The People of the Built Environment Committee
Volunteer Chair
Scott MacIvor
Email
Scott MacIvor is a Masters of Applied Sciences student at Saint Mary's University and has an (Hon) B.Sc in Ecology from the University of Guelph. His research interests include reconciliation ecology, fragmentation of urban habitats and the benefits of plant and insect biodiversity in cities. In his current thesis, he is measuring extensive green roof functions using different native plant species from Nova Scotia’s coastal barrens. He is also quantifying insect biodiversity of green roof and adjacent ground level green space in downtown Halifax. As chair of the BEC, he works directly with the committee to report and take action on sustainability and ecological issues within HRM.
Staff (alphabetically by first name)
- Chris Benjamin, Healthy Lawns Coordinator
- Zak Miller, Building Energy Efficiency Project Coordinator
Chris Benjamin
Healthy Lawns Coordinator
902-442-5051
Chris Benjamin stumbled from Nova Scotia’s suburban badlands at the bewildered age of 21 years, clutching a hard-earned Marketing Communications degree from Dalhousie University.
In a Jack of all Parades career path he has since been a market analyst in Waterloo, a conservationist in Nova Scotia, a forestry officer in St. Lucia, a farm worker in British Columbia, a consultant in Indonesia, an environmental and social justice publicist in Toronto, and a journalist in Ghana. Sometime along the way he picked up a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from York University.
Chris has been a freelance writer throughout and has published hundreds of news stories, features, essays, and editorials in various anthologies, newspapers, magazines, and online publications.
In addition to being EAC's Healthy Lawns Coordinator, Chris is also the Sustainable City Columnist for The Coast, a public speaker on international development issues, and an environmental consultant. In his spare time he is editing the novel he wrote in Toronto and Finland (which was given generous financial support from the Toronto Arts Council).
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Zak Miller
Building Energy Efficiency Project Coordinator
902-448-6497
Zak Miller has long been an advocate for social transformation, equality, and responsibility. His work has led him into a position of understanding the importance of the Built Environment and it's immediate impact on our relationships as well as our social interactions and sense of social responsibility. "When we change our homes, we change our lives". Not only has Zak become an accomplished builder in the natural building field and residential renovation industry, he has coupled his real-world skills with an education in Architectural Engineering. Zak plans to someday create a 'self-sustaining future village' in rural Canada (not to be mistaken for a commune).
Built Environment Committee
Phone: (902) 442-0300
Fax: (902) 405-3716
The Built Environment Committee meets the second Thursday of every month at 5:30pm at the EAC. All are welcome at our monthly meeting.
