Michelle Chornell
Bookkeeper
Michelle thoroughly enjoys tracking and making sense of financial data for Canopy. She is passionate about preserving biodiversity (plants and critters!) and knows that protecting the forests is absolutely essential for this to happen.
More about me
I’m a total goofball and I love to laugh. My favourite game is charades and nothing makes me throw my head back more than physical comedy.
I grew up with magical summers at the cabin in Alberta – digging in the dirt, swimming in the lake and climbing my favourite trees. I insisted that my nickname be “monkey”, although that never did catch on..
I’ve always been fascinated by the human brain and behavior, so I studied neuropsychology at the University of Alberta. One of my elective courses was Tropical Rainforest Ecology, during which I got to study lemon ant trees at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon – I was enchanted by the species in that forest. I switched gears to study environmental conservation and found Canopy in 2016. Blown away by their mission and culture, I knew I wanted to be a part of this team. I just needed to find the role that was for me.
After a couple of years doing research for Canopy’s EcoPaper Database and Next Gen fibre solutions I decided I wanted to be behind the scenes. I gave into my love for numbers and spreadsheets and studied accounting at BCIT in order to become Canopy’s bookkeeper!
Why are forests important to me
I once heard a facetious quote “let’s design a system that makes oxygen, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, distills water, makes complex sugars, creates microclimates, changes colours with the seasons and self replicates. Now why don’t we knock it down and wipe our butts with it!”
I think forest ecosystems are absolutely unbelievable and I feel it is my duty as an earthling to do what I can to protect them.
Why Canopy
Canopy’s approach to create solutions throughout the paper, clothing and packaging supply chains is effective. I am a sucker for effective systems. Also, I need to be on a team that has fun (because I’m a goofball), is supportive (I’m a cheerleader), and driven towards a remarkable goal.
Ask me about
– Matthew Walker’s book “Why We Sleep”
– mental health/the power behind our thoughts
– my favourite excel formulas
– dental hygiene
– plastic-free hemp shower curtains!
What ruffles my feathers
– the lack of awareness about how much we are unnecessarily putting into landfills
– drinking and driving
– trying to plug a cord into an outlet in the dark (I swear those prongs change shape in the dark).
