ASI - Key Persons
Aaron Clemens works for the Mitigation Division. He earned his Anthropology Bachelor's with Honours in 2008 from McMaster University and his Masters degree in Historical Archaeology from the University of Leicester in 2017. He has worked as a field archaeologist in Ontario since 2006 and has worked in northern Alberta, attended a field school in Italy, and holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Field Director
- Member of the Environment
Alanna Martini is a member of the Environment Assessment Division, working primarily on Special Projects. She attended Wilfrid Laurier University and earned her BA in Near Eastern and Classical Archaeology. Alanna holds an Applied Research archaeological license and has been working in Ontario as an archaeologist since 2011.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist Project Manager
Aleksandra Pradzynski works in Special Projects. Aleksandra earned her BSc (Hon) in anthropology from the University of Toronto. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario. Aleksandra has over twenty years of experience as a heritage professional with a focus on Woodland archaeology, particularly Late Woodland village sites. Her special areas of expertise include the archaeology of childhood and pre-contact Indigenous ceramics.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources & Communications Coordinator
Alex Sweeny works in the Business Affairs Division. Alex earned her BSc (Hon) in Archaeology from Trent University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Museum and Gallery Studies from Georgian College. Alex serves as the HR & Communications Coordinator in the Business Affairs Division.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Allan Jones works in the Mitigation Division. Allan earned a Combined Honors BA in Anthropology and Labour Studies from McMaster University. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist since 2013. His areas of expertise include field archaeology and lithic analysis.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist Manager
Andrea Carnevale manages Special Projects. Andrea earned her BSc (Hon) from the University of Toronto in environmental science and in archaeology. She also received a Nuclear Energy Worker Certificate from McMaster University and a Radiography Level 1 Certificate from the Canadian Institute for NDE. Andrea holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has almost 20 years of experience in archaeological consulting. In addition to archaeometry, she has expertise in developing public outreach and educational programming for museums and heritage organizations as well as private and non-profit partners.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist GIS Technician and Equipment Coordinator
Andrew Clish works in the Operations Division. Andrew earned his BES degree in geography from the University of Waterloo. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over thirty years of experience as an archaeologist and Field Director. In addition to his current role as Equipment Coordinator, Andrew is cross-appointed to ASI's Geomatics Department and holds the ASI designation of Senior Archaeologist.
Andrew Lawson works in the Mitigation Division. Andrew earned his BA (Hon) in Anthropology and his MA in Public Issues Anthropology from the University of Waterloo. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist since 2018. He has worked on excavations in both Ontario and Jordan.
Job Titles:
- Principal of Strata Consulting
Andrew M. Stewart, Principal of Strata Consulting, is a licensed professional archaeologist for the Province of Ontario. He holds a MSc in physical geography (geomorphology) from the University of Toronto and a PhD in anthropology (archaeology) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research and cultural resource management experience includes southern Ontario and the Canadian Arctic. His geoarchaeological experience has focused on the early and mid-Holocene period of the Great Lakes.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Project Manager
- Director of ASI 's Mitigation Division
Andrew began his career with ASI in 2002 and currently holds the positions of Partner and Senior Archaeologist. He is the Director of ASI's Mitigation Division, responsible for overseeing Stage 3 and Stage 4 archaeological mitigation projects throughout the province. His responsibilities include senior project management, resource allocation, and quality assurance for all deliverables. Dr. Riddle is a lithic analysis specialist and is professionally-licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. He also serves as Manager of Information Technology, and is responsible for overseeing all of ASI's information management systems, equipment, and processes.
Since joining ASI as permanent staff in 2009, Andrew Riddle has served as Project Manager on numerous archaeological assessment and mitigation projects throughout Ontario, primarily as part of the Environmental Assessment process. This work includes hundreds of municipal infrastructure improvement projects ranging from small-scale watermain replacements to expansive multi-kilometer hydro-electric corridor refurbishments. Of particular note, Andrew has managed several multi-phase assessments for large Renewable Energy Approval (REA) projects in southwestern Ontario. These projects included the successful completion of year-round excavations on dozens of pre-contact Indigenous and post-contact Euro-Canadian archaeological sites. As a result, Andrew has extensive experience with archaeological requirements and restrictions under the REA process.
Andrew received his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Waterloo, specializing in Archaeology. It was during this time that he was fortunate enough to begin working with ASI on site mitigations for the Red Hill Expressway. His doctorate was earned from the University of Toronto, where he conducted research on stone tool technologies used by the ancient inhabitants of Victoria Island, Nunavut. His particular areas of expertise include lithic analysis, information systems design and implementation, archaeometry, and digital modeling. Andrew has published articles on three-dimensional artifact modeling and shape analysis, a fusion of his combined interests in stone tools and computational science. As co-founder and administrator of the online ArchaeoWiki Project, he is an advocate for digital collaboration and public engagement in the worldwide archaeological community.
Dr. Riddle lives with his wife and twin daughters in Waterdown, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and attending community events and festivals. Playing golf, hockey, camping and (of course) flint-knapping round off his most loved activities.
