Nicola Jane Thomas

Director of Ecological Development

Phone:

519-778-5233

Email:

nicola@grandriverfoodforestry.com

Address:

51 Overlea Cresent
Kitchener, ON

N2M 5A8

A Bit About Me

15 years’ experience initiating, leading and coordinating more than 30 food forests throughout the waterloo Region, working in inter-sectoral linkages community capacity building through needs assessment, engagement, workshop planning, resource development, facilitation, advocacy, and project management.
Delivered Talks and workshops locally, nationally, and internationally addressing the inequities and system barriers in agriculture, for Black, Indigenous and people of colour.
Proven community development understanding, skill in people-centered community development with diverse backgrounds. “The value of one, the power of many”.
Implemented relationship building through successful ability to manage challenging conversations with stakeholders through negotiation, facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution
Demonstrated understanding of historical and contemporary issues faced by Indigenous communities in Canada through radio interviews CBC Windsor, the Pandemy Show
Successfully organizing and built a livable van to travel across Southwestern Ontario completing the Sankofa 100 Miles to Freedom 2022 Tour.
Earned the 2016 CIBWE Canadian Black Women award, earned environmental awards including The City of Kitchener Environmentalist award 2019

Talks
& Past Clients

View

"Nicola Jane is a true "community builder." Skilled at teaching and leading. It was great to see her include kids, older folks and people who experience disabilities. If you are looking to build community and team spirit. I highly recommend Nicola Jane." Steve Snider HORIZON

"Learning about biomimcry, permaculture and the ease of no till gardening from Nicola Jane inspired me, not only to create my own food forest in my garden, but also to co-lead another community project to build a large pollinator garden in a local park." Amanda Farquhara MEADOWLANE SCHOOL COUNCIL

Talks

University of Saskatchewan

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Work Experience

2004 - Present

2004 - 2006

2002 - 2004

1994 - 2002

Founder, Permaculturalist Teacher, Community Agitator

Grand River Food Forestry, Kitchener, ON

Designed and implemented a sustainable process to provide access to free organic food by identifying, disrupting, and eliminating systemic barriers to inequities, anti-oppression, anti-hate, anti-racism and regenerating soil in reconciliation working alongside the Indigenous
Member of Food Sovereignty Collective Waterloo Region
Created and delivered community engagement incubators, building trust whilst ensuring a process where all voices and experiences are heard.
Successfully involved and engaged The City of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, Schools, community centers, churches, universities, and corporate stakeholders in the process.
Promoted, facilitated, and supported best practices in the implementation of regional food forests partnering with other grassroots organizations

Employment Counselor

The Working Centre, Kitchener, ON

Identify barriers to employment providing appropriate referrals
Assess job search strategies, resume writing, and interview preparation
Created and administered a workshop series specific for workers over 40 years of age
Designed and implemented a Time Management workshop series for youth with employment barriers

Housing Retention and Reintegration Manager

ROOF, Kitchener, ON

Initiated, designed, and implemented the First Kitchener/WaterlooTransitional Supported Housing Program for youth 16-25
Developed data providing statistical results to the Region of Waterloo
Created a Housing Best Practices Manual for staff and volunteers to assist in successfully supporting homeless youth
Successfully supervised teams of 10 volunteers supporting homeless at-risk youth
Provided consulting services to other local community agencies

IT Project Manager

IM Interactive Multimedia, Toronto, ON

Accountable for project details and client deadline deliverables
Performed proposal analysis, design and debugging of projects
Documented and implemented technical solutions
Managed graphic designers and programmers through full production to go live
Created one of the first interactive CD-ROM’s, Diversity In The Work Place
Illustrated and produced The Underground Railroad CD-ROM for used an educational
tool by the school boards education high school students Nationally