Our 2023-2024 Board of Directors
Jeanne McRight
Chair and Founding President
Jeanne is the founder of Blooming Boulevards and has served as Board Chair since 2019. As a professional visual artist, photographer, and educator, she taught visual arts for 21 years at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, was a founding Director of Artspace and a Program Advisor for the Ontario College of Art and Design and Sheridan College. Jeanne served as a Mississauga Master Gardener for 5 years, holds a Horticulture Diploma from the University of Guelph and focuses on biodiversity conservation, specializing in native plant​ propagation, ​habitat ​restoration and naturalized landscaping. Recipient of multiple conservation and environmental awareness awards, she initiated an amendment to Mississauga’s Encroachment By-Law, permitting residents to create boulevard gardens. Gardening is Jeanne’s joy and passion, but more than that, she is a deeply committed advocate for environmentally sustainable horticultural practices.
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Mary Jean Kucerak
Treasurer
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Mary Jean has served on the Board since she was elected in 2020 and is currently serving as Board Treasurer.
She has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 40 years and is currently the Chief Operating Officer for a national professional association. She is an avid gardener and over the years she has sought out and included many native species in her own garden. Mary Jean is currently a director on the Cloverleaf Garden Club Board. Over the years she has held many volunteer positions including inaugural Chair of the Native Plant Propagation Program (NP3) at the Riverwood Conservancy, a volunteer for the Credit Valley Conservation Authority, President of the Applewood Garden Club, a founding Director of the Mississauga Garden Festival and a 12-year member of the Mississauga Master Gardeners.
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Sheila Cressman
Secretary (Outgoing on Nov. 21, 2024)
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Sheila has served on our Board since 2021. She was a native plant neophyte three years ago when she first started her boulevard garden and is in the process of devoting the rest of her property to native plants. She has volunteered with Blooming Boulevards' Seed Collecting and Plant Propagation programs, assisted with our annual Plant Sale, and helped several of our planning committees. Sheila has served as a board member for both a women's shelter and a local literacy organization and is a retired lawyer.​
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Victor Anyanwu
Director
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Victor Anyanwu is a new Director on our Board, joining us in October. He is a seasoned marketing professional with over 16 years at Nestlé, where his knack for innovative storytelling and strategic marketing has driven remarkable brand success. With a strong academic foundation in microbiology, Victor merges his scientific insight with his marketing expertise to craft compelling, data-driven narratives. His career is marked by a series of impactful campaigns and brand initiatives that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Passionate about societal impact and environmental preservation, Victor is dedicated to advancing initiatives that enrich communities and protect nature. As a new member of Blooming Boulevard's Board of Directors, he brings a blend of creativity and strategic vision to champion sustainable practices and foster environmental stewardship. ​
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Pooja Arora
Director
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Pooja Arora is a new Director on our Board, joining us in October. She is a Strategic Communications and Public Relations professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate communications, stakeholder engagement and media relations. She has successfully worked across various sectors, including non-profit, technology and education, to enhance the visibility of organizations and their missions. Pooja is deeply committed to environmental initiatives and community mobilization. She has played a key role in the "Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative," a joint freshwater conservation project between HCL and the World Economic Forum, where she contributed for three years as part of a long-term effort extending through 2027. Additionally, Pooja has supported public relations efforts for The Habitats Trust, advocating for environmental sustainability.
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Wayne Cardinalli
Director
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Wayne is a full-time ceramics artist. He has a B.S. in Art Education and an M.F.A. in Ceramics. He has served on various boards including Artspace, the Ontario Crafts Council, and is the past president of Fusion, originally known as The Ontario Clay and Glass Association. Wayne has taught ceramics in various Ontario colleges and institutions part-time and conducted over 100 workshops and lectures across Ontario and Quebec. Though his work has focused on visual art, he is morally drawn to become a positive force in restoring and preserving the environment.
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Angela De Palma
Director
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Angela De Palma, a new Director on our Board, joined us in October. She has enthusiastically served the education sector at the local, provincial and international levels. Her work with schools has included instructional coaching, special education, and second language learning. Angela contributed to the accessibility, digitalization and modernization of Ontario's standardized assessments while at the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), serving as Literacy Education Officer and Equity Education Officer. She developed an interest in not-for-profit governance during her time with the Ontario College of Teachers, including a term as Council Chair. Angela's parents inspired her interest in gardening, and she continues to expand her knowledge and experience through ongoing learning and practice with native plant species. ​
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Karen Ho James
Director
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Karen is a CPA, CA with over 20 years experience in forensic accounting. She is a new Director on our Board, joined in October, 2024. However, Karen is not new to Blooming Boulevards, having been a volunteer since 2021, participating in various activities including seed collecting, plant propagation, plant sales and outreach sessions. Karen’s introduction to native plants began over 12 years ago when she was simply looking for low maintenance plants for her garden. As she learnt about the benefits of native plants to wildlife and the environment, she developed a deep passion for gardening. Seeing her garden turn into a thriving hub for birds, pollinators, frogs and more has brought much joy and purpose. She’s excited to learn more and help to share her knowledge with others.
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Murray Moore
Director (Acting Secretary on Nov. 21, 2024)
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Murray has served on our Board since 2020 and is in his second term. In addition to volunteering with Blooming Boulevards, Murray has directed his interest in supporting green initiatives through involvement with the Riverwood Conservancy's Native Plant Propagation Program (NP3), where he was a volunteer. He also is a member of Carolinian Canada, the North American Native Plant Society (NANPS), and Seeds of Diversity. Murray has experience as a board member and is currently President of the national CSFFA (Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association). The number of native plants in his and his wife's front and back yards increases every year.
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Pamela Sleightholm
Director (Outgoing on Nov. 21, 2024)
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Pamela has always had an interest in food, sustainability and the environment. After working in communications in the non-profit and public sectors, she is now pursuing a degree in Environmental Management at the University of Toronto with a strong interest in habitat creation in urban and suburban environments. Since starting her native plant garden she’s been thrilled to see more and more insects, birds, amphibians and mammals coming each year. She’s excited about designing a garden with pollinators, the ecosystem, and our local food supply in mind.