Andrew Riddle is the Director of ASI's Mitigation Division, responsible for overseeing Stage 3 and Stage 4 archaeological mitigation projects. His responsibilities include senior project management, resource allocation, and quality assurance for all deliverables. Dr. Riddle is also Manager of Information Technology and is a lithic analyst, which was the subject of his doctoral studies from the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Senior Cultural Heritage Specialist Manager
Annie Veilleux manages the Cultural Heritage Division. Annie earned her BA (Hon) in archaeology from the University of Toronto, her Diploma in Collections Conservation and Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College, and her MA in interdisciplinary studies from York University. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and has over fifteen years of experience as a heritage professional, both in cultural heritage and archaeology, and holds an Applied Researcher archaeological license from the province of Ontario. Annie also has experience in Indigenous engagement and she is fully bilingual in French and English.
Job Titles:
- Technical Writer and Researcher Project Administrator
Becca Clark works in the Cultural Heritage Division. Becca earned her BA (Hons) in English and Archaeology from the University of Toronto and an Advanced Diploma in Museum Studies from Algonquin College. Becca has three years' experience in the Ontario Cultural Heritage sector.
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Project Manager
Blake Williams works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Blake earned his BA in anthropology from Trent University and his MLitt degree with merit in professional archaeology from the University of Glasgow, UK. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over ten years of experience as a heritage professional, both in the UK and Ontario. Blake's special areas of interest include battlefield archaeology, geophysical prospection, and geomatics.
Brandon Reimer works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Brandon earned his BA with a specialist in Archaeology and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the University of Toronto. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist in Ontario for 5 years.
Brian Narhi works in the Planning Assessment Division. Brian earned his BA in classics, history and language from Brock University and his MA in classics, history and comparative literature from the University of Toronto. He has completed PhD-level graduate work in classical studies and comparative literature at the University of Toronto. Brian has over twenty years of experience as an historian and archival researcher, including over ten years with ASI.
Job Titles:
- Lead Curator Manager - Laboratory Services & Communications
Caitlin Coleman manages both the Laboratory Department within the Operations Division, and Communications within the Business Affairs Divisions. Caitlin earned her BA (Hon) in anthropology and history from McGill University and her Master's degree in museum studies (MMSt) from the University of Toronto. As Laboratory Manager, she curates collections as they move through the stages of archaeological analysis and report writing. As Communications Manager she coordinates the firm's digital platform and social media presence, and coordinates ASI's content marketing (print, social and digital). She also manages internal and external communications and public affairs for the company's projects, excavations, publications, lectures and events.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Caitlin Lacy works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Caitlin earned her BA in anthropology from McMaster University. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist and Field Director for over fifteen years.
Carol Bella works in the Operations Division. Carol earned her BA (Hon) in anthropology from the University of Toronto. An archaeologist with over a decade of experience, her current role is primarily in support of the Director of Operations.
Carolyn Nettleton works in the Operations Division. Carolyn earned her BA (Hon) in Theatre & Anthropology from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Applied Digital Geography and GIS from Toronto Metropolitan University. Carolyn has over ten years of experience with archaeological fieldwork and mapping in Ontario and Belize, where she has worked intermittently since 2012.
Catherine Kitchen works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Catherine earned her Specialist BA in anthropology with an emphasis in linguistics, cultural anthropology, and Canadian archaeology from the University of Toronto. She earned a post graduate certificate in museum and gallery studies from Georgian College, Barrie. Catherine has been working in archaeology, museums, and galleries for the last 9 years and focuses on the preservation and curation of artifacts, and educational programming (i.e., public outreach, audience identification, development of content).
Ceileighn MacInnis works in the Mitigation division. She earned her BA in classics and anthropology from the University of Guelph and her MSc in classical studies from the University of Edinburgh. In 2022 she completed a post grad in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Fanshawe College. Ceileighn holds an Applied Research archaeological license and has worked in Ontario and Italy.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Field Director
Chris Langlois works within Special Projects. He earned a Joint Honors BA in Anthropology and Classical Studies from the University of Waterloo and his MA in Anthropology from Trent University. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has also carried out field work in Italy and Turkey. He has focused on Ontario archaeology for the past 7 years, with a focus on Late Woodland archaeology.
Chris Sladic works in the Mitigation Division. He earned his Honours BA in Classics from Brock University. He has worked on a variety of archaeological projects in Ontario since 2017 and holds an Applied Research archaeological licence from Province of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Christopher Brown works in the Planning Assessment Division. Chris earned his BA (Hon) in Anthropology with a Specialization in Archaeology from the University of Toronto, and his MA in Archaeology from Durham University. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist in the province since 2003.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate Technical Writer and Researcher
Ciprian Ardelean is a Senior Associate and a Technical Writer and Researcher in the Environmental Assessment Division. He earned his BA in Ancient History and Archaeology from the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj, Romania (1998), his MA in Archaeology from the Escuela Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (ENAH), Mexico City (2001), and holds a PhD in Archaeology from Exeter University, UK (2013) with a specialization in lithic analysis and the Early Peopling of the Americas. Dr Ardelean has over 25 years of experience as an archaeologist and professor in Mexico, Europe, South America, and the United States.
Corbin Berger works in the Mitigation Division. Corbin earned his BA (Hon) in Classical Studies from the University of Ottawa, and his MA in Applied Archaeology from Western University. He holds an Applied Research license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist since 2011-He has worked on excavations in Ontario, Quebec, and Greece, and has developed a keen interest in historic archaeology.
Cédric Sabourin works in the Mitigation division. He earned his Honours Bachelor degree in Classics from University of Ottawa, and participated in Classical archaeological excavations in Spain including cemetery investigations and underwater surveys. He holds an Applied Research archeological license from the province of Ontario, and has worked with ASI since 2019.
