Grace Nombrado

Grace Nombrado is founder and Executive Director of Free the Fern Stewardship Society, an environmental nonprofit based on the Champlain Heights Trails in South Vancouver. Since January 2021, she has helped run 117 events, including invasive removals, plantings, walks, art workshops, and festivals.  Over the past 4 years, she has recruited 1,433 event volunteers. These volunteers have helped remove 246.3 m3 of invasive plants and replanted 4,503 native plants. Over the years, Grace has worked on a number of planting projects, including creating: the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden, a Community Food Forest, and a Pollinator Garden along the trail. Grace is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion within her organization, and believes strongly that nature is for everyone! In addition to working for Free the Fern, Grace is also Communication Coordinator for the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver, educating the public about invasive species. Outside of work, Grace enjoys nature photography, thrift shopping, and weaving baskets out of invasive ivy.