Donald M. Fraser, M.Sc.
Ecologist
Don is a Principal of Beacon and has worked in the environmental consulting field since 1984. A highly effective communicator, Don has developed a strong reputation within both the private and public sector. He takes a very hands-on and practical problem-solving approach to his consulting practice, which is almost equally divided between seeking approvals for land development projects and developing natural heritage strategies and associated policies for municipalities and conservation authorities. Don is very familiar with the natural heritage policies of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the Greenbelt Plan and the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan. He has provided strategic and technical advice regarding a myriad of landscape ecology and natural heritage planning to a variety of organizations, including the Urban Development Institute, the Neptis Foundation and the Ministry of Public
Infrastructure Renewal.
Brian E. Henshaw
Ecologist
Brian has established his consulting practice over 20 years and is a Principal of the firm. A dynamic, client-oriented project manager, Brian has accrued a broad range of practical experience related to the monitoring, inventory, analysis and evaluation of natural systems, with special expertise in wildlife and in wetlands. For over ten years he has been an instructor for the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System Training Course and has also assisted in the instruction of the Ecological Land Classification Training Course. He has undertaken a wide range of important projects ranging from research papers to the management of major development projects and is a proven and effective strategic thinker.
Ron Huizer, B.Sc.
Environmental Assessment Specialist
A Principal of the firm, Ron has established his practice over 25 years and has extensive experience in completing environmental impact assessments, both as project manager and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Following the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act he has completed both screening and comprehensive studies for a variety of projects across Canada. As project manager he has directed environmental assessments following the Ontario Municipal Class EA process for water and road works and for over ten years has acted as an environmental planner for multiple Ministry of Transportation road work projects following the MTO Class EA process. Ron remains an active field biologist, undertaking inventories and assessments of flora and fauna, with special expertise in aquatic and fisheries inventory and assessment. He has conducted assessments of aquatic and fish habitat at various levels and is knowledgeable of the federal Fisheries Act, as well as provincial legislation and guidelines where “in-water” works are required. He has completed numerous fish habitat compensation plans that have received DFO approval.
Jo-Anne Lane, M.Sc.
Ecologist
Jo-Anne Lane is a Senior Consultant with Beacon Environmental specializing in aquatic habitat assessment, the effects of land use activities on fisheries, recreational fisheries development and habitat enhancement or creation techniques. Jo-Anne has over 18 years of experience and has been involved in a variety of projects including Class Environmental Assessments of sewage and water supply projects, provincial and regional highways, power generation and transmission facilities, fisheries inventories and Environmental Impact Studies. She has provided fisheries input to development projects including identifying areas of constraints and opportunities, negotiating habitat compensation measures, creating habitat and providing mitigative measures to resolve impacts. She has worked with clients to resolve legislative issues, including compliance with Fisheries Act and related policies, as well as permitting and approvals processes for government agencies of all levels. Jo-Anne has provided technical expertise for subwatershed studies, water management plans and master environmental servicing plans. In completing these projects, Jo-Anne has become familiar with environmental features and issues throughout the province of Ontario.
Over the years, Jo-Anne has managed numerous interdisciplinary projects including environmental assessments and land development projects. Jo-Anne has also appeared as an expert witness before the Ontario Municipal Board.
Ken Ursic, M.Sc.
Senior Ecologist
Ken has been a consulting Ecologist for 15 years and over that time has played a key role in hundreds of environmental projects across Ontario. He has provided ecological expertise for municipal natural heritage planning, park management studies, environmental impact studies, and environmental assessments for municipal and provincial infrastructure and energy projects. Ken has special expertise in collection and analysis of ecological data, wetland delineation and evaluation, development of ecologically-based management and monitoring programs, and public process related to the implementation of environmental studies. He is certified in the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) and the Ontario Wetland Evaluation systems, and has particular expertise in the ELC system having taught the course since 2000. Ken has also conducted numerous peer reviews and provided expert witness testimony before the Ontario Municipal Board.
Terrance F. Kelly, M.A.
Senior Aviation Specialist
For many years, Terry has been an advisor to executives on the management of safety risks related to transportation planning, policies and operational procedures. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in conducting policy-level risk assessments in the aviation industry, and in the day-to-day operations of airports, airlines and air navigation service providers. Terry’s aviation qualifications complement the ecological and environmental planning skills of his colleagues at Beacon. For example, he was a major contributor to the development of Transport Canada guidelines for land-use in the vicinity of airports. He led a comprehensive risk-assessment of the management of the Canada Goose at the four key airports in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). He co-authored a risk analysis of bird strikes and high-speed departures at Canadian airports, which led to changes in the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Terry is a Principal of SMS Aviation Safety , a wholly-owned division of Beacon Environmental which can be found at www.smsaviationsafety.com
Margot Ursic, M.Sc.
