From a young age, Aleksander was closely connected to Estonian community life. He attended Estonian kindergarten (lasteaed) and spent some summers at Jõekääru camp, particularly at Jõekääru Volleyball Camp. Over time, however, one activity became especially important to his upbringing: Estonian Scouts (Skaudid). Travelling to Toronto every Saturday for weekly meetings, Aleksander found both a sense of belonging and a foundation that would shape his later interests.
His involvement in Scouts also brought him to Kotkajärve camp, which he attended for fifteen years. Visiting throughout the year, Aleksander watched the landscape evolve—from February’s cold winter days, when bare trees stand against a muted, snow-blanketed landscape; to the fall, when a colourful patchwork of leaves carpets the ground; and finally to summer, when the forest is at its most lively—bright green trees and activities in full swing.
“Through Scouts, we’re taught that we’re nature’s best friends, and that we always have a responsibility to care for it.”
(Aleksander Mell)
These experiences helped shape how Aleksander understood nature and his place within it. “Through Scouts, we’re taught that we’re nature’s best friends, and that we always have a responsibility to care for it,” he said. “That led me to being excited about biology and nature.”
Aleksander went on to study biology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is currently completing a Master of Science degree in Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. His research is done in collaboration with his lab in Guelph and Agriculture Canada.
“Right now, I’m focusing on the South Nation watershed, just south of Ottawa. I look at benthic invertebrates (organisms that live on the bottom of rivers) and try to connect that data to imagery, whether it’s from satellites, drones, or aircraft. My goal is to develop more exciting methods of monitoring biodiversity,” he explained.
Beyond the technical methods, Aleksander’s work is inspired by a deeper appreciation for rivers as living, interconnected systems. “Water is one of the most important resources we have, and rivers show us how interconnected everything in the environment really is,” he said. “And while other folks studying wildlife biology typically look at the bigger animals, I’ve always loved the little things that run the world, and those happen to be bugs.”
He went on to explain how many insects rely on water during critical stages of their life cycles, making rivers central not just to aquatic ecosystems, but to life on land as well. “Many insects spend part of their lives in water before emerging onto land,” he said. “Dragonflies, mayflies, moths, and flies all begin as larvae in rivers, then become food for other animals, or act as pollinators.”
Much of Aleksander’s time is spent translating what he sees in the field into data that can be analyzed and shared. “We bring samples back, process them, and sequence their DNA to identify which species are present,” he said. “That gives us a long list of what’s living in the river. From there, I do a lot of coding, programming, and statistical analysis to connect that biological data with imagery, either collected in the field or sourced online, to find better ways to monitor ecosystems.”
“With mining developments in the Ring of Fire region, monitoring rivers is critical. These waterways are essential for transportation, fishing, and drinking water.”
(Aleksander Mell)
While much of this work happens in the lab, his research has also taken him far beyond southern Ontario. “Our lab works with collaborators in places like New Brunswick and Labrador,” he said. “We’ve also started a project with the Mushkegowuk Council, an Indigenous community in Northern Ontario.”
That work, he explained, is closely tied to urgent environmental concerns. “In September 2025, I travelled north to train community members on sampling methods,” he said. “With mining developments in the Ring of Fire region, monitoring rivers is critical. These waterways are essential for transportation, fishing, and drinking water.”
Although his academic and professional commitments have made it harder to stay as involved in the Estonian community as he once was, Aleksander plans on getting more involved in the future. “Being involved in Scouts was such a big part of my life,” he said. “I gained so many lessons and life experience there. Now, I feel like I have a lot of my own knowledge to share with the next generation of kids.”
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Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.
This article and video were created by Natalie Jenkins as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.
