In a series of short profiles, Capital Current introduces some of the people working hard to improve life in Ottawa.
Who is she?
Alice Irene Whittaker is a writer, environmentalist and the executive director of Ecology Ottawa, a not-for-profit dedicated to engaging the community on climate change and the environment.
What’s her background?
Whittaker has published essays and has written articles that appeared in media outlets such as the Globe and Mail, acted as a spokesperson for environmental causes, and been long-listed for the CBC Nonfiction Award for her story The Coyote and the Wren, as well as the CBC Poetry Award for her poem Spruce Bones. She was also the founder and executive director of the Mother Nature Partnership, a charity focused on providing sustainable menstrual supplies in Canada and Cameroon and which has since merged into Femme International.
What is she known for in Ottawa?
Whittaker often appears on local and national media outlets discussing a variety of environmental issues. She runs her own podcast, Reseed, which discusses repairing our relationships with nature. She is also a public speaker, having worked with such organizations as the Global Centre for Pluralism and Circular Economy Leadership Canada.
What do people say about her?
After a discussion between Whittaker and Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard, he commented about Ecology Ottawa on Twitter, “The organization is in very good hands.”
What’s something few people know about her?
On top of raising three children, Whittaker cares for cats, dogs and chickens. Her favourite quote is Jane Goodall, the naturalist and activist: “It is the peace of the forest that I carry inside.”
