High Park Initiatives (HPI), is a community-based, volunteer-led, registered charitable organization that operates and oversees environmental education and park stewardship programs at the High Park Nature Centre.

Our Mission Statement

The High Park Initiatives mission is to protect, preserve, restore and respect the natural environment in High Park by creating awareness, educating and inspiring action.

Our Board of Directors

High Park Initiatives obtained charitable status in November of 2003. It is made up of a volunteer Board of Directors, Committees and Members. Board meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month. To contact the board of directors or for more information please contact HPI.secretary@highpark.org

HPI Board of Directors 2011/12

Lisa Clarkson, Board Chair and Director: Governance

Lisa is the Executive Director of Business and Rights for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and is responsible for how CBC obtains, uses and maintains the rights to its content. Prior to working at CBC, Lisa was a partner at the law firm, McCarthy Tetrault, where she specialised in intellectual property litigation including copyright and patent disputes. Lisa brings significant experience on not-for-profit organizations having served on the Board of Directors of Women in Film & Television (Toronto), Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) and as President of the Schlifer Clinic’s Board of Directors. Lisa has been a lifelong lover of High Park having grown up in the west end. She has particularly fond memories of visiting the Zoo and skating on Grenadier Pond. She has now introduced her children, Henry and Lucy, to High Park – through trail walks, skating, the Zoo, kids’ playgrounds, swimming – and, of course, the thoughtful and amazing programs at the High Park Nature Centre.  Board member since 2010/07/14

Kara Lysne-Paris, Vice Chair and Director: Marketing and Communications

After living in rural Japan and England for seven years, Kara moved to High Park, anticipating that its natural environment, facilities and programs would be defining aspects of life in Toronto. For all members of her family, High Park has become an extension of home.

Kara has worked in private foundations, the federal government and in the private sector as a program development, marketing and human resources specialist for over ten years. She holds a BAH in Communications, an MA in Japanese Studies, and a Certified Human Resources Professional designation.

Since 2004, Kara has volunteered on two City of Toronto Museum Boards and is deeply committed to ensuring that Toronto’s cultural and natural assets continue to grow and prosper for future generations. She joined the High Park Initiatives Board in 2010 and looks forward to further immersion in the Nature Centre programs and activities.  Board member since: 2010/08/12

Robin Sorys, past Chair and Human Resources Director

Robin is a results oriented Human Resources Professional, who provides HR leadership through effective relationship management and strong customer service skills with 27 years as a HR Generalist, holding a Certified Human Resources Professional designation. A lifetime resident of High Park, Robin is the Chair of the High Park Community Advisory Council and was also involved in the building of the Community Built Jamie Bell Adventure Playground located in High Park.  Board member since: 2004/06/23

Angie Begitsch, Treasurer

Angie is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in industry and the public accounting field. She has been on the Board of HPI since February 2006, serving as the Treasurer and bookkeeper. Over the past 30 years she has volunteered for a number of charities, on boards, committees and in other capacities. In the past year, she received the 15 year Ontario Volunteer Service Award. As she lives in the area, she visits the park frequently and joined the HPI board so that she could contribute to the preservation of the magnificent natural environment of High Park.  Board member since: 2006/02/08

John Cleary, Secretary

John began his career as a scientist, work as a summer student in a lab studying Spruce Budworm. Although his career now focuses on human genetics, he remains interested and committed to the observation, protection and enjoyment of nature. Having spent much of his youth in Northen Ontario and as an avid outdoor enthusiast, John has an appreciation for the unique and rare opportunity High Park represents to the citzens of Toronto. Before joining the HPI board, John, along with his wife Tammy, was actively involved as a volunteer for many of the HPI events, including High Park is my Park day. John brings to the board a solid dedication to the park, it’s natural environment and stewardship. He hopes to make a positive influence by helping to bring the HPI message of environmental education to the various groups and park users that make up the broader High Park community.  Board Member since: 2009/08/01

