The Authors
Dr. Rick Smith
Rick Smith is a prominent Canadian author and environmentalist and Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada (since 2003).
A biologist by training, Rick completed his doctoral research on an endangered subspecies of freshwater harbour seal in arctic Quebec with a nearby community of Cree hunters. From 1997 to 2002 Rick was Executive Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Canadian office and acting Director of the Fund's UK office for a year. While at the Fund, Rick created high-profile and successful public efforts to end Ontario's spring bear hunt, won a groundbreaking Supreme Court of Canada ruling striking down the patenting of higher life forms and spurred the adoption of Canada's first federal Species At Risk Act.
As Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada, Rick has established a reputation as one of the country's leading environmental campaigners with efforts such as the high-profile Toxic Nation campaign, which has tested prominent Canadians for measurable levels of pollutants in their blood. Other important new government policies that he has played a leading role in shaping include the Greater Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt, the largest in the world; Ontario's new Endangered Species Act, widely viewed as the most progressive in North America; and Canada's recent decision to become the first jurisdiction in the world to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A from children's products.
Rick lives in Toronto with his wife Jennifer Story and their two young sons.
Bruce Lourie
Bruce Lourie is an influential leader and thinker in Canada's environment sector. His 20 year career is built on creating collaborative solutions to challenges facing non-profits, government and the private sector. Bruce is President of Ivey Foundation, a private charitable foundation focusing on environmental policy change. He is a Director of the Ontario Power Authority and a Director of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, one of Canada's largest community funding agencies. He is Chair of the Board of Environmental Defence Canada. He has expertise in toxic substances, green energy, forest conservation and environmental philanthropy. His work is characterized by introducing new angles to environmental work including one of the country's early leaders in making environment a public health issue.
Bruce may be best known for his ability to identify gaps in the environmental sector and creating vibrant and effective organizations to fill those gaps. He is a founder of a number of for profit and non-profit organizations including Summerhill Group, a prominent market transformation consultancy in Toronto specializing in energy conservation and renewable energy; the Sustainability Network, Canada's leading environmental non-profit capacity building organization; Enerquality Corporation, and the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network. He was the founding Executive Director of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and the founding President of the Clean Air Foundation. Many of the organizations Bruce helped create are now regarded as models in their field.
Bruce is exceptionally active as an advisor to governments, industry and non-profits on a range of issues. He is proud of the fact that he has received political appointments from both Conservative and Liberal governments and has been appointed to international, federal, provincial and municipal bodies. He is also one of Canada's leading experts on mercury pollution but secretly loves tuna.
Sarah Dopp
Sarah Dopp is a community organizer with over fifteen years experience with social justice and environmental organizations. She has worked for social change both from the community and within various levels of government. When she's not organizing, she's supporting local farmers.
