With Earth Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on sustainable initiatives making waves in Toronto, but for these trailblazers, it’s just another day in the life. Here are four Toronto-based leaders who have made it their mission to lead the charge in creating a more sustainable world.

“When I was 12 years old, I was told polluting lakes was ‘just the cost of doing business.’ That never made sense to me. That early experience inspired my path forward, though I didn’t know it yet. As a young engineer, I was searching for direction on how I could apply my skills in an area that I was passionate about. I came across the idea that we choose the problems we want to focus on, and it was from there I pursued a master’s degree in sustainability in Sweden. I worked in the U.K. as a consultant in the sustainability sector for five years before returning to Canada to join Minto Communities. I’ve been here for the last nine years, working to influence and change lifestyle factors I noticed through my travels like energy consumption, simplifying recycling, and less reliance on cars through better community planning.”