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Named Beneficiary
Hollow Bone Healing Lodge
Our named beneficiary, Hollow Bone Healing Lodge, is dedicated to cultivating reconciliation initiatives that promote healing, understanding, and unity between Indigenous communities, Indigenous peoples and broader society. Their mission is to bridge cultural divides, uphold Indigenous rights, and empower communities through education and access to cultural resources.
Board of Directors
Aidan Jensen-Holubowich, RN
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Director
Aidan's commitment to equity-based healthcare through his work at CUPS Calgary Society reflects a dedication to addressing the needs of structurally vulnerable populations. Beyond his professional life, Aidan finds solace among trees, understanding firsthand the profound impact of plants on his holistic well-being.
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Director
Chanel's devotion to helping our most vulnerable populations is demonstrated by her work as an outreach coordinator and caseworker at Student Legal Assistance, which provides legal services to those who would otherwise be unrepresented. Outside of work, Chanel finds peace and harmony in caring for plants, and spending meaningful time connecting with nature.
Troy Speechly, LPN
Chanel Blais, BA (Hons), JD Candidate (2025)
Troy Speechly, LPN
Director
Troy, drawing on his current role as a Program Leader for Supportive Living units and a background in nursing, joins the board of directors with a unique perspective. In addition to his extensive service at CUPS Calgary Society, Community Allied Palliative Partnership (CAMPP), Alpha House Society, the SHARP Foundation, and Safelin
Director
Troy, drawing on his current role as a Program Leader for Supportive Living units and a background in nursing, joins the board of directors with a unique perspective. In addition to his extensive service at CUPS Calgary Society, Community Allied Palliative Partnership (CAMPP), Alpha House Society, the SHARP Foundation, and Safelink Alberta (formerly HIV Community Link), Troy brings a holistic touch, incorporating the healing properties of plants into his understanding of wellness. Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between nature and humans, he adds distinctive dimension to informed nominations and choices, shaping the organization's future direction.
Team Members
Ian Potapoff
Executive Director, Founder
Ian's mission is to develop an ecosystem that, at its core, places the most vulnerable being as the highest priority. This perspective has been informed through Ian's work in non-profit organizations including CUPS Calgary Society, the SHARP Foundation and the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Center (AARC).
Nature has always provided Ian refuge, and his more recent experience cultivating begonias has reminded him that the natural world could still provide consolation for everyone.
Rose Warden, RSE
Co-Founder
Rose’s passion is to share happiness through plants and to help others grow. With over 20 years of growing experience, Rose is a plant hybridizer, begonia conservationist, and local award-winning grower.
Her background is in greenhouse work, apprenticeship trades, post-secondary teaching, and family-run small business. Plants have always been part of her life, and she is excited to share her expertise to help better the community and world.
Katie Hart Potapoff, PhD
Director of Strategic Operations
Dedicated to building community through the power of dialogue, Katie (she/her) is deeply committed to inclusive practices that encourage humans to reconsider their relationships with their environment.
Katie brings more than a decade of public engagement experience to contribute strategically to the vision and mission of Plants for a Purpose Canada. She is adept at transforming innovative ideas into immediate action and enthusiastically supports others to understand their innate talents, skills and knowledge as a means of social transformation.
Rachael Edwards, RN MPH
Director of Community Health
Rachael brings over 15 years of invaluable experience in community and public health to the role of Director of Community Health. With a proven track record in community capacity building and program development, Rachael has demonstrated her commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities.
Throughout her career in the non-profit health care setting, Rachael has gone above and beyond by mentoring colleagues and community members, helping them enhance their skills and expertise. Her dedication to supporting the growth and development of others has led to significant improvements in health outcomes and quality of life for program participants.
By leveraging her extensive experience and passion for community health, Rachael is poised to make a lasting impact as the Director of Community Health. She is committed to fostering collaboration, implementing innovative strategies, and driving positive change to promote the overall well-being of our community.
Derek Shipley
Marketing and Promotions
Derek is a dedicated storyteller whose mission is to cultivate and foster connections between people. It is his belief that storytelling reveals the essence and celebrates the beauty of the human journey. Through his innate ability to communicate an evocative narrative through visual mediums, Derek encourages deeper engagement and collaboration (between stakeholders).
Beyond his work in media, Derek is a community leader who addresses social issues through providing invaluable mentorship to many who greatly benefit from his support.
Sarah Hogendorp
Consultant
Sarah brings a wealth of experience from diverse areas within the social services sector to our team. As a lifelong learner eager to share their wisdom, they thrive on assisting with the finer aspects of project execution. Sarah, a casual plant enthusiast, maintains an array of houseplants, proudly keeping them flourishing (or at least green!).
Romeo
Pawsitive Change Advocate
With a gentle heart and a playful spirit, Romeo participates in gatherings and events where he encourages connection, understanding, and respect. His presence brings comfort and joy, reminding everyone of the importance of community.
Romeo also plays a vital role in planting seeds of change—both literally and metaphorically. He joins community members in gardening projects that honor traditional agricultural practices and promote sustainable living. By nurturing the land and celebrating the teachings of our ancestors, Romeo helps cultivate a deeper connection to the earth and each other.
