Meet the Jury - Cool Gardens 2025
Chloe Chafe
Chloe Chafe is a curator and visual artist based in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are the Co-Director of Synonym Art Consultation. Their curatorial practice focuses on contemporary street art, performance, and the integration of socially engaged art in public spaces. With a deep commitment to accessibility, Chloe’s work explores the transformative power of art in communities, emphasizing mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration as vital forces for cultural impact.
They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts History from the University of Manitoba, though much of their expertise has been shaped by hands-on experience with community art mentors, collaborators, and youth. Through their practice, Chloe seeks to reimagine public space as a site for connection, dialogue, and creative expression.
Heather Cram
Heather Cram, MALA, is Principal Emeritus of the Winnipeg landscape architecture firm, HTFC Planning & Design. She has over 40 years of experience in design and has received numerous awards for her work, including, most recently, the 2023 CSLA President’s Award. Heather has been and continues to be a mentor, leader and visionary in the practice, inspiring generations of young professionals, students and aspiring landscape architects. Her love for Winnipeg has led her from the Winnipeg Arts Council, chairing the Public Art committee to the Manitoba/Winnipeg Fort Rouge Community Revitalization program and sitting on numerous business development zone boards to the Women's Enterprise Centre and FortWhyte Alive. Heather has been awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects granted her lifetime membership in 2021 and the Winnipeg Arts Council granted her WAC Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2021.
Gerald Dieleman
Gerald Dieleman is a landscape architect with extensive public garden experience, including roles at Longwood Gardens (Pennsylvania), the Royal Horticultural Society (UK), and 13 years with Assiniboine Park Conservancy, APC, in Winnipeg. As Senior Director of Horticulture at APC, he leads the horticulture and forestry teams and oversees sustainability initiatives at Assiniboine Park and Zoo. Gerald played a key role in developing The Leaf, a groundbreaking horticultural attraction that opened in December 2022, marking one of Canada’s most significant botanical projects in generations.
Johanna Hurme
Johanna Hurme is an architect and co-founder of 5468796 Architecture. Her practice has been awarded numerous national and international awards. She is also a design activist and a housing and urban design advocate. She is the current President Elect of RAIC I Architecture Canada and a past Chair of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and has taught architecture at Cornell University, IIT in Chicago, and at Universities across Canada. Johanna lectures extensively and is co-author of ‘Innovative Solutions for Creating Sustainable Cities’ (2018), and 'platform:MIDDLE', Architecture for Housing the 99%, (2023).
Joseph Orobia
Joseph was once described as "the calm of the sea with the dreams of giant waves." The accuracy of that illustration is grounded in his pacifying and steady nature giving way to a relentless desire for building and creating. As a nerdy and creative kid who grew to become a Founder, Principal Architect, and Owner of Architects At Play, Joseph believes that having fun is at the heart of his personal approach to innovation. He brings that joyful and contagious philosophy to the work he does at Play, including designing buildings and spaces, fashion, furniture, toys, skateboards, stage props, costumes, and more. As a serial creator and community instigator, Joseph has made big waves by founding Kultivation Festival Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to celebrating and promoting the modern cultural scene in Manitoba's Filipino community and by founding Mabuhay District Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to establishing an incubator district that supports Filipino-Canadians' creative and entrepreneurial endeavours. Allocentric at his core, Joseph is on a mission to build up the communities around him and has an uncanny ability to inspire people around him to join in. This "come out and play" call to action has led to the establishment of various businesses and community organizations, and Joseph is even in the process of establishing a national charity in the not-too-distant future.
Jordan Stranger
Jordan Stranger, an Anishinaabe artist and graphic designer, originally from Peguis First Nation, known for his colourful style represented through murals, illustrations, and graphic design. He's designed logos and graphics for Festival du Voyageur, APTN, Shopify, Audible, and Apple. His murals and artwork using cultural influences and symbolism can be found throughout the city of Winnipeg and he is the designer and artist behind the Winnipeg 150 logo. Stranger’s work is deeply rooted in the traditions within contemporary Indigenous culture, and he uses his life experiences and spiritual practice learned through Ojibwe teachings to drive his artistic passions.
Rachelle Lemieux
Rachelle Lemieux is an architect with Red River Métis and settler ancestry. With 15 years of experience in project design and delivery, Rachelle excels in leveraging architecture as a vehicle for social change. Her project work includes public consultation, project schematic, design development, construction documents, and contract administration. Having stayed firmly rooted in her Indigenous heritage, Rachelle strives to incorporate Indigenous values and knowledges within design. Rachelle actively dedicates time outside of work for the promotion of Indigenous design and architecture across Canada, and for the improvement of the architectural profession. She served a three year term as the Canadian Director Representing Interns and Intern Architects for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). Rachelle is also a founder of the RAIC Emerging Practitioners. She has been instrumental on various architectural and design competition juries and was also part of the Accreditation Team for the Dalhousie School of Architecture. Rachelle recently presented at the Métis Architecture and Design Symposium at the McEwen School of Architecture and has worked with the Canadian Government in an Architectural Advisory role to the Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative. Some of Rachelle’s accolades include receiving the the Manitoba Graduate Studies Scholarship, the College of Fellows Centennial Fund for Interns and a Prairie Design Award in 2022.
