Project Forest as an opportunity to further develop these skills and work on projects that impact landscape function at scale. She is excited to continue to make a difference, be it through environmental reclamation or relationships with Project Forest’s partners. Knowing she is creating a legacy to leave in this world means everything to her.
Scott Formaniuk
Project Forest Senior Silviculturist
As a long time Silviculturist, Scott has overseen the reforestation of more than one hundred million seedlings and been involved in the growing of over five hundred million seedlings. His love for trees began at an early age when he was mentored by several professional foresters through Scouting and the Junior Forest Wardens. This led Scott to a B.Sc. in Forestry, followed by a lengthy career in the private sector in both Alberta and British Columbia. His love for what he does is motivated by his desire to leave a positive legacy on the environment for future generations.
Drew Patterson
Project Forest Education Manager
Drew’s passion for forests stems from his family’s garden greenhouse when he was young. From there, he earned his MBA, before branching off into a career as General Manager for TreeTime.ca. In this role, Drew’s provided hundreds of educational presentations and sold and shipped millions of trees to people throughout Canada. Being able to introduce unique varieties of trees and projects to others keeps his job interesting, while also knowing he’s making the world a better place.