Dainis Simsons works in the Operations Division. Dainis earned his BSc (Hon) in Forensic Science with minors in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Dainis is currently a technician with the Laboratory team at ASI and has worked in Ontario as a field archaeologist since 2015.
Job Titles:
- Technical Writer in the Planning
Dana Millson is a technical writer in the Planning Assessment Division. She earned her BA (Hons.) in anthropology from University of Waterloo, her MA in archaeology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and holds a PhD in archaeology from Durham University (UK) with a specialism in ceramic analysis. Dr Millson has over eighteen years' experience as an archaeologist in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Danielle Bella works in the Environmental Assessment Division. She worked at ASI seasonally between 2010 and 2015 processing artifacts as a lab technician and working as a field archaeologist. After earning her BA (Hon) in North American archaeology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2015, Danielle joined ASI full time. In addition to field work and laboratory processing, Danielle undertook Euro-Canadian artifact analysis, and report writing.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Project Manager, Project Archaeologist
David has been on staff at ASI since 1988 and is Director of the firm's Planning Division, which includes Stage 4 salvage excavation of Indigenous and Euro-Canadian sites, among other activities. As the Manager of the Planning Division, he is responsible for the successful completion of green field and brown field archaeological resource assessment projects undertaken under the Planning Act process.
David also acts as the primary Project Archaeologist for most of ASI's work in complex urban settings. In this regard he specializes in the analysis of land use histories in terms of their effects on archaeological potential and landscape integrity, and in the development and implementation of on-site excavation strategies to identify, evaluate and, where necessary, fully excavate complex urban residential, industrial and institutional archaeological resources. He also has considerable experience in integrating archaeological resource considerations within broader built heritage and cultural landscape studies.
David has worked as Project Manager, Project Archaeologist, Senior Researcher or Technical Advisor for numerous large scale planning projects, including seven municipal Archaeological Management Plans and other large-scale public agency cultural heritage inventory and planning studies, as well as for dozens of comprehensive and large scale Indigenous and post-contact archaeological site excavations across Ontario. He has also served as field director on well over 500 Stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 archaeological assessments throughout the province.
Between 1999 and 2003, David was a member of the Editorial Board of Ontario Archaeology, the scholarly journal of the Ontario Archaeological Society, the premier archaeological organization in the province. He is also a member of Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology (CNEHA).
David has published extensively, on both Ontario historical and precontact archaeology. Some of his recent publications include the chapter co-authored with Eva MacDonald and David Spittal "A Forty Year Fascination with Fort York" which was part of the 2014 volume The Archaeology of the War of 1812. His expertise in the Toronto waterfront was featured in the chapter he co-authored with Andrew Stewart titled "The Garrison Creek Mouth and the Queen's Wharf: Digging up 200 Years of Shoreline Development", which was part of the 2008 volume; HTO: Toronto's Water from Lake Iroquois to Lost Rivers to Low Flow Toilets.
His continued interest in precontact archaeology can be seen in two of the articles he published in Ontario Archaeology. In 2005 he published the article "Glimpsed through the Smoke: a Survey of Two-dimensional Figurative Imagery on Woodland Period Smoking Pipes from Southern Ontario." In 2004 he authored a paper on a fourteenth century site in the Scarborough area, "A Place to Prepare for the Final Journey: The Archaeology of the Hutchinson Site."
He received a BA in Anthropology and a MA in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto.
David Robertson has been with ASI since 1988 and has experience in all of the firm's fields of business. As Director of ASI's Planning Assessment Division he is responsible for the completion of green field and brown field archaeological resource assessment projects required under the Planning Act. He is Project Archaeologist for most of ASI's projects in complex urban settings, as well as specialty planning studies related to cultural heritage.
Debbie Steiss joined ASI in 1983 after completing a BA and MA in Anthropology at the University of Toronto. She is the principle lithic analyst for the Toronto office and directs several archaeological resource assessments throughout the province each year. As a Senior Associate and Senior Archaeologist, Debbie possesses invaluable management experience in finance, human resources, information technology, as well as laboratory and collections management systems.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Analyst, Laboratory and Fieldwork Services
Douglas Todd works in the Operations Division. Doug holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario. A former award-winning journalist, Doug has over fifteen years experience as a heritage professional, both as a field archaeologist and materials analyst specializing in chipped lithics.
Dr. Katherine Hull (PhD, Anthropology) joined the ASI team following the completion of her doctorate in 2004. She currently holds the position of Director of the Business Affairs Division while maintaining project management responsibilities in the Mitigation Division. Over the course of her employment with ASI, Katherine has directed several Stage 3 assessments and Stage 4 mitigative excavations, and served as the project manager for numerous Stage 1-4 archaeological projects in the southern Ontario, ranging from the investigation of the World War II spy training facility Camp X to the management of heritage resources impacted by the massive 407 East (Durham) expansion. She holds a Professional Class Archaeological License issued by the Ontario Ministry Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
Katherine Hull joined ASI in 2004 following the completion of her doctoral studies at the University of Toronto. Specializing in historical archaeology, she has directed and managed numerous archaeological assessments and mitigations in Ontario, in addition to extensive fieldwork in both Ireland and North America. Katherine is the Director of the Business Affairs Division and a project manager for Stage 3-4 historical site excavations.
Dr. Williamson is founder of ASI and has 50 years of field and administrative experience. He holds an Honours BA from the University of Western Ontario and MA and PhD from McGill University, all in Anthropology. He is also an Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty at Western University (Anthropology) in London. He has published widely on both Indigenous and early colonial Great Lakes history and is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Heritage Toronto and the Smith-Wintemberg award of the Canadian Archaeological Association.
