The sudden passing of
Tooker Gomberg leaves
us all saddened and contemplative.
One of Canada's most daring and
courageous political figures, Tooker
was a friend, co-conspirator and
guiding light to so many of us.
A selfless trailblazer, Tooker's
absence will be felt in the
environmental, labour,
social justice, human rights,
arts, and music communities
in Canada and around the world.
We invite you to join in reflection,
mourning and celebration of such an
exemplary writer, activist, politician,
videographer, public speaker and
advocate for a better world.
BIOGRAPHIES
In
the late 80’s Angela was associate director of the Edmonton
Bicycle Commuters, advocating for bicycle facilities, working alongside
her life partner Tooker Gomberg. She also worked for World Food Day,
coordinating the development of school materials and public educational
activities based on local and global food security issues.
Angela Bischoff is native to Edmonton, and grew up as a dancer and musician. She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta (sociology) and soon after became actively involved with the environmental movement in Edmonton.
Recognizing a gap in the urban environmental scene, she and Tooker co-founded in 1990 The EcoCity Society, an Edmonton based urban environmental advocacy organization that took on an array of issues including waste, climate change, ozone depletion, pesticides, transportation and energy. For 3 years they worked out of offices in the heart of downtown, paying the rent by facilitating the Rumpus Room, a multi-purpose alternative and progressive hub for the activist and musical scenes. Many bands got their start there, and many campaigns were developed. As Executive Director of EcoCity from 1992-96, Angela published annual environmental newspapers and executed dozens of advocacy campaigns. With Tooker working from the inside at City Hall, and Angela building public support for his initiatives through EcoCity, they successfully changed the face of the city by shifting public and political awareness and even winning the odd campaign.
After losing his Council seat in ’95, she and Tooker launched the Greenspiration Odyssey, traveling the globe with their bicycles and documenting, through video and writing, inspiring ecological initiatives.
From 1999 - 2002, Angela was Project Manager with the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Clean Air Partnership, agencies of the City of Toronto that aim to reduce climate change and smog emissions. She organized the annual Smog Summit conferences, and managed the educational funding program Cool Schools.
After cycling through India for 6 months, Angela worked as a sustainable transportation manager with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax. There she coordinated advocacy campaigns and events such as Car Free Day, building public and political profile for local sustainable transportation projects.
After the tragic passing of her partner Tooker due to pharma-induced suicide, Angela immersed herself in issues of mental health, sustainable activism, big-pharma, and the dangers of anti-depressant drugs. She is currently writing, researching, networking and speaking exclusively about these issues. She can be reached at greenspi@web.ca