About Us

Born and raised in the heart of Toronto, Dusty spent most of his youth exploring the great outdoors beyond the city limits. Whether it was wearing out bicycles on trails or finding the perfect spot to sketch, he was always seeking the beauty in the world. In the 1970s, Dusty moved to Calgary, where he met his wife and raised their daughter.

Dusty’s early education was rooted in mechanical and architectural drafting. After moving out west, his growing environmental concerns led him to explore the field of renewable energy, delving into solar, wind, geothermal, and other sustainable technologies. Despite his technical pursuits, he continued to nurture his artistic side through drawing, glass etching, and custom painting.

The noise and daily stresses of city life eventually prompted Dusty and his family to relocate to Black Diamond. Here, Dusty became deeply involved in the community, managing the local recycle centre for 11 years and serving on the Sustainable Black Diamond Advisory Committee for 12 years. He also played a key role in developing the community’s sustainability manual.

Dusty’s passion for sustainability led him to earn his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) GA accreditation in 2016 and also became an Energy Advisor. It was during his time at the recycle centre that he envisioned the Sustainable Living Centre (SLC), a concept aimed at making communities wholly self-sustaining and resilient. With the SLC project realized, Dusty turned his attention to new initiatives.

One such initiative is the design and installation of rainwater harvesting systems. By capturing rainwater, communities can significantly reduce their dependence on municipal water treatment systems. In Black Diamond, capturing rainwater from all facilities could save approximately 4.8 million gallons (18,169,976 liters) of water annually.

Dusty also recognizes the importance of local food production for sustainable communities. This led to the creation of a vertical food growing initiative, where a converted 40-foot sea-can was placed at the local high school. Students from various courses participate in its day-to-day operations, learning valuable skills and contributing to the community. The sea-can recently received a 10.8 kW solar system to offset electrical costs, with the ultimate goal of operating entirely off-grid.