Edward Carpenter manages Human Resources in the Business Affairs Division. Edward received a BComm from Toronto Metropolitan University and Adv Diploma from George Brown College. He holds a PCP certification from the National Payroll Institute and a Labour Relations certification from the HRPA. He has worked in the HR Industry since 2010, with 10+ years of diverse and progressive experience within archaeology, healthcare, academics, marketing, manufacturing, and consulting services environments.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Eliza Brandy works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Eliza earned her BA (Hon) in anthropology from McMaster University and her MA in archaeology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has experience in Ontario archaeological fieldwork, artifact analysis, and report writing.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Coordinator, Special Projects
Elizabeth Matwey works in Special Projects. Liz earned her BA (Hon) in Anthropology from Laurentian University. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and worked as a field archaeologist for thirteen years and as a historic analyst for over five years
Ella Boswell works in the Mitigation Division. Ella earned her BSc (Hon) in Anthropology from Trent University. Ella has experience in Ontario archaeological fieldwork, and has previously served as an Administrative Assistant to our Mitigation and Operations Divisions.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Emily Fitzpatrick works in the Planning Assessment Division. Emily earned her BA in anthropology and a MA in bioarchaeology from Western University. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over seven years of experience as an archaeologist and bioarchaeologist.
Emily Meikle works in the Mitigation Division. Emily earned her BA in Anthropology and English Literature from McGill University and her Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist in the field and in the lab since 2012. She has worked on excavations in Ontario and Alaska.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist Manager
Eva MacDonald manages historical archaeology in the Mitigation Division. Eva earned her BA (Hon) and MSc in Anthropology from the University of Toronto. She holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and holds the ASI designation of Senior Archaeologist. She has served as ASI's manager of historical archaeology since 2002- Eva is an acknowledged leader in Ontario's heritage resource management industry with thirty five years of professional experience.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Operations Division
- Senior Archaeologist Director, Operations
Greg Pugh, Director of the Operations Division, is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations at ASI, including administration, deployment of employees, logistics, finances, laboratory services, and information technology. Greg received a BA (Hons) from the University of Reading (UK) and an MA with Merit in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester (UK). He has worked in the Heritage Industry since 1993, dealing with both archaeology and cultural heritage, managing a wide variety of projects including those relating to Environmental Assessment and major infrastructure, as well as three World Heritage Sites.
Hannah Curtis works in the Environmental Assessment Division. She attended Trent University and earned her BA (Hon) in Archaeology with a History minor. Hannah holds an Applied Research archaeological license and has worked as a field archaeologist for 4 years. She has worked on excavations in Ontario and British Columbia.
Holly MacPherson works in the Business Affairs Division as a Clerical Administrator. Holly earned her HBA in English Literature from Carleton University and has a passion for Humanities and Cultural Heritage. Holly has over ten years of experience in customer service and clerical work in both the public and private sector.
Jacob Roberts works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Jacob earned his BA at Queen's University in Classics and Geography. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist for 4 years. Outside of Ontario, he has excavated terrestrially and completed marine surveys in Western Europe.
Jacqueline Meijer works in the Mitigation Division. Jacquie earned her BA (Hon) degree in Anthropology from McMaster University, her MA in Public Issues Anthropology from the University of Waterloo, and her BEd from Trent University. She has experienced in archaeological fieldwork and report writing. She has conducted field work and research in Canada, Jordan, Peru, and Greece.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Jamie Houston-Dickson works in the Planning Assessment Division. Jamie received her BA (Hon) and MA degrees in Anthropology from Trent University. She also earned a certificate in foreshore and underwater archaeology from the Nautical Archaeological Society. She holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over ten years of experience as an archaeologist. Jamie has worked on land excavations in Ontario, Belize, Nicaragua, and Greece, and has participated in volunteer underwater archaeological surveys of Ontario shipwrecks as a fully qualified master scuba diver. She is also a current member of the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee.
Janis Mitchell works in the Operations Division. Janis earned her BA in Anthropology from University of Western Ontario, an MA in Archaeology from UHI in the UK and an MPhil in Anthropology from University of Cambridge. She also has a diploma in Collections Conservation and Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College. Janis has more than 10 years of experience in archaeology and conservation in Europe. She has worked with ASI since 2016, as a field archaeologist and analyst of historic artifacts, and holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Manager
Jennifer Ley works in the Planning Division. Jennifer earned her BA (Hon) in classics with minors in both archaeology and anthropology from McMaster University. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario. Currently she helps coordinate and manage all ASI's early stage archaeological assessment projects required under provisions of the Ontario Planning Act.
Jesse Hume works in the Mitigation Division. Jesse attended the University of Victoria and earned a BA in Greek & Roman Studies. He holds an Applied Research archaeological licence from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist in Ontario since 2017.
Jessica Bisson works in the Cultural Heritage Division. Jessica earned her BFA (Hon) in Visual Art from York University. She also earned a graduate certificate in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College.
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Technical Writer & Fieldwork Coordinator
Jessica Lytle works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Jessica earned her BSc (Hon) in anthropology and biology and her MSc in anthropology, focusing on bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, from the University of Toronto. She holds a Professional archaeological license from the Province of Ontario, and in addition to providing technical writing services and fieldwork coordination for the EA Division, she also conducts palaeobotanical analyses for the lab.
