Mark discovered cannabis after a serious motorcycle accident in 2004. After unsuccessfully trying various doctor prescribed pharmaceuticals for several years for chronic pain he finally found relief from medical cannabis.
Mark is highly passionate about cannabis, specifically for medical use, and cultivating it outdoors. He has been in the legal commercial cannabis industry since 2014 and is an ACMPR license holder, allowing him to produce his own cannabis. He is an advocate in the industry and at various levels of government.
John also walks the walk when it comes to cannabis farming, and strongly believes that there is a preference for locally grown independent small batch craft cannabis. John is a licensed personal use grower and an advanced indoor micro-cultivation expert certified with the Cannabis Training University’s Master Certificate program who identifies with a diverse group of cannabis advocates with decades of experience in the industry. These consumers, producers, and entrepreneurs want to ensure that high quality, locally produced cannabis is duly respected and incorporated in the new Health Canada regulatory framework for legal cannabis in Canada. These existing small-scale cannabis producers and value-added product makers must be included in the new legal market.
John rounds out his impressive set of knowledge and skills with his experience as a Senior Cost Manager with a demonstrated history of working experience and expertise across the broad spectrum of project types throughout North America and international markets in the construction and contract mediation industries. Skilled in analytical processes, project estimation, feasibility studies, electrical wiring, mechanical systems, value management services and Professional Chartered Surveying covering the many traditional and alternative options for construction procurement and delivery. As a partner in the design process, John is able to focus on determining project improvement opportunities throughout every state of a project—from planning through to construction, and all the way to the ribbon cutting ceremony the client can make confident, informed decisions and ensure maximum value and return on capital investments.
Catherine’s educational background – she holds three degrees; a B.A. and M.A. in sociology and a Ph.D. in social psychology – and her 16+ years as a university and college educator has allowed her to witness the empowerment of personal and social growth for both children and adults. Her specialty is the social psychology of family; the study of relationships and societies with a subspecialty in the well-being of the Children of the New Earth.
Catherine began exploring and studying spirituality many years ago after a number of life altering crises left her searching for her own life purpose. Catherine's humanist practice is rooted in a deep concern for the needs, well-being, and happiness of individuals and planet Earth.
Through her research and teaching in the areas of physical, mental and spiritual health and illness in the traditional pharmaceutical industry; Catherine has acquired a strong knowledge and keen interest in alternative holistic “all body”, mind and spirituality wellness and well-being. As such, Catherine is very much a subject matter expert when it comes to cannabis. Currently, she is developing a course on the culture of cannabis for Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She is also writing a textbook, An Introduction to Medical Cannabis in Canada.
Catherine believes in the healing value of cannabis and strongly supports the company’s vision that the best route to quality cannabis is through the support of locally grown independent small batch craft cannabis.
Matt provides business and regulatory advice to a range of cannabis industry stakeholders, including licensed producers, producer applicants, owners of businesses that provide ancillary services to the cannabis industry, entrepreneurs with start-up aspirations and foreign businesses looking to enter the Canadian market or enter into partnerships with established Canadian cannabis businesses. Matt prides himself on staying abreast of developing cannabis-related legislation at the federal, provincial and municipal levels across the entire country which allows him to service clients throughout Canada and internationally.
Prior to joining Lift & Co., Nick spent several years in the pharmaceutical sector with Johnson & Johnson Inc. His background in healthcare led him to make the professional move into cannabis, having long advocated for recognition of its many medical applications.
Nick is a regular speaker at cannabis conferences across North America and Europe and teaches the Cannabis Business Fundamentals course at George Brown College. He holds two degrees, in Business and Philosophy, from Queen's University, Canada.
Angela has strong working knowledge of Canadian and international cannabis regulatory frameworks, and is passionate about evidence-based cannabis education and communications. Angela’s experience includes working with clients who are cannabis licence holders and licence applicants under the Cannabis Act, start-ups and entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, non-profit healthcare provider and patient advocacy organizations, and media and technology companies. In addition, Angela is an instructor for Durham College’s Cannabis Industry Specialization Program.