Board Member Profile: Aaron Vansevenandt

By Aaron Vansevenandt

With a professional background in data analysis, business operations, and customer experience, I’ve worked in both the private and public sectors to improve processes, gather insights, and support decision-making. I recently completed a Business Analyst Certificate at the University of Alberta (4.0 GPA), where I developed hands-on skills in process mapping, stakeholder engagement, and communication planning — skills I’ve been proud to bring to ENPS, particularly through organizing our 2024 Volunteer Survey, to better understand our members’ needs and motivations.

My journey with ENPS began out of something personal: climate anxiety. Like many people, I felt overwhelmed by the global scope of the climate crisis and unsure how I could help in a meaningful way. Donating to distant, ambiguous climate programs felt impersonal. Instead, I chose to start local, supporting the land and ecosystems I live in and rely on. When I discovered ENPS, I knew I’d found something that made sense: restoring native habitats, promoting biodiversity, and educating the public right here in Edmonton.

Being part of ENPS has been rewarding on many levels. I’ve learned to identify native species, gained a deeper understanding of our local ecology, and been welcomed by a community of kind, like-minded people who care deeply about plants, conservation, and community. Whether it’s attending a plant walk, helping at a tabling event, or just talking with fellow members, the sense of connection and shared purpose is powerful. A big bonus? I’ve found motivation and confidence to incorporate native plants into my own yard, turning my home garden into a small part of the broader ecological network.

That said, as a volunteer-run organization, ENPS is not without its challenges. Like many nonprofits, volunteer burnout, limited resources, and competing priorities can make progress feel slow. But I believe our mission is vital — and no one else will protect and maintain our natural areas if we don’t. That’s why I’m passionate about where ENPS can go next.

Looking ahead, I’d love to see ENPS:

• Engage youth and schoolchildren, helping the next generation connect with nature and learn how to garden with native plants

• Establish our own greenhouse nursery, allowing us to expand our inventory, grow harder-to-find species, and reduce the seasonal rush for plants during the limited growing season in Edmonton.

• Develop a network of chapters in other Alberta cities with a shared mission of protecting and restoring local natural spaces.

  
  

We also need to grow our volunteer base — not just in size, but in diversity. One way to do this is by broadening our outreach beyond plant lovers. Imagine having a booth at local maker markets, eco-friendly home shows, sustainability fairs, or neighborhood festivals — places where people may not be plant-savvy yet but care about the environment. Offering simple, eye-catching displays and engaging hands-on activities (like native seed kits, pollinator quizzes, or soil health demos) could spark curiosity and conversation. We could also partner with local businesses, libraries, and community gardens to host workshops or info nights on how native plants benefit both people and wildlife.

The future I imagine for ENPS is one of grassroots strength and steady impact — where we defend our natural spaces with heart, science, and community. I’m grateful to be part of this journey and look forward to growing alongside our plants and people.