A maker, grower, problem solver and occasional artist.

Ethan grew up in the Yukon, the son of small-business owners who fixed what was broken and built what was missing. That upbringing shaped him, from building his business to building the shoes his wife wore on their wedding day. It's a small detail, but it says something true about him: when he cares about something, he makes it himself, by hand, properly.

Growing up in the North taught him that when resources are scarce, people have to be able to rely on each other. You work hard, you share what you have, and you give back to make your community stronger.

He left the North to earn a Ph.D. in environmental ethics, which he taught at the University of Waterloo. After founding several technology companies he left that world to concentrate on building a new life here on Salt Spring.

He moved to the Island in 2020, first to be closer to his mom, and then to put down roots. In 2025, he married the love of his life, Bahareh. Bahareh was born in Iran to a large and loving family and grew up in Canada. She spent 20+ years as a successful creative and has recently become a registered psychotherapist (qualifying).

Ethan began running his foundation to create access, spaces, and opportunities for Islanders to learn, create, and gather together.

He describes the island the way a lot of us feel it: “a place where, despite being famously known as the island of 10,000 arguments, we still believe in each other.”