Environmental Community Leader: Shaquille Sealy Recognized on 2025 Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List

In honour of Black History Month, this blog features Shaquille Sealy, Co-Executive Director of Operations and Projects at ReForest London. As the first person of colour to be recognized in the Environmental category in the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List (2025), Shaquille’s involvement in the community has had a substantial impact on the environmental sector in London and Middlesex County. In this interview, Shaquille describes his career path and how his experiences during his education has given him a unique understanding on the diverse perspectives that are needed to move environmental action forward.

“London’s always been a part of who I am”

Growing up in London, ON, as a competitive and eager young athlete, Shaquille was not
necessarily connected to environmentalism in this city. “I always wanted to make an impact on
the world and my community. I thought it would be sport and recreation growing up, then
thought it would be healthcare and wellbeing in school.”

When he left to pursue his education in health studies, while also competing in varsity level football at the University of Waterloo, he started to take note of different large-scale sustainable developments in other cities. Waterloo’s large-scale tech and transportation options, as well as Guelph's emphasis on sustainable living were two that made an impression on him. Eventually, while pursuing his Master’s of Science in Capacity Development and Extension from the University of Guelph, focusing on sustainable community development, he started to realize his passion for environmentalism.

Unfortunately, like many, the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to move back home to London. While not specifically environmentally focused, Shaquille’s extensive experience in GIS software enabled him to get a position as a Signal Boost Initiative Coordinator with ReForest London. In this role, he got to bring environmental education to different London communities, enjoying the continued learning outside of an academic setting. As Shaquille worked with ReForest London more, he started to see a network of strong, engaged community members.

“I really saw the passion in the environmental community in London. To meet so many people who were passionate and accomplishing so many amazing things was really inspiring, and as a competitive person it really pushed me to do the absolute best I could.”

Shaquille’s dedication has really shone through in his career, as he is now the Co-Executive Director, Operations and Projects at ReForest London, alongside Rodger Moran, Co-Executive Director, Finance & Administration. In this role, he oversees a program delivery team that advances the organization’s strategic priorities, while developing partnerships across sectors in London. Shaquille’s work is directly linked to ongoing successes in promoting tree planting and tree care throughout the City of London.

“I’ve always been a competitive person who wants to bring my best foot forward. I don’t think about being male or black, I just do the absolute best I can. Hopefully, I can inspire others to do the same, whether I look like them, sound like them, or have a similar story to them”

In recent years, ReForest London has been working to make trees and green spaces accessible to all – not just the more affluent. Tree equity isn’t necessarily one of the first things people think about in underserved communities, however it can have a big impact on surface temperatures and home heating.

“You don’t really think about it until you’re affected by it, or until someone points it out to you. It’s in a lot more places than you realize,” Shaquille adds. This program, alongside the upcoming Community Tree Nursery located at the Westminister Pond Centre, that will distribute up to 10,000 seedlings, is part of ReForest London’s plan to increase local availability of tree stock and seedlings.

To summarize some of Shaquille Sealy's accomplishment's with ReForest London:

• Providing low-cost and free environmental education opportunities for Londoners via workshops, webinars, and volunteer training workshops.
• Developing innovative ideas for new partnerships and collaborations among participating community organizations.
• Overseeing the continued development of London’s first-and-only Environment & Sustainability Centre, the Westminster Ponds Centre.
• Managing ReForest London’s Community Tree Nursery.
• Hosting annual Westminster Ponds clean-ups in collaboration with Antler River Rally, and an annual Native Plant Sales with Climate Action London.

If you’d like to learn more about the work ReForest London is doing in the City of London, visit their website here.