Planning Ecologist / Facilitator
Margot has more than 10 years of experience as a consulting Ecologist, and has special expertise in municipal natural heritage planning and coordination of stakeholder / community consultations on natural heritage issues. She regularly undertakes project management, conducts literature reviews and writes reports for ecological studies. She also regularly leads ecological education and consultation events for clients, agencies, technical committees, and other stakeholders. Margot has applied experience in the development and implementation of natural heritage systems and strategies in various municipalities in Ontario, and has also played a key role in urban forestry initiatives in various municipalities such as tree by-law development and strategic urban forest management plans. Margot has conducted peer reviews for natural heritage studies and has provided expert witness testimony before the Ontario Municipal Board.
Dirk Janas, B.Sc.
Senior Ecologist
Dirk has over ten years of experience in environmental consulting and ecological studies. Based out of a new Bracebridge office, Dirk has joined Beacon to expand services for the firm in Central Ontario including the Muskoka and Parry Sound areas. His technical areas of expertise include: botany, wetland evaluations, vegetation, wildlife, and Species at Risk inventories, Ecological Land Classification and associated evaluation of natural heritage features and functions. Dirk is extremely familiar with environmental policies at the provincial, regional, and local municipal levels, having applied these to a range of project types. He has a broad range of project experience in southern, central, and northern Ontario that includes natural heritage inventories, environmental impact studies, Environmental Assessments, restoration ecology, and environmental inspection and compliance. A qualified wetland evaluator Dirk has also been an instructor for the Ecological Land Classification System training course and has provided expert testimony at the Ontario Municipal Board on several occasions.
Geri Poisson, B.A.(Hon.)
Terrestrial Ecologist
Geri has 13 years of experience in the field of natural resource management and environmental consulting in Ontario and British Columbia. He is a certified arborist, and his expertise includes work in forest ecology, restoration ecology, botany, wildlife and Species at Risk surveys and habitat assessments, fish habitat assessments and environmental monitoring. He has completed numerous environmental impact evaluations for a variety of clientele and is familiar with a wide range of environmental policy. Geri is a certified Ontario Wetland Evaluator and a member of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Board of Directors.
Kristi Quinn, BES, Environmental Assessment Certificate
Environmental Planner
Kristi plays a key role in natural heritage evaluations, due diligence studies and environmental impact assessment. Through her previous employment as an environmental planner with Transport Canada, Kristi has become a specialist in Airport Wildlife Management and leads multi-disciplinary teams in the assessment, development and implementation of wildlife management plans specific to Canadian airports. Kristi has also developed a strong expertise in understanding the legislative framework and policy applications related to wildlife management and the protection of natural heritage features.
Lindsey McAlister, B.Sc. Biology
Aquatic Ecologist
Lindsey is an aquatic ecologist at Beacon Environmental. She has a background conducting fish community assessments, aquatic habitat evaluations, benthic macro-invertebrate sampling and water quality monitoring. Through her research background, Lindsey has experience developing and implementing aquatic studies and performing data analysis.
Anjali Karve, M.Sc.
Ecologist
Anjali is an ecologist with a wide range of experience related to conducting species at risk assessments, aquatic assessments, population sampling, wildlife habitat assessments and plant restoration planning. She is knowledgeable in Canadian federal and provincial environmental regulatory processes, and has worked on permitting for major construction projects. Anjali has a strong research background and has extensive experience in experimental design, field data collection techniques and data analyses. She is also competent in the use of various Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software as well as a variety of statistical
software programs.
Erik Daly, OCD, OCGC
GIS Specialist
Erik's speciality is in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). His maps, figures, and graphics are an important part of our reports and projects. Erik has skills with a variety of GIS software packages, and works primarily in ArcGIS 9.2, with the abilities to incorporate drawings and aerial photography into cohesive products. His background in surveying field work gives her a strong understanding of field data gathering techniques, by both Total Station and GPS.
Judy Hardie
Office Manager
Drawing on her 25 years as an administrative professional, Judy assists in organizing and coordinating office operations and procedures. As an experienced Administrative Assistant with excellent people, organizational and technical skills, Judy supports report preparation and production in a client focussed environment.