CEO/President

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Melinda’s career has centred around environmental, community, social, and economic sustainability since the beginning. Co-founder of Tooketree Passive Homes, she has acted as CEO since 2015. Previously she was General Manager of the innovative worker cooperative, Fourth Pig Green & Natural Construction, established in 2007.

Melinda is a Certified Passive House Builder and BCIN designer with a Master’s in Environmental Studies. An active volunteer, she is a founding board member of the Lake of Bays Renewable Energy Coop, founding member and Chair of the Muskoka Community Land Trust and Vice Chair of the Muskoka Housing Task Force. 

Melinda loves gardening and swimming in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Melinda is grateful to be raising her son and building community here.

Chief Financial Officer

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Rick is the co-founder and CFO of Tooketree Passive Homes. With extensive experience as a business consultant, Rick partnered with his daughter, Melinda in 2018 to build highly-efficient, ecologically responsible homes and help move the building industry toward true sustainability. Committed to addressing climate change and environmental issues through natural material choices, carbon storage, and long-term thinking, Rick stands on the cutting edge of green building evolution. 

Rick spent much of his career focused on applying technology and process control to improve efficiency and efficacy in businesses. Passionate about innovation and progress, Rick is committed to building a better future for generations to come. Rick sits on the board of directors for Muskoka Steamships and Discovery Centre and the Lake of Bays Renewable Energy Cooperative and is an active member of Builders for Climate Action. 

At rare moments when he’s not at the factory, Rick enjoys life on the lake in Baysville, and time spent with his family, and the occasional game of Golf.

Factory Operations Manager

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James leads the manufacturing team at our Baysville facility, guiding our builders in the precise production of our CSA-certified SEED panels. A Certified Passive House Builder, James is engaged throughout the design and fabrication process to ensure that drawn details translate effectively into real life. 

James joined Tooketree in 2021 with extensive trades experience and a background in construction supervision. James keeps our team organized and motivated, mentors new staff, and encourages cooperative participation in systems and product improvement. With worker well-being as a top priority, James promotes safe equipment operation, conscientious lifting and material handling, and effective communication. 

An avid back-country camper and outdoorsman, James moved to Muskoka from Southern Ontario 2017. His adventurous family enjoys nature all year long at the northern edge of Muskoka. 

Manager of Quality Assurance 

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Part of Tooketree’s inaugural team, Courtney joined our company with expertise in the development of quality assurance systems for specialized technical industries such as steel fabrication and pre-cast pre-stressed concrete.

Courtney’s multifaceted role at Tooketree includes product quality assurance, process control and development and worker health and safety.  Courtney’s ongoing evaluation ensures that our team manufactures a consistent, quality product that lives up to Tooketree’s reputation and accreditation. She advises staff and the leadership team on practice improvements and adherence to standard procedures. Courtney also promotes company-wide awareness of workers’ rights and responsibilities and advocates for employee health and wellbeing. All the while, Courtney is best known for her sense of humour. 

Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Courtney had been visiting the Muskoka/Almaguin Highlands area since 1997. She made the move north and joined Tooketree in 2019. Courtney is an ardent gardener, and a steward of the land, lake and wildlife where she lives.

Lead Designer

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Passionate about tangible and resilient solutions to the climate crisis and the housing crisis, Sarah joined the Tooketree team in 2021. She holds a B.Eng in Bioresource Engineering from McGill, and previously worked with clients on sustainability-related projects within an environmental engineering consultancy and the federal government.

As part of her work at Tooketree, Sarah collaborates with architects, engineers, contractors, not-for-profit community builders, and homeowners on a variety of projects, from single-family homes to multiplex residential projects to retrofits. She is responsible for creating detailed 3D Models, shop drawings, and shipping/installation truck layout plans for Tooketree’s SEED Building Systems. 

Sarah also enjoys providing design software training for new team members, and creatively troubleshooting design challenges with her team. During her time at Tooketree, she has optimized and standardized the design process.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing guitar and spending time outside.

Supervisor, Carpenter, Panel Fabricator

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One of our senior team members, Kevin joined Tooketree Passive Homes in 2021 with experience in natural building and fine cabinetmaking. A Certified Passive House Builder, Kevin conducts quality assurance checks throughout the fabrication process and spends time with each new carpenter, sharing skills and tricks for achieving precision. Kevin’s relaxed, friendly demeanor is valued by the entire team.

Kevin’s calm presence is juxtaposed by the black and death metal music in his headphones.

Project Coordinator

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Lyla joined Tooketree in 2021 as a co-op student. She continued working while finishing her studies at Georgian College and now holds an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology.

At Tooketree, Lyla works on multiple aspects of our projects, including material estimating and ordering, monitoring and forecasting project progress, organizing project documentation, and other administrative tasks. She is the right-hand (wo)man to the Operations Manager and is quick to lend a helping hand to any of her team members.

Lyla is very organized and has a sharp eye for detail. She consistently implements process improvements to many of our administrative processes. Lyla also spends a bit of time on the factory floor fabricating panels, her experience with tools and construction allows her to jump in as needed.

Born and raised in Muskoka, Lyla happily returned home after completing her studies. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, playing with her dog and spending time with family.