John Sleath works in the Cultural Heritage Division. John earned his BA (Hon) in history and archaeology and his MA in anthropology from the University of Toronto. He also earned a certificate in foreshore and underwater archaeology from the Nautical Archaeological Society. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has ten years of experience as a heritage professional, both in archaeology and cultural heritage.
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Manager - Geomatics
Jonas Fernandez manages the Geomatics Team within the Operations Division. Jonas earned his BA (Hon) in archaeology from Wilfrid Laurier University and his MSc in archaeological computing - spatial technologies from the University of Southampton, UK. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over 15 years of experience as an archaeologist in Ontario and the UK, specializing in the broad implementation of GIS and spatial analysis into heritage practices, including large scale Environmental Assessment projects and municipal archaeological management plans.
Jose Gutierrez works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Jose earned his BA and MA in anthropology, with a specialization in archaeology, from the University of Toronto. He holds an Applied Research archaeological licence from the province of Ontario. He has worked as a field archaeologist in Ontario since 2015. His other field experience includes survey work in Peru, and excavations in Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
Kaitlyn McMullen works in the Operations Division. Kaitlyn earned her BA (Hon) in anthropological archaeology with an emphasis in linguistics from Trent University. She also earned a graduate certificate in cultural heritage conservation and management from Sir Sandford Fleming College. Kaitlyn has experience working as a heritage professional both in Malta and Canada.
Karen Hansen works in the Operations Division. Karen earned her BA in anthropology with a concentration in archaeology from McMaster University. She has worked as an archaeologist in CRM since 2011. In addition to her role as coordinator of ASI's Burlington laboratory, Karen's responsibilities also include acting as a historical analyst for the Planning, Mitigation, Environmental Assessment and Special Projects Divisions.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager for the Environment Assessment Division
- Associate Archaeologist Assistant Manager
Katrina Thach works as the Assistant Manager for the Environment Assessment Division. Katrina earned her BA (Hon) degree in Anthropology from the University of Waterloo. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over seven years experience in archaeological fieldwork, artifact analysis and project coordination. Currently, she supports business acquisition for the EA Division and manages hundreds of proposals annually.
Kirstyn Allam works in the Cultural Heritage Division. Kirstyn earned her BA (Hon) in classical studies from Queen's University. She also earned an Advanced Diploma in Applied Museum Studies from Algonquin College in Ottawa.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Field Director
Kristen Hahne works in Special Projects, focusing on Stage 3 and 4 excavation and protection of Late Woodland sites. Kristen earned her BSc in Anthropology and History at the University of Toronto. She holds an Applied Research License from the Province of Ontario and has worked in Ontario as a field archaeologist since 2011, while also working in the lab as a technician processing artifacts and as an analyst in historical cultural materials. Kristen's experience in Ontario archaeology has also focused on the excavation and protection of historical archaeological sites including urban brownfield sites with complex stratigraphy.
Kristina Martens works as the Assistant Manager for Area and Site Planning projects in the Cultural Heritage Division. Kristina holds a BA in Fine Arts and Business with specializations in Studio Art, Art History, and Cultural Management from the University of Waterloo and a Diploma in Heritage Conservation from Willowbank. Kristina has over ten years of experience as a heritage professional.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Technical Writer and Researcher
Laura Burke works in the Environmental Assessment Division. Laura earned her BA (Hon) degree in archaeological anthropology from the University of Toronto and her certificate in geographical information systems (GIS) from George Brown College. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario. She has experience in archaeological fieldwork, artifact analysis, archival research, and report writing.
Laura Wickett works in the Cultural Heritage Division. She earned her BA (Hons) in Fine Arts from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Heritage Conservation from the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts. Laura has over seven years' experience working in heritage planning and conservation.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Administrator
Lauren Vince works in the Planning Division. Lauren earned her Honours BA at the University of Toronto. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario with over 10 years experience in archaeological fieldwork, laboratory processing, Euro-Canadian artifact analysis, laboratory coordination and administrative experience for the Operations Division and Planning Division.
Leora Bebko works in the Cultural Heritage Division. Leora earned her BA (Hon) in English from York University and holds her Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Assessment Coordinator
- Senior Cultural Heritage Specialist Assistant Manager
Lindsay Graves works as the Environmental Assessment Coordinator in the Cultural Heritage Division. Lindsay earned her BA (Hon) in archaeology and anthropology from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, her post-graduate certificate in Museum Management and Curatorship from Sir Sandford Fleming College, and her MA in Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) from the University of York, UK. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and has over fifteen years of experience as a heritage professional, both in cultural heritage and archaeology.
Lisa Merritt has been a practicing archaeologist in Ontario since 1996. Currently, as Director of the Environmental Assessment Division, she oversees a team of dedicated staff from both our Toronto and Burlington offices, responsible for archaeological assessments triggered by federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure.
Lisa received her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in 1996 from York University. Armed with a trowel, invaluable job hunting advice from [family friend] Peter Carruthers, and a summer training with Bob Berger at the Seed Barker site, Lisa joined the ranks of archaeological field technician. Over several years, two small consulting firms provided Lisa with great opportunities to direct field work and undertake research projects throughout the Province. In 1999, Lisa briefly traded in her trowel for a laptop, and attended the University of Toronto, where she received her Masters of Science in Anthropology in 2001. During her graduate research, Lisa pursued her interest in the Late Woodland period in southern Ontario. Her thesis presented a complete analysis of the Bidmead Site, an ancestral Huron-Wendat village circa 1620 that had been previously excavated in the 1970s but hadn't yet been presented in its entirety.
