Friends of Wintergreen
This is friendship. This is commitment to sustainability. This is the Wintergreen family.
Monica Capovilla: Culinary Magician. Provider. Builder. Donor. Lifelong Learner. Planner. Friend.
When people describe the Wintergreen family, Monica’s name is top of mind. Many know Monica as our Executive Director. And that she is, no question. Yes, she organizes retreats and workshops. Yes, she guides all things related to the kitchen. Yes, she makes beds more beautifully than anyone we’ve ever met (I mean, really, those corners!). But there is so much more. One of the things we love most about Monica is her eagerness to learn and to take on something new. When we started building the Forest House, she picked up a hammer and developed a serious set of carpentry skills, not just with traditional carpentry, but also with the cordwood building techniques that are so central to our mission of demonstrating sustainable building approaches. When it was time to create virtual courses—during COVID and beyond—she stepped up to manage a complex tapestry of technological challenges. Most important, though, is simply who she is. Someone once commented that Monica is the heart of Wintergreen, demonstrating an ethic of care that is unparalleled. That’s Monica in a nutshell.
Kristina Inrig: Philanthropic Genius. Connector of Dots. Mother and Wife. Sustainability Champion. Sailor.
When Kristina Inrig first knocked on our door—literally—we couldn’t believe our good fortune. A vibrant leader in the environmental sector, she arrived out of the blue and asked how she could help Wintergreen achieve its mission. And she’s been asking that question ever since that first fateful meeting in 2008. Upon meeting Kristina for the first time, one of the Board members asked, in wonderment, “Who is this woman?” Honestly, she’s something of a phenomenon! For many years, Kristina has helped us secure student interns, identified donors and foundations that have become regular supporters of Wintergreen’s work, and brought such good energy and optimism to the room that we can’t help but imagine making the impossible possible. Kristina is the most collaborative colleague one could ask for, as she strives to bring organizations together through trust-based philanthropy and capacity building. When she’s not burning the midnight oil helping small organizations thrive, she’s busy at home in Ottawa with her husband, Mike, and their four children. Or sailing around the world with her family (true story).
Zinta Upitis: Volunteer. Gardener. Builder. Designer. Chef. Daughter. Dreamer. Trailblazer. Sustainability Champion.
When your mother is the Founding Director of Wintergreen, you can’t really help but be involved in the organization. And we do mean “involved.” Since the earliest days of building the lodge in 2008, Zinta has been there every step of the way. She helped build the infamous Hobbit House (she and Rena were the first guests). The Parthenon. The Beach House (which she is now redesigning, after our fateful fire). Zinta has been a constant presence in the kitchen, beginning in 2009 when she cooked breakfast—singlehandedly—for ten guests! That would be a remarkable feat for anyone, but especially so, given that she was 8 years old at the time. Then there was the evening when she and her friend were tasked with, “We have 32 unexpected guests for dinner. You’ll have to be creative!” And creative they were—that was the night that our now-favourite lemon artichoke pizza was invented. There is more: Zinta has lent a hand in the gardens, helped maintain trails, created promotional videos, led hikes through the woods, and assisted with fundraising. Most important of all, she greets all who come to Wintergreen with a ready smile and a kind word. One of Wintergreen’s best.
Adam Turcotte: Friend of Wintergreen. Volunteer. Neighbour Extraordinaire. Carpenter. Canadian Forces Veteran and Peacekeeper. Flying Ant Chaser (read on!).
