ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS
Making Big Ideas Happen… Together
Beyond my studio practice, I specialize in designing and leading projects that turn groups into communities. My work is rooted in my background as a certified educator (OCT) and a history of systems design and project management. This unique lens allows me to bridge the gap between a creative vision and its physical completion by handling the "how" behind the scenes.
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve had the privilege of coordinating everything from personalized community celebrations to major municipal art commissions. Whether I’m navigating the logistics of an 80-artist mural, mentoring young photographers, or engineering the complex frameworks for a city-wide activation, I focus on the planning and organizational logic so that the community can focus on the connection.
While I’ve worked on many projects for wide collection of communities… here are a few highlights…
#ClarasBigRide
In partnership with Grand River Hospital and Bell Let’s Talk, I designed and coordinated a 54-panel, 12' x 8' mural to welcome Olympian Clara Hughes during her national ride for mental health awareness. This collaborative piece brought together students, patients, and community leaders to create a visual representation of hope and recovery.
The project served as a powerful tool for community engagement, helping to foster open dialogue and move toward a stigma-free society.
Pan Am Mural
Commissioned by the Fine Arts Society of Milton (FASM) for the 2015 Pan Am Games, I served as the lead project advisor, photographer, and book designer for this 80-artist collaborative mural.
My role involved coordinating organizational frameworks, digitally archiving each unique panel, and designing a comprehensive process book to document the journey. The final installation remains a permanent landmark within the Mattamy National Cycling Centre (Milton Velodrome).
Belong Together
What began as a local response to pandemic fragmentation has evolved into an international social art initiative.
With over 19,000 tiles distributed, this system provides a structural foundation for communities to create their own unified mosaics.
Story Tiles: Chalk Collaboration
An extension of my original tessellation work, Story Tiles are a custom-engineered system for large-scale community engagement. Using laser-cut templates, I facilitate on-site chalk installations where participants of all ages personalize individual interlocking shapes.
This flexible framework allows the collaborative mural to adapt to any environment (bending and twisting across public spaces) and can scale from small group workshops to massive installations featuring hundreds of unique contributions.
Complex Rooms
As the co-founder of Complex Rooms Inc, I design challenging escape games and custom team-building experiences.
These projects use math, art, and puzzle logic to foster teamwork and creative thinking for groups of all sizes .
14 Friends: Laurel Creek Trail
Selected by the City of Waterloo for the Laurel Creek Trail, 14 Friends is a permanent public installation stamped directly into the Uptown commuter path. This original tessellation illustrates fourteen species native to the Laurel Creek ecosystem, using both mathematical logic and interlocking forms to create a "look-and-find" experience.
Designed to bridge art and environmental awareness, the path serves as a playful educational tool that encourages travellers to identify the local flora and fauna that share our urban landscape.
Grand River Chalk
For 13 falls, as part of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (and with the KCI community) I coordinated the creation of a community chalk-drawing project on the sidewalks outside Grand River Hospital.
This evolving collaborative mural shares colour, design and form in support of and in celebration of successes in cancer research.
Waterloo Library Mural
Commissioned for the Waterloo Public Library, this permanent installation utilized custom-designed tessellation shapes to celebrate regional literacy and identity.
I served as the lead designer and installation consultant, ensuring the final mosaic was as structurally sound as it was beautiful.
Waterloo Now / Then
In partnership with the City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Public Library, I served as the coordinating mentor and lead photographer for this youth-driven historical project. I facilitated a guided "photowalk" for young artists to document the evolution of Uptown Waterloo, blending modern perspectives with historical archives.
I curated the final exhibition for the Waterloo Public Library and digitally prepared the collection for permanent inclusion in the City of Waterloo Archives.
Cherry Park Mural
Three of my tessellations were integrated into a large 40′ mural conceived and coordinated by my KCI colleague, Mr. James Bentley.
The full mural was rendered and painted by KCI staff and students while the project itself was funded by the City of Kitchener for the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association.
Imagine A Show
I founded Imagine A Show to celebrate youth perspective and creativity through photography in the Waterloo Region. Over five years, I coordinated annual challenges for hundreds of young photographers, partnering with institutions like THEMUSEUM, KWAG, and regional libraries to deliver workshops and mentorship.
The project culminated in five physical exhibitions (2012 - 2016) and published collections, showcasing over a thousand unique works and fostering artistic confidence in the next generation of creators.
Live Design & Rapid Prototyping
In partnership with Communitech and KCI design students, I led a live creative activation at Maker Expo. We captured the energy of the event through the rapid development of over 150 unique posters, designed and displayed in real-time.
This project showcased the intersection of student mentorship, digital design, and live performance art, turning a high-tech event into a shared visual gallery.
Awards of Belonging
Inspired by the Belong Together initiative, I was commissioned by the City of Kitchener to design a custom award for municipal workers. These pieces served as a physical symbol of gratitude for their essential work during the pandemic.
Using Belong Together imagery as a background, I engineered a prestige award that represented each worker's unique contribution to the structural integrity and spirit of the city.
Personalized Community Cards
This project focused on building community pride for youth soccer teams in the Town of Moosonee and the City of Kitchener. I managed the end-to-end production of custom collectible cards… from capturing original photography to designing personalized layouts for each athlete.
These cards serve as tangible keepsakes that celebrate individual effort while reinforcing the player’s essential place within their team and community.
25+ YEARS IN EDUCATION
19,000 + CONNECTIONS
30+ COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
Whether in a boardroom, a classroom, or a city square, I build the frameworks that turn groups into connected communities. I am proud to have collaborated with regional leaders and community pioneers to create spaces and projects where every individual piece (and every person) truly belongs.
Municipal & Public Spaces
City of Kitchener
City of Waterloo
Kitchener Public Library
Region of Waterloo
Waterloo Public Library
Education & Social Services
Grand River Hospital
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate
Starling Community Services
Waterloo Region District School Board
Corporate & Community Groups
Galt Country Club
Local Churches
KW Society of Artists
Regional Festivals & Events
Private Commissions