We're hiring!
Grant Specialist
Partners
Yaga Botanica
Yaga Botanica is an Edmonton-based and female-founded company that is deeply passionate about the circle of life and empowering all beings within it, regardless of their species.
Founded by the dynamic sister-in-law duo, Michelle and Lauren, Yaga Botanica was born out of their shared love for plants and stationary. Sustainability is at t
Yaga Botanica is an Edmonton-based and female-founded company that is deeply passionate about the circle of life and empowering all beings within it, regardless of their species.
Founded by the dynamic sister-in-law duo, Michelle and Lauren, Yaga Botanica was born out of their shared love for plants and stationary. Sustainability is at the core of their values, and they have a genuine admiration for small businesses. In line with these values, they carefully curate collections of unique and limited-edition products from independent makers who prioritize selling their goods anywhere but Amazon.
Lauren, the face of the brand in Edmonton, brings her extensive knowledge of plants, her delightful sense of humor, and her unwavering dedication to their brand.
Community Supporters
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
Bohemia Plants and Home Gardens is born from a wonderful collaboration between trio of dedicated plant friends, offering a wide array of exquisite and hard-to-find exotic plants located in the Edmonton area. By combining their growing talents, they are able to share their love of plants with many. They have generously donated unique plant
Bohemia Plants and Home Gardens is born from a wonderful collaboration between trio of dedicated plant friends, offering a wide array of exquisite and hard-to-find exotic plants located in the Edmonton area. By combining their growing talents, they are able to share their love of plants with many. They have generously donated unique plants to help support our initiatives. Click below to discover their beautiful assortment of vibrant plants!
Begonian Express
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
Our friends at Begonian Express are purveyors of botanical delights! Specializing in producing rare begonia seeds and plants, they are cultivating a haven for Canadian Begonians. With a commitment to quality and a love for these exquisite plants, their shop provides enthusiasts with the means to nurture and grow their own vibrant begonia. Explore their collection today!
ASK Print Shop
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
Jay's Natural Gems
The best in YYC, our friends at ASK produce the best Custom Printed Weather-Resistant Vinyl Stickers and Labels. Easy online ordering, 3 days turn around & shipping available worldwide, Ask Print shop is one of the fastest ways to get your Premium quality custom printed vinyl products. ASK has generously offered us services and donations to support us in our mission to serve vulnerable Calgarians.
Jay's Natural Gems
BOHEMIA PLANTS AND HOME GARDENS
Jay's Natural Gems
Jays Gems, where authenticity and passion collide. Their mission is simple: source genuine, natural materials globally to craft one-of-a-kind pieces with pride and love. Beyond crafting gems, Jay actively engages in the helping world, supporting impactful programs at Central United Church. They have kindly offered us space at events, star
Jays Gems, where authenticity and passion collide. Their mission is simple: source genuine, natural materials globally to craft one-of-a-kind pieces with pride and love. Beyond crafting gems, Jay actively engages in the helping world, supporting impactful programs at Central United Church. They have kindly offered us space at events, startup contributions and gems to decorate our planters.
Use affiliate code SPIRIT to get 10% off.
Eleanor P. Boyden, BFA
Eleanor P. Boyden, BFA
Eleanor P. Boyden, BFA
By engaging in her artistic practice, Eleanor continues to seek, question, ponder, and explore the mystery of the world around her, in the hopes of sharing a bit of wonderment and joy with the viewer. Eleanor has offered donations of art, use of her images, and her brilliant collaborative spirit.
Peter Potapoff
Eleanor P. Boyden, BFA
Eleanor P. Boyden, BFA
Peter Potapoff is a contemporary realist painter whose lifetime of personal experiences within the Canadian landscape translate into evocative artwork. Peter has won both provincial and national competitions for his highly esteemed wildlife paintings. In recent works he has been exploring Alberta’s diverse and beautiful landscape.
Peter h
Peter Potapoff is a contemporary realist painter whose lifetime of personal experiences within the Canadian landscape translate into evocative artwork. Peter has won both provincial and national competitions for his highly esteemed wildlife paintings. In recent works he has been exploring Alberta’s diverse and beautiful landscape.
Peter has committed ongoing donations through the sale of his artwork to the Plants for a Purpose charity fund.
Past Named Beneficiaries
Charity of Choice
Parachutes for Pets recognizes the prevailing mental health and financial challenges in our communities. In response, they've established the pioneering Pet Advocacy Center to support vulnerable Calgarians and their pets. We've selected their organization as the inaugural beneficiary of our fundraising endeavors.
Q1 Donation: $480.00
Q2 Donation: $739.91
Total Donations: $1,219.91
Land Acknowledgement
In the Spirit of the Truth,
we acknowledge and recognize past and ongoing injustices. Plants for a Purpose is committed to Reconciliation and healing with Indigenous Peoples. Plants for a Purpose recognizes the traditional territories, oral practices, and the history of the Blackfoot (Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai), the Tsuut’ina (Sarcee), the Stoney Nakota (Chiniki, Goodstoney/Wesley, and Bearspaw) First Nations, as well as the Métis Nation (Region 3). All who live here have responsibilities to this spectacular land.