Adam Turcotte and his wife, Louise Cooper—yes, another friend of Wintergreen!—moved to the neighborhood in 2011, and we have been rejoicing ever since. Not because Adam is just the best carpenter around (and it takes him all of 10 minutes to commute to Wintergreen by foot), but because he is an incredibly kind-hearted friend to us all. Scarcely had we become acquainted when there was a flying ant infestation at the lodge. Rena panicked. Adam came over, and—in what we have since come to recognize as his calm response to many a crisis—he pulled out the vacuum and told her to go home. And told her that it would be dealt with by morning. And so it was! Since then, we have undertaken many building projects with Adam’s involvement and leadership; most recently, we built an outdoor classroom in the camping meadow: Rena, Adam, Zinta, and Monica managed to erect the entire thing in 4 days! Adam often hikes the Wintergreen trails with his sons, Henry and Sam, along with Louise, and we are always intrigued to hear of their adventures and sightings. Just this spring, it was an otter on the Stream Trail. And now Adam’s sense of community and caring (to say nothing of his masterful skills) may well benefit the larger community as well. He is running for Municipal Council in the October election. Promising to keep our district affordable, beautiful, and clean. What more could one ask for?
Sharon Carr:
Steadfast Supporter & Friend.
There are many ways to describe Sharon Carr. Mentor. Researcher. Teacher. Field School Leader. Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University (she likes rocks). But we know another side of Sharon. Just as she gives so selflessly at Carleton, so too does she at Wintergreen.
Every time she attends an event, she ends up, somehow, at the triple sink in the kitchen, quietly washing plate upon plate until the stack of dishes disappears. And Sharon has introduced us to some wonderful people over the years. She often brings someone along to attend an event with her, someone new to Wintergreen, someone who can't resist her invitation, "Oh, why don't you just come along with me? You'll love it." Sharon is also a generous donor: you will see her name listed in every Annual Report as someone who regularly invests in Wintergreen. And her latest donation? Wait for it... a bat house! Sharon knew that we would be thrilled with the gift. And we have come to know that while we never know quite what to expect when her eyes begin to twinkle, we do know it will be something that shows her love for Wintergreen.
Dana Mitchell:
Creative storyteller. Dedicated student and researcher. Nature lover. Wordsmith. Literary enthusiast. Friend of Wintergreen.
Dana joined the Wintergreen Studios team in August 2021, taking over the Marketing & Communications Director position from her twin sister, Taylor. Having just completed her master’s degree in English Literature, she was drawn to Wintergreen’s commitment to sustainability and the unique ways we blend community outreach with the creative arts. Throughout her time with us, Dana used her unique voice to expand our social media presence, contributed engaging content to newsletters and yearly reports, and helped launch our Virtual Learning Centre. Although Dana will be leaving us this summer to pursue her Ph.D., she says she’s been deeply inspired by her position at Wintergreen and hopes to take an ecocritical approach to future research projects.
Lorrie Potvin:
Builder. Writer. Tradeswoman. Carpenter. Donor. Volunteer. Artist. Métis Knowledge Keeper. Teacher. Friend of Wintergreen.
We first met Lorrie when she registered for a cordwood building course, back in the earliest days of Wintergreen. On the very first day, it became apparent that Lorrie should have been teaching the course, not taking it! A couple of years later, when it was time to build the Beach House, Lorrie was, indeed, one of the course instructors. Working alongside her these many years, Rena has come to appreciate her skill and artistry with metal, and has marvelled at the diverse ways that Lorrie can wield a chainsaw. Lorrie has also taken writing courses at Wintergreen with Helen Humphreys, attended many an event, and fashioned cedar frames for drum making workshops. In recent years, Lorrie has created a ceremonial space across from the Beach House, and through that space, she has introduced Indigenous teachings to our community.
Helen Turnbull:
Founding Director. Gardener. Teacher. Donor. Networker. Hardest-and-most-willing-volunteer-you’ll-ever-find. Culinary artist. Camino Companion. Friend of Wintergreen.
When it was time to establish the inaugural Board of Directors, Helen’s name was on the top of the list. And she’s been on the Board ever since. Helen’s history with the land stretches back more than three decades, well before Wintergreen was established. In the 1990s she developed a French language-based curriculum course, in partnership with Dr. Hawkins Sr. Public and Port Hope High Schools. Students camped in the meadow and hiked the land, learning about its flora and fauna (en français, of course!). Helen has lent a willing hand with many projects over the years, including cabin building, trail cutting, woodstove installation, and the first planting of the Wintergreen gardens. She is an avid workshop attendee, often bringing a friend or a relative with her to an event, and one by one, introducing new people to Wintergreen. One of those workshops inspired her to walk the famous Camino pilgrimage—along with Rena Upitis and her daughter Zinta. Helen’s roots run deep here. And her contributions blossom everywhere.