In the winter of 2003, Lisa was granted her professional archaeological consulting license and by spring she had started Merritt Archaeological Consulting, based out of her hometown of Toronto. Lisa spent five years learning how to run a business, the ins and outs of archaeological consulting, and midway through, how to balance motherhood with the demands of archaeological fieldwork.
Lisa found running her own business an extremely rewarding yet often isolating experience. Thus, when she was offered a job at ASI in 2008 to work on the massive Highway 407 East extension project, she seized the opportunity. The company and its leadership have provided Lisa with fantastic mentors and the opportunity to work on a vast range of exciting high-profile projects with a team of talented archaeologists.
In 2010 Lisa was promoted to the level of Senior Archaeologist and Manager of the Class EA department, supporting Rob Pihl's Environmental Assessment Division. As Class EA Manager and then in 2013 as Manager of Environmental Assessment Projects (East) she manages upwards of a hundred projects annually, including Class EA's, Transit Project Assessments, and Individual EAs. Notable infrastructure projects include the Highway 407 East extension, the Central Pickering Development Plan (Seaton Lands), Metrolinx System-Wide Electrification and the Barrie Rail Corridor Expansion. She has over 20 years of experience in both Indigenous and Euro-Canadian archaeology and has completed and/or directed dozens of single and multi-phased assessments and mitigative excavations throughout northern and southern Ontario. Lisa is a member of the Canadian Archaeological Association, the Ontario Archaeological Society and the Ontario Association for Impact Assessment.
When she's not in the office, Lisa can often be found relaxing with her husband and daughter outdoors at the family cottage where she loves to sail when the wind is just right, or training for the annual Camp Ooch 10k and the MS Grand Bend to London 150 km Ride.
Lisa Merritt has been a practicing archaeologist in Ontario since 1996. As Director of the Environmental Assessment Division she currently oversees a team of dedicated staff from both our Toronto and Burlington offices, and is responsible for assessments stemming from federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure projects. She has directed dozens of archaeological surveys and excavations throughout Ontario.
Marc Dibenedetto works in the Mitigation Division. He earned his BA with Honours in Archaeology and History from the University of Toronto in 2015. Marc holds an Applied Research archaeological licence from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist across Ontario since 2018.
Martin Cooper has been involved in archaeology in Ontario for over thirty years. He received his Honours BA in Anthropology at the University of Western Ontario and his MA at the University of Toronto, where he is currently completing his PhD. He is a Senior Associate and Senior Archaeologist with the firm. Martin has served as Project Director on hundreds of single and multi-phased assessments and has directed many of ASI's archaeological assessments in northern Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager Accounting
Mary Fernando works in the Operations Division. Mary earned her accounting credentials in Sri Lanka where she worked for over ten years in corporate finance. Since joining ASI in 2008 she has applied these skills in her primary role as senior-level bookkeeper. She also provides administrative support to the Director of Operations.
Megan Edwards works for the Mitigation Department. She earned a Double Honours Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology and History with a minor in North American Studies in 2020 from Wilfrid Laurier University. Megan started working in Ontario archeology in 2019. She holds an Applied Research license in the province of Ontario.
Meredith Stewart works in the Cultural Heritage Division. Meredith earned her BA (Hon) in art history from Queen's University, and holds her MA in art history from Carleton University and her MSc in historic preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Meredith is an intern member of CAHP.
Michael J. Brand works in the Operations Division. Michael earned his BA (Hon) in archaeology from Simon Fraser University, an MA in archaeological anthropology from University of British Columbia and a PhD in archaeology from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Brand has over 20 years experience in consulting and academic archaeology in Ontario, British Columbia, and the Yukon. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario.
Michael Wilcox works in the Cultural Heritage Division. A professional historian, Michael holds a BA from St. Francis Xavier University, an MA from the University of New Brunswick, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. In addition to his academic background in Canadian history, Michael has worked as a heritage professional for various public history organizations.
Natasa Zdjelar works in the Operations Division. Natasa earned her BSc (Hon) specializing in biological anthropology and her MSc in evolutionary anthropology and archaeology from the University of Toronto. Natasa has over five years of experience in working in a lab-based setting involving laboratory processing and collections management.
Nikki McConville works in the Mitigation Division. Nikki earned her BA (Hon) in Archaeology & Prehistory, and her MSc in Biodiversity Conservation from Bournemouth University. She is a qualified archaeological Field Director in northern British Columbia, with experience as a heritage professional in Canada since 2014. Nikki has also excavated in the UK, including work at Stonehenge. Her special areas of expertise include managing large multi-year projects and conducting Indigenous Knowledge studies.
Paul Roschman works for the Mitigation Division. He earned his Honours BS in Behavioural Sciences: Anthropological Archaeology from Andrews University in 2019. He has done field work in Jordan and Ontario, and holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario.
Peter Bikoulis works in the Operations Division. He earned his BA (Hon) in Archaeology from the University of Calgary, his MA in Anthropology from Trent University and his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Toronto. He has over 10 years of experience in archaeological survey, mapping and digital applications. He has directed or conducted field work in Canada, Jordan, Peru and Turkey.
Peter Carruthers, Senior Archaeologist, received a BA in geography from the University of Western Ontario and a MA in archaeology from the University of Calgary. He served in the Ontario Ministry of Culture for 27 years before joining ASI.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Field Director
Poorya Kashani works in the Mitigation Division. Poorya earned his BS in Chemical Engineering- Petroleum Design, his MA in Historical Artifacts Restoration, and his PhD in Archaeology, Historical Period, Middle-East from Islamic Azad University. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist, field director and historical analyst for ASI since 2015.
