About

Our Story

HOW IT STARTED

CAFES was founded in 2010 to provide a shared space for community associations across Ottawa who were concerned about environmental sustainability to find each other, share ideas, and build a united voice around their common cause.

For our first decade, CAFES ran on an ad-hoc basis. Communities and organizations working on sustainability in their own neighbourhoods needed a way to share what they were learning, coordinate across the city, and build toward something bigger than any single organization could achieve.

In 2021, CAFES was incorporated as a not-for-profit, and our membership grew beyond the inner-urban core into Ottawa’s suburban and rural communities. Environmental organizations and like-minded individuals joined alongside the founding community associations.

FROM ASSOCIATIONS TO ACTION

This community infrastructure became the foundation for how we take action together. In 2022, municipal eco-debates drew 1,000+ Ottawa residents, and Climate Resiliency Dialogues engaged 330 more. Tree protection research led to zoning recommendations being adopted and 24 public delegations were presented at City Hall in 2025 alone.

The collaborative network that had been building for years has moved into action, and the outcomes for environmental sustainability in our city have been significant.

CAFES NETWORK TODAY

Today, CAFES is where Ottawa’s environmental sustainability community connects and acts together.

Our network includes over 250 individual and organizational members spanning more than 50 neighbourhoods across all 24 wards. Our community association representatives are often environment committee chairs or green point persons in their local associations. Our individual members are citizens active in their communities and committed to ecological balance.

We are an active voice on local environmental issues, deeply engaged in the community, and working to make Ottawa a greener, healthier place for everyone.

See how you can join us

2025 Impact Report

Another incredible chapter for the CAFES Network

CAFES achieved robust growth in 2025, expanding our network, growing recognition across Ottawa, and maintaining an excellent team of Board Members, staff and volunteers. Now representing all wards in Ottawa through 276 individual and organizational memberships, we empowered more residents and groups than ever to take action on environmental issues.

  • mobilized and supported significant action across Ottawa
  • influenced municipal decision-making
  • planted 80 trees on public land, distributed another 75 trees to residents, organized two tree planting demonstrations, and distributed 500+ plants

Download our latest impact reports here:

2024 – 2027

Our strategic plan

Our vision and the strategic proprieties we are working towards.

  • Grow CAFES network of local environmental leaders
  • Embolden municipal politicians and policymakers to make environmentally-sound decisions
  • Build CAFES’ organizational resilience and capacity

who we are

Meet our board members

Jennifer Gautreau

Board Chair

Nour Kadri

Board Vice-Chair

Pamela O’Donnell

Board Vice-Chair

Johannes Hamels

Treasurer

Dr. Pamela Jordan

Secretary
Photo of Sara Washburn

Sara Washburn

Chair of Fundraising

Goutam Shaw

Board Member

Harry Fischer


Board Member

Nasratullah (Nasrat) Mateen

Board Member

Mike Fletcher


Board Member

Sarah
Anson-Cartwright

Board Member
who we are

Our staff

Angela Keller-Herzog

Founding Executive Director of CAFES

Mitzi MacDonald

Operations Manager

Erica Shardlow

Trees and Greenspace Coordinator

Shifana
Ottathaikal Kareem

Energy Program Lead
Photo Nancy Daniel

Nancy Daniel

Communications Coordinator
Picture of MJ Schmidt

MJ Schmidt

Events Coordinator

Aaron Kelly

Energy Program Strategist

Sophie Paquin

Energy Program Intern

Devon Burke

Energy Program Intern
OUr three-fold purpose

Mission, Mandate and Vision

To advocate for environmental sustainability and to promote climate action and leadership in Ottawa’s neighbourhoods through a membership-based network of residents’ associations, key stakeholders, and community groups.

Our supporters