Mary Ellen Stoll

Ministry of Natural Resources Northeast Science and Information Section

For the past two and a half years, Mary Ellen Stoll has been the Manager of the Ministry of Natural Resources Northeast Science and Information Section based in South Porcupine. Known affectionately by many as NESI (pronounced like the pet name for the infamous Loch Ness monster), the section is made up of a dedicated group of science and information management staff working to provide innovative and practical knowledge based tools and products to support resource management in north eastern Ontario. Mary Ellen has been with the section since 1995, also serving as the Science Coordinator prior to taking on the role of Manager. Her current and past positions in guiding this important part of the Ministry of Natural Resources Northeast Region has made her an obvious and logical choice for membership on our Board of Directors.

‘It is a new experience for me to be a member of the Lake Abitibi Model Forest Board of Directors,’ says Mary Ellen. ‘Northeast Science and Information has a long history of involvement and participation as a partner, and we are very proud of this strong liaison, and of the achievements of Model Forest projects, many of which we have been directly involved in.’

Mary Ellen has had a varied career with the Ministry, both in terms of positions held and locations. She worked for eight years in Hearst as an area supervisor and resource planner, sometimes job-sharing with a colleague when her children were younger. She also took on the demanding role of Regional Transition Manager during a reorganization of the Ministry in

1992. In the mid 1980’s, Mary Ellen also worked as the Supervisor of the Ministry’s Public Information Centre at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Mary Ellen has an Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Fish and Wildlife from the University of Guelph. and also possesses a Masters of Environmental Studies with a major in Wildlife Conservation from York University. On top of this she has a busy family life. Husband Steve McGovern also works for MNR as an Aquatic Ecosystems Team Leader. They have two teenage children, a boy and girl – the quintessential million dollar family. Mary Ellen’s passion is downhill skiing, although she does admit that she has recently learned that life is (in the summer) all about golf!

‘The Lake Abitibi Model Forest is really a huge outdoor learning laboratory. It allows us to focus our work, and to be part of a bigger and broader program,’ says Mary Ellen. ‘The Ministry of Natural Resources has to step up to the plate to help improve practices and policies through strong contribution to Model Forest projects, and ultimately by helping to roll out and implement these same project results.’

The Lake Abitibi Model Forest is grateful to Mary Ellen and her staff at Northeast Science and Information for the consistent and meaningful involvement in our projects, and their effort to help us deliver and implement new forest science. Although somewhat new to our Board of Directors, Mary Ellen is most welcome, and is representing an important and generous partner.