Ambassadors

Meet the Ocean Week Canada Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are storytellers, educators, artists, scientists, athletes, and community leaders who are passionate about connecting people and the ocean. From coast to coast to coast, they help bring Ocean Week Canada to life by sharing their knowledge, creativity, and local perspectives.

Through events, content, and outreach, these ambassadors inspire action and deepen our collective understanding of how the ocean connects us all.

 

Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald is a science journalist and host of CBC’s Quirks & Quarks, reaching over 800,000 listeners weekly. With over 50 years in science communication, he’s written bestselling books, hosted documentaries, and earned national awards for his work. Bob is an Officer of the Order of Canada, holds 13 honorary doctorates, and even has an asteroid named after him.

Jill Heinerth

Jill Heinerth is a pioneering underwater explorer and filmmaker. The first person to dive inside Antarctic icebergs, she uses film and writing to raise awareness about climate change and water conservation. Her books Into the Planet and The Aquanaut have earned praise from Oprah and The New York Times. Through documentaries and TED Talks, Jill inspires people to explore and protect our planet’s water systems.

Alanna Mitchell

Alanna Mitchell is an award-winning journalist, author, and playwright. Her acclaimed book Seasick: The Global Ocean in Crisis was adapted into a one-woman play, performed globally for over a decade. Through storytelling, Alanna brings complex ocean issues to life with clarity, emotion, and humour, helping audiences connect with science in deeply personal ways.

Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald is a science journalist and host of CBC’s Quirks & Quarks, reaching over 800,000 listeners weekly. With over 50 years in science communication, he’s written bestselling books, hosted documentaries, and earned national awards for his work. Bob is an Officer of the Order of Canada, holds 13 honorary doctorates, and even has an asteroid named after him.

Jill Heinerth

Jill Heinerth is a pioneering underwater explorer and filmmaker. The first person to dive inside Antarctic icebergs, she uses film and writing to raise awareness about climate change and water conservation. Her books Into the Planet and The Aquanaut have earned praise from Oprah and The New York Times. Through documentaries and TED Talks, Jill inspires people to explore and protect our planet’s water systems.

Alanna Mitchell

Alanna Mitchell is an award-winning journalist, author, and playwright. Her acclaimed book Seasick: The Global Ocean in Crisis was adapted into a one-woman play, performed globally for over a decade. Through storytelling, Alanna brings complex ocean issues to life with clarity, emotion, and humour, helping audiences connect with science in deeply personal ways.

 
 
 
 

Nicolas Winkler

Nicolas Winkler is Kjipuktuk (Halifax) based Grenadian-Canadian multimedia storyteller who leverages photography, film, podcasting, and writing to tell stories of the ocean. His work focuses on the intersection between people and the ocean and includes the Right of Way podcast and the documentary film Open Season. Nicolas is currently working on a Trebek Initiative photo-project about Atlantic Canada’s eelgrass.

Andrea Menard

Andrea Menard is a Métis singer-songwriter, actor, and speaker known for her work promoting Indigenous culture and the Sacred Feminine. She is the creator of the award-winning musical Rubaboo and founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge. Andrea blends art, advocacy, and ceremony to inspire connection, healing, and respect for the natural world.

Sonya Lee

Sonya Lee is a Korean-Canadian filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer whose work blends science, culture, and conservation. Her latest series, Our Ocean Table, explores Korean cuisine and ocean sustainability. A former producer with Ocean School, she’s created over 100 science media pieces and continues to inspire audiences through film, storytelling, and underwater exploration.

Nicolas Winkler

Nicolas Winkler is Kjipuktuk (Halifax) based Grenadian-Canadian multimedia storyteller who leverages photography, film, podcasting, and writing to tell stories of the ocean. His work focuses on the intersection between people and the ocean and includes the Right of Way podcast and the documentary film Open Season. Nicolas is currently working on a Trebek Initiative photo-project about Atlantic Canada’s eelgrass.

Andrea Menard

Andrea Menard is a Métis singer-songwriter, actor, and speaker known for her work promoting Indigenous culture and the Sacred Feminine. She is the creator of the award-winning musical Rubaboo and founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge. Andrea blends art, advocacy, and ceremony to inspire connection, healing, and respect for the natural world.

Sonya Lee

Sonya Lee is a Korean-Canadian filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer whose work blends science, culture, and conservation. Her latest series, Our Ocean Table, explores Korean cuisine and ocean sustainability. A former producer with Ocean School, she’s created over 100 science media pieces and continues to inspire audiences through film, storytelling, and underwater exploration.

 
 
 
 

Cherisse Du Preez

Dr. Cherisse Du Preez is a deep-sea biologist and explorer. Her discoveries include new species and habitats, helping shape global conservation efforts. She leads deep-sea research programs for the Government of Canada and the United Nations Ocean Decade, while serving as an Adjunct Professor and Canadian delegate. She plays a pivotal role in advancing deep-sea science, conservation, and public awareness worldwide.

Sophia Jensen

Sophia Jensen is a world champion sprint canoe athlete and Olympic competitor. Since discovering canoeing in grade six, she’s raced for Canada internationally and competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sophia is a passionate advocate for outdoor living, physical fitness, and inspiring the next generation of athletes through sport.