Supervisor, Carpenter, Panel Fabricator

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After moving North from Burlington, Austen joined our Tooketree team in 2023, with much carpentry and supervisor experience from years in the construction industry. 

Austen is a panel fabricator, who is versatile and can work every step of the building process. From material cutting, through framing, and finishing. He is a machine operator and spends time doing final quality assurance checks on panels and storing them prior to being shipped out. Austen also attends installations to assist the general contractors on site. He is a team player and is always willing to help out where needed.

Austen enjoys spending time with his family, barbequing and eating good food.

Supervisor, Panel Fabricator, Control Layers & QA Technician

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With an extensive background in general construction, including running his own business, Steve joined Tooketree in 2022 and plays a vital role in our process, heading the insulating, and finishing of panels. Steve also takes care of material receiving and handling, jumps in to tackle odd jobs and is always brainstorming process improvements for the factory. He is a dedicated team member.

Steve enjoys spending his free time with his wife, daughter and dog.

Panel Fabricator, Educator & Content Creator

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Bet joined Tooketree in 2022 with trades experience that included industrial welding and basic woodworking. A craftsperson at heart, Bet was eager to work with her hands once again.

Passionate about nature-based climate solutions and environmental conservation, Bet helps with marketing, education and communication at Tooketree. Bet created many of the panel illustrations on Tooketree’s website and regularly writes and talks about natural building and other climate solutions on behalf of Tooketree and local not-for-profit organizations.      

Bet studied Art, Craft and Design at Kootenay School of the Arts and York University, and later completed Green Roof Professional accreditation and a Certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture from the University of Guelph.

Outside of work, Bet is a songwriter, blacksmith, hiker, and paddler.

Carpenter, Panel Fabricator

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Johannes joined Tooketree in 2023, with landscaping and construction experience, giving him a solid foundation to fabricate panels. He mainly works in the framing stage of the process but will jump in to help in the finishing stage, loading panels for shipping and anywhere else as needed. Johannes is a devoted team member who has spent much of his  time with Tooketree training new staff as well as individuals through a partnering organization.

Johannes has a passion for music and he enjoys attending concerts. He also spends his free time with family and hiking with his dog.

Panel Fabricator, Control Layers & QA Technician

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Garry joined us at Tooketree in 2022, with a background in rail car repair and metal fabrication.

Garry spends much of his time at Tooketree insulating and finishing panels. He also handles material receiving and handling. He performs final quality assurance checks on panels and is one of our machine operators who stores panels. Garry is a positive and optimistic team member who shines light even on dark winter days.

In his free time, Garry enjoys spending time with his family, fishing and ATVing.

Supervisor, Carpenter, Panel Fabricator

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Drawing on many decades of work and volunteer experience in a variety of trades, Dale works to keep our daily production running as efficiently as possible. Dale frequently operates our CNC saw, ensuring dimensions are precise while performing initial QC checks on lumber. Dale also frames panels and builds jigs that improve our process.
In his free time, he enjoys the solitude and silence of nature, and once in a while pulling out a guitar and revisiting old songs or writing new ones.

Carpenter, Panel Fabricator

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Joe joined Tooketree in 2023 with over 25 years of experience as a general contractor, skilled carpenter and tradesman. Joe has been fully immersed in the trades and construction since early childhood. His advanced knowledge supports our team’s efficiency and ability, helping our small company take on ambitious projects.

True to his Northern Ontario roots, Joe enjoys hunting and fishing when life allows.

Designer

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A valued member of our design team, Alen joined Tooketree as an Intern through Humber College’s Sustainable Energy and Building Technology Coop Program. During his factory internship, Alen split his time between design work and fabrication. A motivated and passionate individual, Alen is always on the lookout for ways to improve and innovate.

A love for our planet inspired Alen to pursue expertise in the field of bio-based, passive building.  His hands-on trades experience, paired with an education in technology and design, make him a versatile member of Tooketree’s team. 

Panel Fabricator, Industrial Mechanic

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Mark brings to Tooketree a wide assortment of skills and experience obtained through a variety of jobs in many industries.  His first career was as a Product Engineer with Honda of Canada Manufacturing.  In 2009 Mark left the automotive industry and moved to Huntsville to pursue interests in construction and sustainability where he co-founded a company specializing in the alternative building technique rammed earth.   In 2018 Mark began his third career when he started a small trucking company to serve the needs of local construction contractors.  Through this business Mark got to know the folks of Tooketree Passive Homes by shipping their finished work to site for assembly.  Due to personal reasons Mark sold his trucking company and eagerly joined the Tooketree team in July 2024.

At Tooketree Mark performs a variety of roles and is willing to assist wherever needed.  He spends time working on plant improvements and equipment/tool repair.  Mark also works to complete final quality assurance checks and operates the equipment for panel storage and shipping.  

Away from work Mark enjoys hunting, riding, water sports, anything outdoors, coaching and playing hockey, and spending time with his family.

Factory Intern

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Deepinder joined our team for his co-op in 2024; he is a student from Georgian College pursuing an Architectural Technician program.

During his time here at Tooketree he has become familiar with our building practices through working on the factory floor fabricating panels. Deepinder is also working alongside our design team, learning the design program and detailing shop drawings.

When not working or studying, Deepinder spends his time listening to music and going for scenic drives.