Rebecca has extensive experience working in accordance with Ontario's legislative and regulatory framework for conserving Ontario's cultural heritage resources. She has worked in both the private and public sectors, leading Class Environmental Assessment studies and technical cultural heritage studies for provincial undertakings, applications made under the Planning Act, and matters pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act, particularly Parts III, IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act. She has developed and implemented heritage policies and procedures for public sector agencies and has managed hundreds of cultural heritage resource assessment studies, heritage evaluations, heritage bridge assessments, heritage impact assessments, and conservation plans. This experience has involved high profile infrastructure projects, private sector developments, and public sector heritage planning work, all requiring Rebecca to provide excellent strategic planning, conflict resolution, and successful budgetary performance.
Rebecca first joined ASI in 2007 and since then has led growth of the company's Cultural Heritage Division. Over the last ten years, she has been a major contributor to cultural landscape technical work completed as part of Heritage Conservation District Studies and Plans, Master Plans, Planning Act applications, and municipal Official Plans across the province of Ontario. She also lead and facilitates sensitive and high-profile consultation programs with provincial government and agency staff, municipal representatives, private sector clients, sector stakeholders, and the public.. She routinely makes industry presentations about trends and issues in heritage conservation planning and has led projects that have received Canadian Association of Heritage Professional Awards.
She has served as a juror for the Canadian Association of Heritage Professional's Heritage Awards and is also a permanent member of the professional advisory committee associated with the Herb Stovel Scholarship Fund, a heritage award administered by the National Trust for Canada. Rebecca's career in cultural heritage management focuses on working with clients to best conserve our province's cultural heritage fabric, from monumental places to everyday structures and spaces. Heritage sites can be complicated places to untangle. Understanding their specific opportunities and constraints in the context of redevelopment, adaptive reuse, and intensification requires an iterative process. Rebecca brings rigorous research, strategic thinking and collaborative problem solving to her clients. She strives to integrate and enhance significant heritage fabric and places into new projects so that their stories can continue to be told in compelling and sustainable ways.
Rebecca received a BA (Hons) in Political Science from McMaster University and a MA in Canadian Studies (Heritage Conservation and Cultural Geography specialization) from Carleton University. She is a Professional Member in Good Standing with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) with Areas of Practice in Planning and Environmental Assessment.
Rebecca is often found busy at work in our Bathurst office in downtown Toronto. Her husband Bryan and young kids Amis and Mallory are never far away. Together, they enjoy cooking (and eating), hiking, gardening, and experiencing Ontario's beautiful landscapes and unique communities.
Rebecca is the Principal-In-Charge of ASI's dedicated Cultural Heritage Division and serves as the firms' Principal Heritage Specialist. She has over 15 years of technical and leadership experience assessing and evaluating historical buildings and landscapes in Ontario. She leads built heritage and cultural heritage landscape projects for public and private sector clients and has particular expertise delivering projects in compliance with the Ontario Heritage Act, the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement and the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
Rebecca Weston works in the Operations Division. Rebecca earned her BA (Hon) Specializing in Archaeology at the University of Toronto. She went on to complete her MA in Near and Middle Eastern Archaeology at UofT, and a post-graduate certificate in International Development at Humber. Rebecca began her career in archaeology in 2008, working on several international projects within Jordan and Syria, and locally in Ontario for several years where she gained invaluable experience in excavation, field directing, report writing, research and laboratory processing, including archaeobotanical flotation. Rebecca has worked as a field archaeologist with ASI since 2011, and now works in ASI's laboratory.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Robb Bhardwaj works in the Planning Assessment Division. Robb earned his BA (Hon) and MA in classical archaeology from Brock University. He holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist, technical writer, and project manager for 15 years.
Robert H. Pihl is a retired ASI Partner and the former Manager of ASI's Environmental Assessment Division but will continue as a Senior Associate to work with the new EA team. His duties will include project management, report writing and property inspections, and he will continue to provide analysis skills for precontact ceramics.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Project Director
Robert I. MacDonald has been on the staff of ASI since 1982 and now serves in the position of Managing Partner. In 2020, he also became a Director of Yändata' Limited Partnership, a joint venture majority-owned by the Huron Wendat Nation with ASI as the minority shareholder. Rob holds Honours BSc and MA degrees from Trent University and a PhD from McGill University, all in anthropology, and is accredited by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). His special areas of expertise include ecological archaeology, archaeological site potential modelling, geographical information system (GIS) applications in archaeology, Iroquoian archaeology, and lithic analysis.
