About The
GrowTH Network

With over 25 years in professional horticulture and 15 years dedicated to developing therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy programs, Emilee Weaver is a respected leader, educator, and practitioner in the field. She co-authored The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy (2019), one of the first comprehensive textbooks in the discipline, and served as lead instructor and content developer for university-based therapeutic horticulture certificate programs in the U.S.

Emilee’s work has spanned clinical, community, and educational settings, with a focus on the intersection of horticulture and mental health. Most recently, she has helped expand therapeutic horticulture internationally, partnering with Ukrainian and Armenian botanical gardens and clinicians supporting communities affected by war.

Her lifelong love of plants began in the fern-filled forests of New Hampshire and was nurtured by her grandmother’s influence. When she’s not teaching or consulting, Emilee can be found tending her garden, chatting with her tortoises, keeping her cats out of mischief, and spending time with family and friends who continue to inspire her journey.

Rebecca Reimer, Children & Youth Group

Rebecca is a therapeutic horticulture practitioner and program leader with experience designing and delivering horticulture-based programs in educational, community, and therapeutic settings. She currently serves as a Therapeutic Horticulture & Grounds Manager at a private K-12 school, integrating evidence-informed practice, accessibility, and trauma-aware approaches into program development and landscape management.

Rebecca is actively working toward her Horticultural Therapist Registered (HTR) designation and completed foundational horticultural therapy training under Mitchell Hewson. With a background in biblical studies, children’s ministry, and human services, she is committed to using plants and green spaces to support well-being, connection, and meaningful participation across the lifespan.

Lindsay Jennings, Adult Group

Lindsay is the founder of Keep Growing – Mindset & Nature Therapy, a nature based therapy business out of Colchester County, NS. With training and certifications in areas such as Horticultural Therapy, Forest Therapy, a master level Mindfulness Practitioner, Mental Health First Aid, Mindful Leadership, and the Community Resiliency Model, Lindsay uses a therapeutic approach that is less traditional and more focused on the connection to the Self and Environment; changing mindset and increasing resiliency using Nature as the therapist.

A member of the GrowTH Network since October 2024, Lindsay brings nearly 2 decades of experience to programming in therapeutic horticulture. Working with teachers, post-secondary staff and students, adult literacy learners, private practice aging-at-home clients and federally incarcerated women, Lindsay’s background in adult programming is broad.

Personally experiencing the compounding and debilitating effects of stress, anxiety, isolation and depression, Lindsay was able to harness the healing powers of nature to come to a healthier place as a person and where a passion developed into helping to improve the mental health of others using biophilia and the people-plant connection.

Katie McGillivray, Older Adult Group

Katie is a Registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) and member of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA) with over ten years of experience in the industry. She began her career with BC Housing’s People, Plants and Homes program under the mentorship of Dr. Aimee Taylor, and later went on to lead the program at a provincial level. Katie’s work growing the program was recognized with BC Housing’s Service Excellence Award in 2019. Since then, she has run her own private practice and has worked across British Columbia in long-term care, assisted and independent living communities, and nonprofits, connecting people with themselves, their community, and nature.

A dedicated educator and facilitator, Katie designed her own undergraduate path in therapeutic horticulture, completing a minor in counselling along with coursework in horticulture, agriculture, psychology, and research, laying the foundation for a dynamic career in therapeutic horticulture. She also completed her Certificate in Horticultural Therapy with Master Level Horticultural Therapist (HTM) Ann Kent and helped conduct research under Dr. Lilach Marom.

Katie is passionate about mentoring students and new practitioners, knowing firsthand how impactful mentorship has been in her own journey. Through her past work with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association and current work with Root in Nature, she is committed to growing the profession, increasing access to therapeutic horticulture, and fostering community engagement.

Katie’s approach is collaborative, client-centred, and strengths-based. She often integrates her love of food and cooking into programming, connecting therapeutic horticulture with community food security and food justice initiatives. Outside of work, Katie loves entertaining, thrifting and being a cat mom.