Rosie Kerr:
Friend of Wintergreen. Volunteer. Kitchen Genius. Researcher and activist. Wife and mother. Teacher. Gardener.
Rosie has been a friend of Wintergreen for more years than we can count. And our ways of interacting with Rosie are countless, too (well, maybe, if we try… but the number would be pretty staggering). Rosie has brought her Queen’s students to Wintergreen. Coordinated a year of Project Bee. And Rosie and her children have been steadfast supporters of the annual Land Art BioBlitz (tcks notwithstanding). Rosie and her family are ardent enthusiasts when it comes to pollinators and pollinating plants… Brooke Valley School is probably the only school we’ve worked with that has planted a rainbow garden (ask us!). If that’s not enough, we’ve experienced Rosie’s culinary genius in Wintergreen’s kitchen, ranging from her own PhD celebration to Rena’s retirement to a wedding this past July. Sven, Rosie’s husband, was by her side cooking for the PhD celebration. And he has shared his beautiful sustainable creations (https://www.mariclaro.ca/) for Wintergreen fundraising events. Yeah, OK. She’s a model, too!
Susan Wismer:
Friend of Wintergreen. Major annual donor. Poet. Activist. Scholar of sustainable communities.
When Susan first arrived at Wintergreen, she pulled up in a steel blue VW camper van. As she hopped out and bounded towards the lodge, it was clear that we would be fast friends. Little did we know how much our friendship would blossom over the years. Susan first came for a poetry workshop with Lorna Crozier, and a few years later, began organizing self-guided writing retreats for people who wanted to write in the company of others and enjoy the nurturing atmosphere of Wintergreen. An environmental planner by training, she has been an extraordinary supporter of all of Wintergreen’s work, helping us to secure grant funds for the Land Art BioBlitz that touches thousands of young people annually. As Susan says, “We all need places like Wintergreen. The care with which their programs and facilities have been developed and, perhaps most of all, the diversity and complexity of the land itself, offer learning experiences like no other – designed to engage with the mind, heart, and ethos of each and every person that has the opportunity to join in this unique adventure.”
Louise Cooper:
Friend of Wintergreen. Kitchen Genius. Neighbour. Gardening Guru. Environmental Activist. Chaser of Chickens (read on).
When we learned that Louise and her husband, Adam Turcotte, had moved to Canoe Lake Road over a decade ago, the community rejoiced. Imagine having new neighbours who were drawn to the area because of the land, the people, and the possibility of living lightly and sustainably. We wasted not a minute hiring Louise as part of the Wintergreen team. Some of the best recipes in the Wintergreen cookbook were invented by Louise, and feature often on our menus. Fast forward a few years, and a couple of children later. Louise wasn’t able to spend as much time with us when her children were toddlers, but we are thrilled to have her back in the fold, especially now that we are starting in-person programming again! Meanwhile, she has been a quiet and steadfast supporter in the background, planting vegetables in our garden, and strengthening the fabric of our community as she weaves new threads into the network (it’s thanks to Louise that we hired another neighbour as groundskeeper… we’ll tell you more about that later). And the chickens? Well, Adam and Louise have a few, and it is not uncommon to see them wandering down to the Canoe Lake Road for a morning stroll, with Louise gently guiding them back home.
Taylor Mitchell:
Marketing expert. Creative guru. Lover of books and nature. Dedicated to using her skills for good. Friend of Wintergreen.
