Monica Choy, Menvsc Email & Phone Number

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

TRCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario, created to safeguard and enhance the health and well-being of watershed communities through the protection and restoration of the natural environment and the ecological services the environment provides. The Restoration & Infrastructure division within TRCA has expertise in construction project delivery, erosion risk management, restoration, and enabling professional services that include soils, archaeology, design and… Show more TRCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario, created to safeguard and enhance the health and well-being of watershed communities through the protection and restoration of the natural environment and the ecological services the environment provides. The Restoration & Infrastructure division within TRCA has expertise in construction project delivery, erosion risk management, restoration, and enabling professional services that include soils, archaeology, design and surveying.•Business unit lead for grant applications and reporting - successfully secured over $6.5 million dollars for multiple high-impact ecological restoration projects Show less

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

The Environmental Sustainability team is responsible for championing Green Directions Vaughan, the City's community sustainability plan, to encourage City leadership in environmental sustainability. Environmental Sustainability works in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to achieve a green, sustainable and low carbon City that supports vibrant communities and a strong economy. •Coordinated internal department meetings to develop milestones for 70 actions and track… Show more The Environmental Sustainability team is responsible for championing Green Directions Vaughan, the City's community sustainability plan, to encourage City leadership in environmental sustainability. Environmental Sustainability works in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to achieve a green, sustainable and low carbon City that supports vibrant communities and a strong economy. •Coordinated internal department meetings to develop milestones for 70 actions and track progress on 24 indicators to support the implementation of the City’s master sustainability plan, Green Directions Vaughan.•Led the Thornhill Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP) and developed the final Action Plan to guide local neighbourhood renewal over the next 10 years; successfully liaised with 10 City departments, external stakeholders and Council members, authored 2 staff reports and presented to Council for endorsement of the final Action Plan, and completed a final report and budget to complete the deliverables required for a $152,100 grant.•Effectively managed multiple sustainability initiatives in the City and adapting programs due to COVID-19 where needed including: managing the community garden program and working towards formalizing the program with a business case, initiating a pollinator strategy to guide future City action, and engaging community groups and residents in environmental stewardship activities. Show less

King City, Ontario, Canada

The Township of King's Community Services Department inspires people to engage in physical activity, culture, recreation and the natural environment. This department creates opportunities for building positive relationships, learning and personal growth through provisions of parks, recreation and cultural programs, services and facilities.• Planned, coordinated, and delivered programs and events to increase public awareness on local environmental issues as identified in the Township’s… Show more The Township of King's Community Services Department inspires people to engage in physical activity, culture, recreation and the natural environment. This department creates opportunities for building positive relationships, learning and personal growth through provisions of parks, recreation and cultural programs, services and facilities.• Planned, coordinated, and delivered programs and events to increase public awareness on local environmental issues as identified in the Township’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan.• Successfully scheduled and coordinated meetings with internal partners and external stakeholders (community groups, conservation authorities, environmental non-profits) to plan and carry out stewardship activities that complemented both organizations’ environmental goals; resulted in the successful implementation of 8 stewardship events in the first 6 months of this role.• Cold-called and confirmed the attendance of 22 environmental non-profit organizations and local vendors to attend a large-scale community pollinator event with an expected attendance of >500 attendees; project lead for the planning of this event aimed to educate and engage the general public about the importance of native pollinators. • Effectively managed a variety of sustainability programs in the Township including: textile recycling, electronic waste diversion, community gardens, pollinator-friendly initiatives, repair cafés, tree and wildflower plantings, and public engagement events focused on increasing environmental awareness. Show less

Aurora, Ontario

Ontario Streams is a charitable environmental organization dedicated to conserving and rehabilitating streams in Ontario through education and community involvement.• primarily working on completing grant applications and reporting on an as needed basis.• webmaster tasks involving updating the Ontario Streams website.

Aurora, On

• project lead for three multi-year stream restoration projects involving improving in-stream and riparian habitat for a provincially and federally listed endangered species, the Redside Dace.• first-hand experience performing a variety of stream restoration techniques including: installation of erosion control and in-stream habitat enhancement structures, in-stream woody material blockage removals, bioengineering techniques, and riparian tree and shrub plantings.• successfully led a… Show more • project lead for three multi-year stream restoration projects involving improving in-stream and riparian habitat for a provincially and federally listed endangered species, the Redside Dace.• first-hand experience performing a variety of stream restoration techniques including: installation of erosion control and in-stream habitat enhancement structures, in-stream woody material blockage removals, bioengineering techniques, and riparian tree and shrub plantings.• successfully led a field crew of up to eight summer staff, as well as provided leadership for volunteers (with attendances of up to 100 volunteers at a single event) from all different types of backgrounds at Ontario Streams' events.• authored thorough final reports listing deliverables and balanced budgets for multiple funding agencies ranging from governmental grants to private foundations.• prepared project proposals to request funding from government, foundation, and corporate grants.• webmaster of the company website (www.ontariostreams.on.ca) - depended on to update information and upgrade portions of the website as needed (e.g. adding a donate page upon becoming a charitable organization), showing proficiency in HTML/CSS/Javascript. Show less

