Jennifer Stelzer

Jennifer completed a BA in Geography in 1993. At that time climate change was a controversial and radical topic, discussed by concerned students and researchers. Thirty years later, we are seeing the effects throughout the world and she is still deep in discussions but now with a focus on practical solutions rather than fighting to prove its reality.

With a keen interest in urban landscapes and programs that influence citizen behaviour, Jen brings decades of expertise and thoughtfulness to developing and managing community programs that help people understand their city and their long-term relationship to the natural environment. Through her professional, volunteer and advocacy work, she has demonstrated her ability to plan and implement inclusive and inspiring sustainability programs and activities.  Her ability to bring quantitative measures to qualitative program initiatives provides a unique strength to our community program team.  Jen often shares her broad knowledge of urban environmental issues with local media, stakeholders and environmental partners throughout Ottawa and beyond. 

Jen brings a unique lens to the EnviroCentre team. A proud member of the Ojibwe-Anishinabek Nation, Jen was born in Toronto but spent much of her time at her family’s farm near Havelock, Ontario. She grew up in a world filled with both streetcars and strawberries! She believes that everyone should have access to nature, and works every day to help make that happen.  She is a life-long cyclist, amateur naturalist, canoeist, and a true optimist who believes the solutions for climate change are close at hand and we all have a role to play.