Taylor’s introduction to Wintergreen Studios came in the summer of 2020. Despite working full-time at an agency in Toronto, she took on a part-time leadership role in guiding our marketing and communications activities. Inspired by the values of our charity and an unforgettable weekend experiencing the magical atmosphere of Wintergreen firsthand, she says the decision to become part of our team was an easy one. Her keen eye for design and exceptional writing abilities have helped better define Wintergreen’s digital appeal and effectiveness as a brand. Not only has Taylor been a valued member of our community, she has also helped us spread our message of creative sustainability to a wider audience.
Alexandra Pedersen:
Beekeeper. Protector of pollinators. Inspiring teacher. Tireless volunteer. Dedicated researcher. Board member of the Limestone Beekeepers’ Guild. Friend of Wintergreen.
We first met Alex in 2019, having learned about her legendary beekeeping skills from our Board member, Justin Connidis. We were so inspired by her that we immediately set about building an electric fence to enclose the 9th Meadow Apiary at Wintergreen Studios (and to keep out the bears!). Alex has conducted many public workshops since then, and, along with her partner Ryan, has been tending to our bees ever since. She is passing on her wisdom to those of us at Wintergreen, so that we may come to the point of tending the bees on our own. And did we mention the honey? Best. Honey. Ever. We attribute the fine flavour to the variety of plants in the vicinity of the apiary… and to Alex’s beekeeping skills too, of course!
Kenny Ruelland:
Friend of reptiles and amphibians. Enthusiastic teacher. Advocate for endangered and threatened species. Field researcher. Friend of Wintergreen.
Kenny has been coming to our annual Land Art BioBlitz for more years than we can count. Last year, when the event was entirely virtual, he joined us on his cell phone, showing us a number of common and rare species that he had rescued or cared for. But there’s nothing more compelling than watching Kenny find a species in the wild. Just look at the expression on his face, when he found one of his favourites—the Smooth Green Snake—in the meadow near Wintergreen’s 9th Meadow Apiary. We all get caught up in his excitement and we learn so much about these fascinating creatures. With luck, Kenny will be at Wintergreen in June, and while we’ll likely all be masked, even though we will be outdoors, we will still enjoy his enthusiasm and knowledge. Learn more about his work through the Reptile and Amphibian Advocacy website.
Sandra Campbell:
Friend of Wintergreen. Friend of the earth. Generous donor. A connector of people and ideas.
Possessed of a most joyful spirit (yes, that was Sandra careening down a snow-covered hill, coming to rest on the ice-covered beaver pond, just a few winters ago). Sandra has been coming to Wintergreen for many years to attend writers’ retreats and workshops hosted by poet Lorna Crozier. Winter, summer, fall, or spring—no matter the season, if there is an occasion to write at Wintergreen, Sandra is sure to be there. A poet and novelist herself, Sandra contributes greatly to these events—carefully listening, wisely commenting, and always ready with a story and a smile. She has made many donations to Wintergreen over the years, and her gifts have enabled us to support writers who might not otherwise be able to attend workshops. Sandra gives in other ways too: she is engaged in a wide variety of artist-led eco-projects to engage our heart/body/minds in re-imagining innovative ways to care for and repair our beautiful planet.
David Hahn:
A Neighbour Like No Other!
When Rena first approached David in 2007 with the idea of starting Wintergreen Studios, she wanted to be sure that David would be agreeable to having a wilderness retreat centre right next door to his 200-acre Forest Farm. He responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, and in true David fashion, immediately imagined many ideas for what Wintergreen might do and how he might contribute.
Fast forward 15 years: David has been a steadfast volunteer, an advocate for Wintergreen, a generous donor, a workshop planner, and along with his wife Marion, a frequent participant at evening events. He even provides produce for our kitchen as well! David says, “Wintergreen has changed my life. The people I have met, the events I have attended over the years are just so culturally rich and embody my deepest values about how we can live in sustainable and thriving communities.” David also served as President of the Wintergreen Renewable Energy Co-op, a sister organization to Wintergreen Studios. The Co-op was responsible for two local solar installations as well as millions in sales of solar bonds. David was also the first in our Wintergreen community to buy an electric vehicle, inspiring Rena to do the same. He is truly a neighbour like no other!