Head Office, Vaughan, On

The TRCA is a conservation authority that is invested in the sustainability of 9 watersheds and more than 40,000 acres of land in the Toronto region. With a strong history in engaging communities and encouraging healthier relationships between our natural environments and urban development, the TRCA has an ultimate goal of building a greener and cleaner place for Torontonians to call home.• independently led a completely novel project requiring creativity and extensive problem solving… Show more The TRCA is a conservation authority that is invested in the sustainability of 9 watersheds and more than 40,000 acres of land in the Toronto region. With a strong history in engaging communities and encouraging healthier relationships between our natural environments and urban development, the TRCA has an ultimate goal of building a greener and cleaner place for Torontonians to call home.• independently led a completely novel project requiring creativity and extensive problem solving skills to inventory and categorize all stream barrier mitigation projects completed in the Greater Toronto Area since the mid-1980s.• collected barrier data was used to update a stream connectivity model to quantify improvement in GTA streams since the inception of the Toronto & Region Remedial Action Plan (RAP) in 1987.• performed road ecology surveys involving the identification of various amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and bird species within the GTA.• completed project ahead of the scheduled timeline, resulting in the ability to present a talk at the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research (CCFFR) 2017 and produce a draft publication for a special issue edition in the peer-reviewed journal Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management (AEHM). Show less

Canadian Centre For Inland Waters, Burlington, On

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a department within the government of Canada that is responsible for the sustainable development and safe use of Canadian waters. The Canadian Centre for Inland Waters accommodates over 600 governmental staff and contains the state-of-the-art Aquatic Life Research Facility (ALRF), used in researching many different aspects of aquatic ecology.• part of the Asian Carp program within the Biodiversity Science section of DFO.• designed and conducted… Show more Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a department within the government of Canada that is responsible for the sustainable development and safe use of Canadian waters. The Canadian Centre for Inland Waters accommodates over 600 governmental staff and contains the state-of-the-art Aquatic Life Research Facility (ALRF), used in researching many different aspects of aquatic ecology.• part of the Asian Carp program within the Biodiversity Science section of DFO.• designed and conducted behavioural experiments to test the effectiveness of an electrical barrier to prevent fish movement; determined that the specific electric barrier tested cannot prevent the passage of all fishes. • wrote a comprehensive technical report on the behavioural experiments conducted that will be used as a basis for a future journal publication. • analyzed and summarized raw experimental data in easy-to-understand graphs.• proven expertise handling live fishes and provided a high standard of care for over 500 fishes at once in the ALRF, ensuring proper animal husbandry procedures were followed at all times.• performed extensive lab work in the ALRF involving techniques such as: anaesthesia, handling live animals, performing necropsies, proper surgical tool use, hydroacoustic tagging, floy tagging, and humane endpoints. Show less

Canadian Centre For Inland Waters, Burlington, On

• acquired accurate fish and mussel identification skills, resulting in accurate portrayals of community composition and ecosystem health. • completed a variety of tasks associated with aquatic field work including: familiarity with different net types, basic habitat assessment, boat electrofishing, handling live animals with respect, performing field work professionally in the public eye, and working in adverse weather conditions.• cooperated with five different DFO teams in one summer… Show more • acquired accurate fish and mussel identification skills, resulting in accurate portrayals of community composition and ecosystem health. • completed a variety of tasks associated with aquatic field work including: familiarity with different net types, basic habitat assessment, boat electrofishing, handling live animals with respect, performing field work professionally in the public eye, and working in adverse weather conditions.• cooperated with five different DFO teams in one summer (Asian Carp research, Asian Carp monitoring, mussel species at risk, fish species at risk, and science advising) and efficiently completed all assigned tasks, showing an ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team setting. Show less

Vancouver, Bc

Thistle Stables is a family run equestrian centre in the heart of Vancouver with a strong passion for maintaining the health and happiness of all their animals in an urban setting.• managed all animals on the property, responded to any visitors with inquiries, and consistently performed any tasks needed to optimally maintain the property as a whole resulting in a clean, friendly environment for all animals as well as their owners.• cared for a variety of animals including: horses… Show more Thistle Stables is a family run equestrian centre in the heart of Vancouver with a strong passion for maintaining the health and happiness of all their animals in an urban setting.• managed all animals on the property, responded to any visitors with inquiries, and consistently performed any tasks needed to optimally maintain the property as a whole resulting in a clean, friendly environment for all animals as well as their owners.• cared for a variety of animals including: horses, cows, dogs, cats, rabbits, and pigs to ensure their overall health and wellbeing through daily monitoring, exercise, and troubleshooting problems when any arose. • performed physically demanding tasks such as feeding and cleaning stalls in all weather conditions, ranging from below freezing temperatures to days with incessant rainfall. Show less

Master’S Degree, Environmental Sciences

Specialization: Conservation and Biodiversity

Bachelor’S Degree, Major In Environmental Sciences

Activities and Societies: Environmental Science Students Association, Kappa Alpha Theta Area of concentration: Ecology and Conservation

Bachelor’S Degree

A year abroad on exchange.