We are working to permanently protect and improve biodiversity along Prince Edward County’s internationally recognized South Shore, Canada’s largest and last undeveloped Lake Ontario natural landscape and shoreline. With your support and input, we can ensure that future generations of migratory birds, species at risk and County residents will share in the enjoyment of the South Shore public lands.
Want to get involved? Have questions? Want more info about the South Shore? Please contact us!
Email us or call us at 613-849-7743.
You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.
Meet Our Team
Dawn Ayer – Communications Director
As Communications Director, Dawn is responsible for building awareness, engaging supporters and helping us achieve our vision for Prince Edward County’s South Shore. Prior to becoming self-employed, Dawn held management roles with Diabetes Canada, Aon Hewitt Canada and Aon Reed Stenhouse. She delivers original strategy and content services to a small, diverse group of non-profits and corporations.
As co-founder of her high school’s first environment club and more recently, Bamboo Magazine’s Green Keener columnist, Dawn has a long history of championing environmental causes. She is also an active advocate for history and was chair of the Canada 150 and Prince Edward 225 Celebration Ad Hoc Committee. Dawn and her husband had their 1875 Athol farmhouse designated as a heritage property in 2019 and were grateful to accept the municipal plaque, together with the original owners.
Living just north of the South Shore Key and Biodiversity Area, Dawn spots species every day through her home office window. Since 2014, she’s actively supported local non-profits as well as the municipal and provincial governments in their efforts to protect and preserve the South Shore.
Katherine Rogalska – Online Engagement and Outreach Manager
As the Online Engagement and Outreach Manager for the South Shore Joint Initiative (SSJI), Katherine leads digital communications, including website, social media and community outreach efforts that amplify the organization’s mission and mobilize support for its conservation projects. She cultivates meaningful relationships with local groups and individuals, fostering a vibrant network of advocates dedicated to protecting Prince Edward County’s South Shore.
Katherine’s professional journey spans the arts, higher education, and social services, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to her work with not-for-profit organizations. She holds an Honours BA in Arts Management from the University of Toronto and her past work engagements include University of Toronto, Harbourfront Centre, and mental health and social services organizations.
Outside of work, Katherine is an avid traveller who finds inspiration in the natural beauty surrounding her home near the Bay of Quinte in Prince Edward County. Her hikes through the local conservation area and visits to the South Shore offer encounters with diverse biodiversity, deepening her commitment to preserving the rare and ecologically rich landscapes of Prince Edward County’s South Shore.
Meet our Leaders
Cheryl Anderson – President
President Cheryl Anderson moved to Prince Edward County in 2003 after retiring from a career in biochemistry research at the University of Guelph. In Guelph, Cheryl served in several positions of the Guelph Field Naturalists executive. As a member of the Guelph Round Table on the Environment and Economy, she chaired a Community Involvement Program to write a Guelph’s Green Plan.
Cheryl has served on the executive boards of the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists and the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and a South Shore Joint Initiative board member. Her interest in the natural world has led to advocacy for the Prince Edward County South Shore Key Biodiversity Area.
Gurpreet Patheja, JD, Vice-President
Gurpreet is a seasoned entrepreneur and lawyer with over a decade of experience in navigating the complex legal landscape of property law and contract negotiations so as to best advocate for her clients. In addition to her professional work, Gurpreet is passionate about giving back to the community, a virtue instilled in her by her grandparents. As a student completing her Juris Doctor degree at Osgoode Hall Law School , Gurpreet worked at the Community and Legal Aid Services Program providing free legal services to low-income residents of Toronto and York University Students, putting into practice her passion to give back to the community.
With a deep passion for nature and environmental conservation, Gurpreet actively engages in initiatives that promote the protection of our planet. Gurpreet enjoys gardening and finds tremendous joy in exploring the natural beauty of Ontario, and in her free time enjoys bicycling with her partner, walking her dog and kayaking on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County.
Gurpreet considers herself lucky to be a part of the Prince Edward County community and recognizes the importance of protecting the South Shore so that generations to come may enjoy its natural beauty.
In addition to her legal work , Gurpreet loves to travel and discover new landscapes and different ways in which passionate people globally are working to protect the environment. As a member of the Board of Directors for the South Shore Joint Initiative , Gurpreet looks forward to leveraging her expertise and passion to further the organizations mission of environmental stewardship and community engagement.
I joined the Board of Directors for the South Shore Joint Initiative (SSJI) because the South Shore of Prince Edward County is special to me. It’s one of the last undeveloped shorelines of Lake Ontario, home to unique wildlife and the migratory paths of birds and butterflies. This space represents a delicate balance of nature and community that I am passionate about protecting.
The value of sewa—selfless service—instilled by my grandparents, drives me to contribute my time and expertise to ensure future generations can experience the same sense of wonder, peace, and connection that I have found here.
Working with SSJI allows me to help safeguard this land through education, collaboration, and action. Together, we can protect these vital spaces and keep the magic of nature alive for generations to come.