Meet the Faculty

Peter has been employed by Algonquin College as a part-time professor of Dendrology in our Urban Arboriculture program. Since June 2008, Peter has served as the Operations Manager at the Petawawa Research Forest (PRF) and has been responsible for leading all phases of forestry planning and implementation including oversight of research activities as well as staffing, promotional activities, community engagement, and budgeting. In addition to his extensive leadership skills, Peter was previously employed as a Forestry and Research Technician and possesses a wealth of technical skills relevant to the classroom including those related to collection and management of forest stand data, conducting stand assessments, and leading auditing and mensuration activities. Peter holds a Forest Technician Diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College and a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in English Language and Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University. Peter has actively participated in many advisory committees including two program advisory committees here at Algonquin College.

Peter is originally from Midland, Ontario, and has called Deep River his home for the last 20 years. He loves the outdoors, and fills his free time with hiking, cycling and cross country skiing. He is also an avid guitarist and is always happy to be playing music.

Kristi was raised in the small rural town of Campbellford, ON. Living across from Ferris Provincial Park, she quickly found her love of nature, roaming the forests and learning about wildlife.  A deep passion for animals leads to countless hours spent tagging along with local veterinarians and outdoor enthusiasts, learning about animal care and treatment, camping, canoeing, and bush-craft.

This early experience lead Kristi to Trent University, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a major in Ecology. She is currently enrolled in courses on Avian health and welfare, and Equine nutrition, and has her sights set on obtaining a masters degree in an environmental field.

Since graduating, Kristi has held diverse positions in the environmental industry, including working for Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. She has over 16 years of experience as a Biologist and Project Manager and is on the Executive of the local Ducks Unlimited chapter.  Her current position with Ontario Resource Management Group has included projects ranging from small habitat protection plans, through to multi-million dollar hydroelectric facilities. She has worked with individual landowners, private companies, Provincial and Federal government agencies, First Nations, NGOs, and large corporate developers. Kristi has extensive experience in the identification of flora and fauna, Species at Risk surveys and permit applications, Ecological Land Classification analyses, Ontario Wetland Evaluations, Aggregate Resources Act planning and assessment, and Wildlife habitat management and mitigation. 

Kristi joined Algonquin College in 2012 as a professor of Ecology for the Environmental Technician program. Currently, she also teaches Environmental Chemistry, as well as Wildlife ID for Naturalists in the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist program, and Ecological Land Classification training for the Forestry Technician and Urban Forestry - Arboriculture programs.  As someone currently employed in the Environmental industry, Kristi knows the field and lab skills and training that new graduates need to be successful. She willingly passes on her knowledge to her students, and is always open to spirited discussions on environmental and ecological issues!

Chris Ryan began Algonquin College’s two-year format Forest Technician diploma program in Pembroke in 1993.  After graduating in 1995, he joined the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in the Pembroke District and when an opportunity arose at Algonquin College, Chris began working as both a technician and professor in the Forestry Technician program. Chris also maintains a Forestry Consulting Company where, working with the public and a variety of industry partners, he obtained a variety of managerial, supervision and hands-on experience.   He has been involved in projects or activities with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Algonquin Forestry Authority, Renfrew County and local woodlot owners,  including woodlot management, forest products, tree removal, timber cruising, tree planting, audits, scaling, property appraisals, stand tending, and regeneration surveys. At Algonquin College, Chris teaches courses in Dendrology, Pesticides, Wood Measurement, Math, Occupational Health and Safety, WHMIS and professional certifications.   Much of his time is also spent as a technician for the program organizing field trips, maintaining forestry tools and equipment, and liaising with the public. Over the years, Chris has obtained certifications and licenses in Provincial Pesticides and Exterminator;  Provincial Wood Measurement; Fish and Wildlife Guardian; Lands Technician; S-102 Industry Fire; Provincial Chainsaw; and many more.   He is a member of the Renfrew County Woodlot Conference Committee with the OMNR.  Presently, Chris is enrolled in Royal Rhodes University where he is working on his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management.

In 1998, he took on the role of Loggersports coach, an intercollegiate varsity sport where students compete with other colleges and universities in some of the skills used by old-time lumberjacks.  They learn individual and team skills to compete in a variety of events including pole climb, up down chainsaw, axe throw, vertical chop and crosscut saw.  Much of Chris’s spare time entails recruiting and training team members and supervising at practices.  At competitions, there are men’s team events, women’s team events and Jack and Jill (men and women combined) team events and, under Chris’s supervision, students practice their skills after class and on weekends throughout the school year.  The sport culminates when they take a road trip to the Echo Loggersports Competitions in Lindsay and Montreal. At Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley waterfront campus, the Loggersports team has a great new outdoor area designated just for them and their practices.  The Algonquin Loggersports team recently entered into a partnership with the Ottawa RedBlacks professional football team whose mascot is Big Joe, a lumberjack.  Whenever the RedBlacks score a touchdown, Algonquin’s  Loggersports team saws a “cookie” from a log which is then autographed by a player and presented to a fan. Read more about Algonquin’s Loggersports activities here. To find out more about the Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjacking Association (CILA) see website: www.cilawoodsmen.ca/