Moronke Harris

Moronke Harris is an award-winning deep-sea scientist, communicator, and TEDx speaker. Fascinated by innovation and the blue economy, she has spent 150+ days exploring the depths using submersibles. A recognized young leader in the ocean sector, Moronke serves on several governance boards. As founder of The Imaginative Scientist, she blends science and creativity to engage audiences worldwide. Moronke will lead a science team on an all-female Antarctic expedition in 2026.

Cherisse Du Preez

Dr. Cherisse Du Preez is a deep-sea biologist and explorer. Her discoveries include new species and habitats, helping shape global conservation efforts. She leads deep-sea research programs for the Government of Canada and the United Nations Ocean Decade, while serving as an Adjunct Professor and Canadian delegate. She plays a pivotal role in advancing deep-sea science, conservation, and public awareness worldwide.

Sophia Jensen

Sophia Jensen is a world champion sprint canoe athlete and Olympic competitor. Since discovering canoeing in grade six, she’s raced for Canada internationally and competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sophia is a passionate advocate for outdoor living, physical fitness, and inspiring the next generation of athletes through sport.

Moronke Harris

Moronke Harris is an award-winning deep-sea scientist, communicator, and TEDx speaker. Fascinated by innovation and the blue economy, she has spent 150+ days exploring the depths using submersibles. A recognized young leader in the ocean sector, Moronke serves on several governance boards. As founder of The Imaginative Scientist, she blends science and creativity to engage audiences worldwide. Moronke will lead a science team on an all-female Antarctic expedition in 2026.
 
 
 
 

Jill Taylor

Jill Taylor is a puffin researcher, underwater videographer, and host of the science/travel TV show Dive Newfoundland with Jill Taylor. Based in Newfoundland, she studies puffin social behaviour and explores the ocean through diving and storytelling. Jill uses film and communication to connect people to marine life and believes we protect what we care about—and we care about what we know.

Rachael Tancock

Rachael Tancock, also known as The Nature Educator, is a science communicator and naturalist from Vancouver Island. Through her @TheNatureEducator platforms, she inspires people to explore biodiversity and reconnect with nature. Her content blends education and adventure, encouraging curiosity and environmental stewardship through everyday outdoor experiences.

Tiare Boyes

Tiare Boyes is an underwater photographer, commercial diver, and marine debris artist from Vancouver Island. She creates art from plastic waste to raise awareness about ocean pollution and donates 10% of sales to marine charities. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Tiare uses diving, art, and media to inspire ocean care.

Jill Taylor

Jill Taylor is a puffin researcher, underwater videographer, and host of the science/travel TV show Dive Newfoundland with Jill Taylor. Based in Newfoundland, she studies puffin social behaviour and explores the ocean through diving and storytelling. Jill uses film and communication to connect people to marine life and believes we protect what we care about—and we care about what we know.

Rachael Tancock

Rachael Tancock, also known as The Nature Educator, is a science communicator and naturalist from Vancouver Island. Through her @TheNatureEducator platforms, she inspires people to explore biodiversity and reconnect with nature. Her content blends education and adventure, encouraging curiosity and environmental stewardship through everyday outdoor experiences.

Tiare Boyes

Tiare Boyes is an underwater photographer, commercial diver, and marine debris artist from Vancouver Island. She creates art from plastic waste to raise awareness about ocean pollution and donates 10% of sales to marine charities. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Tiare uses diving, art, and media to inspire ocean care.

 
 
 
 

Kendra Nelson

Kendra Nelson is a marine conservationist focused on species recovery and coastal restoration in British Columbia. With a background in biology, she’s worked with sharks, coral, salmon, and killer whales. Passionate about advocacy and ecosystems, Kendra combines fieldwork and outreach to protect ocean life and support healthy coastal communities.

Ashlyn George

Ashlyn George is an award-winning travel writer, content creator, and speaker based in Saskatoon. She’s explored nearly 70 countries across all 7 continents and is a go-to expert on travel in Saskatchewan. An avid outdoor adventurer, Ashlyn shares her passion for hiking, paddling, and backcountry exploring through her blog The Lost Girl’s Guide to Finding the World. With over 100,000 followers, she inspires others to seek adventure—big or small—wherever they are.

Amanda Round

Amanda Round is a marine conservationist and science communicator passionate about ocean education and accessibility. With experience creating popular engaging content for students and young professionals across Canada, she combines her background in marine conservation with digital storytelling to inspire and inform.

Kendra Nelson

Kendra Nelson is a marine conservationist focused on species recovery and coastal restoration in British Columbia. With a background in biology, she’s worked with sharks, coral, salmon, and killer whales. Passionate about advocacy and ecosystems, Kendra combines fieldwork and outreach to protect ocean life and support healthy coastal communities.

Ashlyn George

Ashlyn George is an award-winning travel writer, content creator, and speaker based in Saskatoon. She’s explored nearly 70 countries across all 7 continents and is a go-to expert on travel in Saskatchewan. An avid outdoor adventurer, Ashlyn shares her passion for hiking, paddling, and backcountry exploring through her blog The Lost Girl’s Guide to Finding the World. With over 100,000 followers, she inspires others to seek adventure—big or small—wherever they are.

Amanda Round

Amanda Round is a marine conservationist and science communicator passionate about ocean education and accessibility. With experience creating popular engaging content for students and young professionals across Canada, she combines her background in marine conservation with digital storytelling to inspire and inform.

 
 
 
 
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