About Us | What We Do
Founded in 2002, EcoEquitable Inc. is a registered Canadian charity, providing temporary employment and skills development training through small-scale textile recycling.
Our mission is to provide a bridge for immigrant and underemployed women to transition to sustainable fiscal independence, while reducing harmful waste in our communities.
New Canadians, and especially women immigrants, experience significant barriers to finding employment and participating in Canadian society. Eco Equitable remedies this situation with training and employment possibilities well suited for women caring for children at home; sewing projects that motivate and train women to surpass the minimum income needed to cover life's necessities, and the life tools they need to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.
Sewing Training for immigrants and disadvantaged workers
The "SOWING FOR JOBS" program is designed to provide unemployed and immigrant workers: sewing training, financial literacy, hands-on experience, and individual mentoring in order to be a bridge to a sustainable livelihood and long-term employment. Many of the materials used in our products are donated by individuals and both private and public sector organizations. Contributions range from banners and buttons to reams of fabric, which otherwise would have ended up in our community's landfills.
Board of Directors
EcoEquitable Inc. is governed by a volunteer Board of directors:
Samir Ibrahim, President
Samir is a renewable energy and environmental specialist, and has been involved in several successful, sustainability-themed start-up enterprises. Samir has a background in engineering, and an MBA from the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. He is a strong supporter of community building and involvement. His social entrepreneurship efforts include providing relief for earthquake victims in Haiti (2009) and for flood victims in Pakistan (2010). He currently lives in Kanata, Ontario, with his wife and their six year old daughter.
Robert Nassrallah, Vice President
Robert has a background spanning computer technology, public policy and economics. Throughout his career, he has been involved in various positions within the Canadian government, notably the grants and contributions sector, where he addressed critical labor-market issues. He is currently supporting Health Canada as a strategic planner and audit coordinator. Robert enjoys regularly volunteering his time to support various causes in the community, such as the Economic and Social Council of Ottawa-Carleton, as well as a roundtable for the National Security Working Group (NSWG) at the University of Ottawa.
Lucile Champagne, Past Director
Lucile is the founder and past director of EcoEquitable Inc. She has a background in education as a secondary school teacher, where she administered student tours overseas, and in psychology. Lucile trained at the Institute of Psychosynthesis in London, successfully starting her own private practice in Ottawa shortly thereafter. She has additional experience working with community living housing cooperatives, and has served with both L'Arche International and Oxfordshire's New Era Centre.
Tara Templin, Executive Director
Tara is the current executive director of EcoEquitable Inc., and a communications and social services professional, with ten years of experience in capacity building, fundraising, and program management. Tara has spent her career supporting a variety of community-based, not for profit organizations in North and South America, as well as in Asia. Tara holds a degree in communications from Northwestern University, and completed her masters in international development and global studies at the University of Ottawa. She has a deep commitment to community building and a passion for creating a work environment of personal and professional growth. Tara was recently in Vietnam on a short-term assignment to build fundraising and proposal writing capacity at the University of Tra Vinh.
Mikael Swirp
Mikael Swirp has ten years of working experience in the energy and environment sector, and sustainable international development. He currently works as an Energy Management Consultant at ICF Marbek, where he focuses on energy-saving practices and greenhouse gas reduction in industry throughout Canada and abroad. In his previous role as Operations Director for Pure Water for the World, he oversaw water sanitation and health projects in Honduras, El Salvador and Haiti. Mikael holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary, and a Licentiate in piano performance from Trinity College, London. Mikael is an avid bread baker, and spends his free time teaching piano, baking bread and cooking for his family and friends.