Throughout his career with ASI, Rob MacDonald has served as Project Director and/or Field Director on hundreds of single- and multi-phased archaeological assessment and salvage excavation projects throughout southern and eastern Ontario. He has also played a key role in the development of pre-contact Indigenous site potential models for the archaeological management plans of fifteen municipalities, including the District Municipality of Muskoka, the City of Brantford, the Regional Municipality of Halton, the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Simcoe County, the City of Ottawa, the City of Kingston, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, and the City of Toronto. His archaeology and heritage management projects include the Highway 407 East project undertaken on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Since 2004, Dr. MacDonald has held an appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Waterloo and as a Research Fellow of the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre. He also holds an appointment as an Adjunct Faculty member of the Anthropology Graduate Program at Trent University. A former Deputy-Director of the Quaternary Sciences Institute at the University of Waterloo, in 1991 Rob co-organized (with Professor Barry Warner) an international conference for the Institute and in 1994 he edited and published the proceedings of that symposium under the title Great Lakes Archaeology and Paleoecology: Exploring Interdisciplinary Initiatives for the Nineties. In 2010-2011 he consulted on the development of the First Nations exhibit for the new Waterloo Region Museum in Kitchener. In 2013 he was elected to the Executive Board of the Ontario Archaeological Society (OAS), a Provincial Heritage Organization, serving a two-year term as president in 2014/15. He has thrice served as an organizer of the annual OAS symposium. Dr. MacDonald has over forty scholarly publications and presentations. In 1998, with Dr. Ron Williamson, he co-authored the book, Legacy of Stone: Ancient Life on the Niagara Frontier, published by eastendbooks. In 2008, he co-authored (with William Lovis) an article in the 4 volume encyclopedia Archaeology in America, published by Greenwood Publishing Group, and contributed a chapter to the book Toronto: An Illustrated History of Its First 12,000 Years, edited by Ron Williamson and published by James Lorimer & Company.
Robert I. MacDonald is an archaeological anthropologist with more than three decades of experience in the field of heritage management. He joined the staff of ASI in 1982, completed his PhD in Anthropology from McGill University, and is now accredited by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). His experience includes the direction of hundreds of projects throughout Ontario involving all aspects of archaeological and cultural heritage.
Robin Latour works in the Operations Division. She earned her BA in Anthropology from McGill University and her MPhil in Medieval Archaeology from Glasgow University, in the UK. She further earned a Post-Graduate Diploma in Professional Archaeology from Oxford University, before embarking on a career in archaeological fieldwork, in the UK and France. Robin hasover 20 years of experience as a Geomatics specialist, 9 of those in Ontario. She has a wide variety of experience in archaeological surveying, data recording and mapping.
Job Titles:
- Associate Archaeologist Project Manager
Russell Holland works in the Mitigation Division. Russell earned his BA (Hon) in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and his MA in Cultural Material Analysis from the University of Sheffield, in the UK. He holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as a field archaeologist since 2017. He has worked on excavations in Ontario, Jordan, Scotland, Hungary, and Romania.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist Manager
Sara Cherubin manages Indigenous archaeology in the Mitigation Division. Sara earned her BSc (Hon) in archaeological science and biological anthropology from University of Toronto and her MSc in human osteology and funerary archaeology from The University of Sheffield, UK. She holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario. She has over 20 years of experience in Indigenous and Euro-Canadian archaeology having completed and/or directed single, multi-phased assessments and mitigative excavations throughout Ontario and in ten different States in the U.S.A..
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Manager
Sarah Jagelewski manages the Environmental Assessment Division. Sarah earned her BA (Hon) in prehistoric archaeology and Near and Middle Eastern civilizations from the University of Toronto. She holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has over ten years of experience as an archaeologist and heritage professional. Currently she coordinates and helps manage all ASI's early stage archaeological assessment projects required under provisions of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
Sarah-Jane Leipert works in the Planning Assessment Division. Sarah-Jane was awarded a funded research scholarship and earned her PhD in Prehistoric and Romano-British Salt-Production from Bournemouth University, UK. She has 20 years of experience in the UK archaeology and historic environment sector, including within planning, research and commercial excavation, national research projects, heritage data collection, management and analysis, heritage at risk, and heritage protection and designation.
Savannah Parent Eastwood works in the Operations Division as a laboratory technician and lithics analyst. Savannah earned her BA (Hon) in Archaeology, History and Celtic Studies from the University of Toronto and has over 20 years professional experience in illustration and fine art, currently specialising in digital archaeological illustration.
Siobhan Boyd works in Special Projects focusing on Late Woodland archaeology sites. Siobhan earned an Honours BA in Anthropology from York University and her MSc in Archaeology from Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London, UK. She holds a professional license from the province of Ontario and has carried out field work in Ontario, Belize, Ecuador, and Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Perca Zooarchaeological Research
Suzanne Needs-Howarth performs zooarchaeological analysis for ASI on a freelance basis. She has ongoing collaborations with clients and with academic and Indigenous colleagues in Canada and internationally to learn about Indigenous people's relationships with animals in the past. She holds an MSc in anthropology from the University of Toronto and a PhD from the Biologisch-Archeologisch Instituut at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. She is an associate member of the University of Toronto Archaeology Centre.
Job Titles:
- Field Operations Coordinator
Tara Guitard works in the Operations Division. Tara earned her degree at Brock University and has experience in Ontario archaeological fieldwork, business management, and logistical support. Tara previously served as an Administrative Assistant in the Mitigation Division.
Job Titles:
- Lead Archaeologist Project Manager
Thanos Webb works in the Mitigation Division. Thanos earned his BA in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University and a MA in Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology) from Texas A&M University. He has over 25 years of underwater and land-based archaeological experience in the United States, Greece, and Canada. Thanos holds a Professional archaeological license from the province of Ontario and has worked as an archaeologist for over 10 years.
Job Titles:
- Senior Archaeologist Assistant Manager
Wesley Oldham works in the Mitigation Division. Wes earned his BA (Hon) in anthropology from McMaster University. An archaeologist with 20 years of experience, he holds an Applied Research archaeological license from the province of Ontario. Experienced in all aspects of archaeological field work, his particular area of expertise is in urban (brownfield) sites with complex stratigraphy.