Biophilic Health

Vision:

A world where nature is woven into every aspect of health—nurturing resilient children, thriving communities, and a healthier planet for generations to come.

Purpose:

To advance the integration of nature into health systems and people’s everyday lives through education, practice, and innovation—with children and the future in mind.

Land Acknowledgement:

At Biophilic Health Inc., we recognize that our work is grounded in our relationship with nature and the Land.
We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Crown Treaty Holders), the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. These Indigenous Peoples have cared for these lands since time immemorial, living in deep relationship with the natural world.

We honour their enduring presence, stewardship, and knowledge systems, which offer wisdom and guidance as we seek to restore our relationship with the Land, with nature, and with one another.

We are committed to the path of truth and reconciliation and to the ongoing work of healing our relationships with Indigenous Peoples—relationships harmed by settler colonial ways of thinking and healthcare systems that have historically failed to recognize and respect Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and healing. As individuals rooted in white settler ancestry, we acknowledge the privileges we hold and the continuing impacts of colonialism from which we benefit.

Our commitment includes listening, learning, and taking meaningful action in partnership with Indigenous communities. This involves acknowledging the enduring legacies of colonization and working toward more inclusive, respectful, and culturally grounded approaches to health and well-being.

As individuals rooted in white settler ancestry, we recognize the privileges we hold and our responsibility to work toward equity, cultural humility, and collective healing—for people, communities, and the planet.

FOUNDERS

Nancy Rushford, PhD

Founder, Biophilic Health Inc. & ConnectByNature Therapy Services

Occupational Therapist|

Psychotherapist|

Biomimicry Practitioner|

Nancy Rushford is an occupational therapist, psychotherapist, and educator with over 20 years of experience in health and community settings across Canada and internationally. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences and is the founder of Biophilic Health Inc. and ConnectByNature Therapy Services.
Nancy’s work is grounded in the belief that health and well-being flourish through meaningful connection with the natural world. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates evidence-based healthcare with nature connection, ecological wisdom, biomimicry, and biophilic design to help children, families, and communities build resilience and thrive in a changing world and climate. In addition to her clinical and consulting work, Nancy holds a part-time faculty appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) at McMaster University, where she supervises and supports students in the Health Sciences and Occupational Therapy programs.
Rooted in a strong relationship with the Land and place, Nancy holds deep respect for Indigenous worldviews and place-based knowledge, including the wisdom of nature and the more-than-human world. She continues to mentor, teach, and collaborate with practitioners, educators, and organizations seeking to integrate nature into health systems, education, and everyday life.

Dr. Paul Stacey

Co-Founder, Biophilic Health Inc.

Physician, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation|

Advocate for Nature-Integrated & Functional Medicine|

Dr. Paul Stacey is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a passion for restoring function, promoting resilience, and reimagining health through the lens of nature. As co-founder of Biophilic Health Inc., he brings clinical insight, systems thinking, and a commitment to integrating nature and lifestyle-based approaches into healthcare.
With extensive experience supporting individuals with complex and chronic disability—including children with physical disabilities and neurological conditions—Dr. Stacey focuses on enhancing quality of life through a functional, whole-person approach. He integrates principles of physical medicine and rehabilitation, functional medicine, lifestyle interventions, and nature-based strategies to support physical functioning and promote well-being.
Dr. Stacey believes that reconnecting with nature is vital not only for personal health and wellbeing but is critical for human longevity and a resilient and sustainable future. He contributes strategic leadership and clinical expertise to Biophilic Health’s mission of integrating nature into health systems and people’s everyday lives.

TEAM MEMBERS

Sherry Visser-Fleming

Psychotherapist|

Social Worker|

Educator|

Nature & Animal-Assisted Therapy|

Sherry Visser-Fleming is a registered social worker, psychotherapist, and educator with a background in Indigenous social work and child and youth care. She teaches in the Child and Youth Care program at Niagara College, where she supports emerging practitioners through trauma-informed, relational, and culturally responsive approaches.

In her private practice, Sherry offers nature and animal-assisted psychotherapy to children, youth, adults, and families. Her work integrates Gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioural theory, and somatic practices—grounded in a deep respect for the healing power of nature and the wisdom of animals as co-facilitators in the therapeutic process.

Sherry lives in close connection with the land and brings a strong commitment to reconciliation, ethical practice, and restorative care. Her work—in the classroom, the field, and the forest—is rooted in compassion, humility, and a belief in the power of healing through nature and relationship.

Morgan Cooper

Educator|

Community Builder|

Inclusion Advocate|

Morgan Cooper is an educator and community-builder with a passion for supporting people—particularly neurodiverse youth—in discovering their unique gifts and contributing meaningfully to their communities. She holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Education, along with additional qualifications in special education. Her work is grounded in inclusive values that recognize and celebrate all forms of diversity—human and nature alike.

Morgan is also the founder of Community Connect, a grassroots initiative focused on building strengths-based opportunities for neurodiverse individuals, and the sole proprietor of Living Out Loud, where she creates playful, purpose-driven programs that foster connection, confidence, and belonging.

She contributes her creativity, compassion, and collaborative spirit to the Biophilic Health team, helping to cultivate inclusive communities grounded in meaningful connection—where everyone can thrive.

Katherine Kantor

Graphic Designer|

Painter|

Art Director|

Print Production Coordinator|

Katherine’s artistic flair and passion for nature have fuelled a lifetime of personal growth and contentment. She is able to manifest the desired vision and message into an interesting and informative creative product in a variety of media and communication channels. Currently working as a freelance marketing designer, visual artist, and a graphic designer within the field of children’s educational publishing she is able to add fun and focus to any creative endeavour.

Growing up surrounded by nature allowed Katherine to truly and wholeheartedly understand the healing benefits of our natural world and the importance of connecting with Earth’s natural elements in order to foster inner peace, mental health, and physical fitness. She is a huge proponent of Biophilic Health, encouraging all to embrace, sustain, and preserve the fauna and flora of natural spaces that surround us.

Katherine believes in inner stillness and active listening fostering understanding, tolerance, compromise, and collaboration to achieve common goals and support personal endeavours for individual and social growth. She follows her heart and is able to tune in to the people she connects with in order to understand and help promote their personal creative vision. Creative expression is her passion, vision, heart, and soul.

Jamie-Lynn Gillingham

Indigenous Artisan | Educator | Diindiisi Kwe (Bluejay Woman)|

Jaimie-Lynn was given the name Diindiisi Kwe, meaning Bluejay Woman. The name carries a deeper meaning—honouring the beautiful music created when the bluejay flies from limb to limb. This graceful, winged rhythm is the foundation of her name and spirit. She is a proud First Nations Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) artisan, whose roots are deeply connected to the legacy of the Residential Schools—a member of a family of survivors, and also of those who did not survive. Through her work, she honours their memory and resilience.

Jaimie-Lynn shares her traditional skills and teachings throughout the community, believing that preserving and passing on Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices strengthens us as a Nation. As a contributor to Biophilic Health Inc and ConnectByNature Therapy Services, Jaimie-Lynn brings an essential voice and presence to the work of reconnecting children and youth to the Land, culture, and nature’s intelligence. Through her artistry and community leadership, she helps nurture spaces of cultural safety, relational healing, and reciprocal learning, enriching our collective journey toward reconciliation, resilience, and well-being.

ABOUT