About us

Horticulture is our life!

We are a horticultural therapy business operating from Stouffville. We offer the mobile services of an experienced horticultural therapist. As part of our goal to reconnect people with the natural environment we provide one-time & long-term Therapeutic Horticulture and Horticultural Therapy workshops to residents in Long Term Care Facilities, Residences & Daycares in the GTA. We also give horticultural programs in classrooms.

Our mission is to improve the physical, cognitive and emotional health of seniors and workers through facilitated gardening activities (indoors & outdoors). However, we also offer horticultural events and presentations simply for the education, entertainment and enjoyment of our participants.

Conny

CO-FOUNDER & PRESENTER

For the past 12 years, since founding Afya HortTherapy in 2010, Conny has worn many hats: from adminstration and client communication to developing new horticultural therapy and nature programs. Orginally a highschool Science teacher, Conny now invests her teaching skills, love of nature and passion for environmental stewartship into all our workshops and demonstrations. Since 2019 she has also been active as an enthusiastic presenter and workshop leader. Conny enjoys meeting new people while implementing our programs and showing participants the interesection between art, nature & conservation. Outside of work she loves to hang out with her three kids and a multitude of household pets, as well as spending time outdoors, nature journaling and reading. Conny has a degree in Biology and Teaching from the University of Bielefeld, Germany, and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.

Sean

CO-FOUNDER

Since starting Afya HortTherapy 12 years ago, Sean has developed and implemented a large variety of horticultural, culinary and nature programs that have been enjoyed at senior facilities, churches, day programs and other community services all around the Greater Toronto Area. Bringing a hands-on experience of nature into the lives of urban citizens, especially those spending their lives in community settings like seniors facilities and assisted living, is his passion. Sean has had a love of nature, gardening, elaborate culinary experiements and acquiring pioneer skills since early childhood. His grandparents taught him many gardening and cooking skills - and these childhood memories helped shape how Sean now approaches respectful and engaging teaching situations in intergenerational workshop settings. Sean is a registered Horticultural Therapist with the Canadian Horticultural Association. He also has a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Guelph.

Mari

PRESENTER

In her 40 plus years of work experience Mari has worked with seniors, children of ages and children with disabilities and with seniors. She has worked in a variety of settings including child care centres, schools and residences for senior citizens. As a Registered Early Childhood Educator Mari developed her love for learning in the classroom, “while I educated children, they educated me”.
Early on in her career she worked with seniors in a retirement setting and then moved onto the Early Childhood Education. She has held a variety of roles as an Early Childhood Educator such as a Home Child Care Visitor, a child care center administrator and a Designated Early Childhood Educator in a school board kindergarten program.
Mari attended Seneca College and was an honours student in her studies in the Early Childhood Education Diploma program, Resource Teacher Diploma program and Adult Education Certification program.
Growing up on a farm in Wales has given her the love for the outdoors and the importance of environmental stewardship. As a lifelong learner Mari embraces what she can learn from others and from her experiences. She enjoys learning about nutrition, self care and the recognizes how important attending to our own emotional well being and the emotional wellbeing of others is.
As a ‘part time’ retiree Mari enjoys sharing time with her husband and her three daughters, engaging in exercise, volunteering at the Care and Share Shop and spreading joy whenever possible!