Jerry Hodge, Director: Programming

Jerry worked in the Toronto School System for 30 years. He was a high school biology teacher for about half of that time and an administrator for the rest of his career. Notably he was the vice-principal at Humberside Collegiate for 6 years and the principal of West Toronto Collegiate for two. He also served as the principal for the Boyne River Natural Science school for 7 years where he worked on developing high school environmental and experiential programs and on student leadership development. He began his involvement with the High Park Nature Centre in 2006 after retirement, serving there as a volunteer to the staff on programs. He became a member of the High Park Community Advisory Council in 2008 where he serves as the chair of Buildings, Infrastructure and Safety committee. He currently sits on the HPI Board as the liaison between HPCAC and HPI. Last summer he assisted in the opening of the first Welcome Centre in High Park’s history and continues to support it. He is currently working on ways to expand the reach of environmental education about High Park to a wider audience through the Welcome Centre and Nature Centre expansion.

Neil Morfitt, Director : Facilities

Neil is a licensed architect and principal of the design firm Morfitt Architect. He graduated with degrees in Architecture and Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo in 1991. Prior to establishing his own practice, he gathered over 12 years of experience on a wide range of institutional building projects while working with leading architectural offices in Toronto, London UK,and Amsterdam. Neil also co-founded Parallel Works Inc. in 1994 in order to pursue a parallel interest in film production design. Over the following decade he honed a disciplined and collaborative approach to design and project management through his roles as Set Designer and Art Director on more than 30 film and television productions in Canada and the UK. A LEED Accredited Professional since 2006, he is committed to supporting environmental stewardship and responsible development through the pursuit of sustainable design practices. Neil lives in Roncesvalles with his wife and two children. Board member since: 2011/05/11

Helen Sousa, High Park Supervisor (ex-officio board member)

Helen is the current City Supervisor for High Park and as part of the HPI lease agreement with the City is a non-voting ex-officio member of the board.  Board member since: 2005/06/01

 Lynda Moore Director: Development

Lynda has over 20 years experience in support of the academic research enterprise at universities, research institutes and the biotech industry in two provinces, working the full gamut from the molecular biology wet lat to Research Services Administration. She graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1990 with a degree in Biology & Chemistry, and is currently pursuing graduate studies through the University of London’s School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is passionate about community volunteerism and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park. Over the past 8 years she has progressively increased her contributions to community and health development projects in Canada as well as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a sub-Saharan African country she first visited in 2004 as a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders. In 2010, she founded HEAL Consulting Canada to apply her integrated, results-based systems approach to organizational capacity development for fund-raising, grants administration, program cycle management, research and knowledge mobilization to support Canadian & international initiatives involving Health, Education, community Action and Leadership development. She loves finding new and creative ways to finance great ideas, and as a life-long outdoors-woman and frequent visitor to High Park, she is delighted to bring her skills to contribute to the work of the High Park Nature Centre.

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking to help out the High Park Initiatives?

We are always looking for exciting and enthusiastic volunteers to assists with the various programs and initiatives of the HPI. There are several ways in which you can lend a hand. We are currently looking for volunteers for:

Our Board of  Directors (vacant positions: 1)

Directors are expected to regularly attend board meeting; be informed about and make positive contributions to HPI’s mission, services, policies and programs; cultivate and recruit other board members and volunteers; read and understand financial statements; take responsibility and follow through on a given projects and assignments; serve on committees; review agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings.

For more detail regarding expectations of Board members, please see HPI Board Responsibilities, which was approved by the current HPI Board on January 11, 2012.

Individuals interested in positions on the HPI board are asked to provide CV and details of relevant career experience to: HPI.secretary@highpark.org

HPI Committees

The HPI committees assist and advise the HPI board of directors by providing input, advice and assistance to the committee chair in carrying out the work of the HPI and Nature Centre. Current HPI committees include: the Fundraising Committee, the Exploratory Committee for expansion of the Nature Centre, the Program Committee and the Governance Committee . If you are interested in joining any of these committees or finding out more information please contact: HPI.secretary@highpark.org