Who We Are

Margot Ursic, B.A., M.Sc., Principal Planning Ecologist & Facilitator

Margot has more than 25 years of applied experience in natural heritage and urban forest planning and management for local governments and other public sector clients.

She has served as the natural heritage lead for numerous projects across Ontario and elsewhere in Canada and regularly applies her expertise to natural asset projects.

Margot has also led and supported numerous urban forest planning projects including the development of Urban Forest Management Plans, strategic tree planting plans, tree by-laws and tree-related policies.

As part of her natural heritage and urban forestry work she regularly coordinates and facilitates engagement with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including technical working groups, municipal staff and Councils, external stakeholders, and Indigenous communities.

Margot also provides strategic advice, jurisdictional scans, peer reviews and expert witness testimony on matters related to natural heritage and urban forest planning and management.

Margot holds a Master of Science (Botany), has applied training in engagement and natural asset management, and has been qualified as a Planning Ecologist before local tribunals.

What We Do

What is a “typical work day” for GS? There is no such thing!

In any given week we might: support and provide guidance to clients, review and write strategic plans, draft environmental policies, coordinate and facilitate virtual and in-person engagement, attend site walks, make presentations, review and assess natural heritage and urban forest data, craft natural heritage and urban forest recommendations for public sector plans and strategies, provide peer reviews and/or expert advice.

A few recent examples include:
  • Providing urban forestry coaching to municipalities across Canada as part of FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative as outlined in this article.
  • Delivering a presentation with City of Markham staff on developing their natural assets program at the Latornell Conference in fall 2024, a project  that received a PlanON Vision Award of Merit in 2025.
  • Contributing to an article on “Prioritizing Natural Assets” in Water Magazine (July/Aug. 2023) with Scott Cousins and Jeff Wilson (of Green Analytics) on Guelph’s innovative work to inventory its groundwater.