“Design and sustainability is about using your imagination, dreaming about what could be, and envisioning ways to build upon what already exists; they are ultimately about improving who we are and the way we live.”

Throughout her life, Shannon has strived to seek out opportunities relating to sustainability and design. Her jobs, volunteer positions, education, and business ventures have provided her with creative outlets and opportunities to grow, helped connect her to inspiring and exceptional people. These meaningful pursuits have taught her that effort, collaboration, resiliency, and hope are all necessary to bring about change. Perhaps more importantly, they have taught her that certain amounts of incompleteness, imperfection, and failure are also part of the process.

Shannon and her former colleague, Janet McVittie, were recently awarded a grant from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to improve the University of Saskatchewan’s Prairie Habitat Garden, with special focus paid on early childhood learning, native species, and indigenous features and teachings. As one of only 21 projects in North America to receive funding, Shannon will be leading the design, consulting with a variety of stakeholders. Work on the garden commences this spring.