Gorka Ortega Mateos

I was born and raised in Mexico City until my family moved to Toronto, which has been home to me for the last 14 years. I am currently finishing up my environmental science degree at the University of Toronto. In my free time, I love to play sports, especially soccer which has been part of my life since I could walk. As for my more artsy/creative side, I enjoy taking pictures, not very good ones but it is still an activity that I heavily enjoy. I also love listening to music, and most recently, I am learning how to play the guitar. I’ll give you a mean rendition of the Pink Panther theme song.

Before I went tree planting, I had never even gone outside of the GTA. Tree planting has opened up my world to a whole lot of possibilities and opportunities. In my first 2 years, I was able to see and explore the beauty of northern Ontario as well as a bit of New Brunswick. Since then, I’ve made my way over to the Promise Land (British Columbia) which is where I’ve found planting to be the most profitable. I’ve met some amazing people and learned lots from them. Out west is where it’s at!

Industry Experience

• 4 years planting for various companies in 3 different provinces (ON, BC, and NB)

What Planters Can Expect From Me

Being a rookie crew boss, I expect the beginning of the season to be a bit of a learning curve, probably with a few mistakes, but hey that’s the only way to get better! Through my organizational skills and attention to detail, I am sure I will progress rapidly to be the crew boss I hope to be. I will put in the time to help my planters perfect their technique and facilitate, to the best of my abilities, their goals for the season. I strive to create a safe and positive work environment so my planters can have an enjoyable and profitable season.

What I Expect From Planters

I want my planters to not only be respectful but also to look after one another. Some days can really wear you down, so having a crew that cares about each other is really important to me. I expect my planters to show up to work every day prepared for the conditions the day has in store and try their best to push themselves. It is essential that my planters communicate with me and each other to create a healthy work environment.