ABOUT US
A Passion For Sustainable Building Design
It is this passion that led to the inception of GNAR Inc. a building design firm focused on bringing clients vision to life while also having a positive impact on the environment. The desire became reality in 2016 when the company was established in the mountain town of Whistler, BC. Ongoing education in areas such as Energy Efficiency, Energy Retrofits, Passive House Design, Net Zero, and Energy Positive Building Design has allowed the GNAR Inc. team to become experts in sustainable building design with a desire to see it become the building design standard in the Sea to Sky corridor and beyond.
Our Mission
To Have Every Renovation, Addition, and New Building Design Be a Sustainable One.
Meet The GNAR Team
Eddie founded GNAR Inc in 2016. A civil engineer from Australia, he’s passionate about sustainability and tackling climate change through design. With expertise in steel design, BIM 3D modeling, and Passive House principles, he oversees all projects hands-on. Bonus: he’s also a top-tier barista!
Mark, our Lead Sustainable Home Designer, has a Master’s in Architecture from Dublin. He swapped Ireland’s rain for Whistler’s slopes but is set to return after time back home. Passionate about eco-friendly design, he blends industry knowledge with hands-on experience—making him a builder’s dream designer.
Leona, who originally hails from the Czech Republic, holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering. A Passive House Consultant and licensed Energy Advisor, she’s been with GNAR Inc since 2018. A wizard in Archicad, she can draft anything. When not designing, she’s biking or ski touring—winter camping since age 11!
Eddie Dearden
CEO & Founder
Mark Kavanagh
Lead Sustainable Home Designer
Leona Slivova
Sustainable Home Designer / Energy Advisor
Luke moved from Ireland in 2019 and has never looked back since. With a Master’s in Architecture, he specializes in permitting, BIM 3D modeling, and custom home design. He believes good architecture changes lives. After one winter season, Whistler became home—you’ll find him biking or on the slopes.
Rosario, a Sustainable Home Designer from Chile, holds a Master’s in Architecture. Growing up in Puerto Varas, Patagonia, she was immersed in nature, shaping her passion for design. She specializes in creating lasting, harmonious connections between architecture and the natural world.
Rachel is based in the Sea to Sky Corridor, where her passion for environmentally sustainable design led her to joining the amazing team at GNAR Inc. With a Bachelor's in Architecture, she specializes in digital prefabrication and residential design. Outside of work, you'll find her rock climbing or hiking with her pup in Squamish's forests.
Luke O'Neill
Sustainable Home Designer
Rosario Puschel
Sustainable Home Designer
Rachel Hermansen
Sustainable Home Designer
With over 15 years of experience, Jessica is a seasoned interior designer specializing in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Her background in project coordination ensures smooth execution, blending creativity with meticulous planning. She thrives on collaboration, making every project efficient, effortless, and enjoyable.
Also hailing from Quebec, Audrey has experience crafting functional and beautiful spaces. She blends creativity with precision, ensuring every design is both stylish and practical. When she’s not bringing interiors to life, you’ll find her on her mountain bike, embracing the thrill of the trails—her love for adventure and design inspires her dynamic approach to creating inspiring interiors.
Courtney, GNAR Inc’s Director of Sales and Marketing, has a BBA in Marketing and 15+ years of experience in branding, design, and content strategy. A lifelong athlete, she landed in Whistler in 2004, where her love for sustainability grew—leading her to join this dynamic, eco-conscious team..
Jessica Routhier
Lead Interior Designer
Audrey Robitaille
Interior Designer
Courtney Foxgord
Sales and Marketing
Tara, our Operations Manager, visited Whistler for five days—19 years ago! With Irish roots, she balances out our Irish-heavy team. She keeps projects moving, sparks great conversations, and has a history of running businesses in the Sea to Sky. Off-duty, she’s golfing, biking, or doing stand-up comedy.
Mya and Billie are the ultimate office dogs. When not napping, they greet clients, join brainstorming sessions, and maintain perfect attendance. Off duty, they love trails and snow play. Stop by the office—they’ll welcome you with a wag (and maybe a slobbery kiss)!
Tara O'Doherty
Operations Manager
Billie and Mya
Barketing Assistant & Snacking Specialists
Tara, our Operations Manager, visited Whistler for five days—19 years ago! With Irish roots, she balances out our Irish-heavy team. She keeps projects moving, sparks great conversations, and has a history of running businesses in the Sea to Sky. Off-duty, she’s golfing, biking, or doing stand-up comedy.
Eddie Dearden
CEO & Founder
Mark, our Lead Sustainable Home Designer, has a Master’s in Architecture from Dublin. He swapped Ireland’s rain for Whistler’s slopes but is set to return after time back home. Passionate about eco-friendly design, he blends industry knowledge with hands-on experience—making him a builder’s dream designer.
Mark Kavanagh
Lead Sustainable Home Designer
Leona, who originally hails from the Czech Republic, holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering. A Passive House Consultant and licensed Energy Advisor, she’s been with GNAR Inc since 2018. A wizard in Archicad, she can draft anything. When not designing, she’s biking or ski touring—winter camping since age 11!
Leona Slivova
Sustainable Home Designer
Energy Advisor
Rachel is based in the Sea to Sky Corridor, where her passion for environmentally sustainable design led her to joining the amazing team at GNAR Inc. With a Bachelor's in Architecture, she specializes in digital prefabrication and residential design. Outside of work, you'll find her rock climbing or hiking with her pup in Squamish's forests.
Luke O'Neill
Sustainable Home Designer
Rosario, a Sustainable Home Designer from Chile, holds a Master’s in Architecture. Growing up in Puerto Varas, Patagonia, she was immersed in nature, shaping her passion for design. She specializes in creating lasting, harmonious connections between architecture and the natural world.
Rosario Puschel
Sustainable Home Designer
Rachel is based in the Sea to Sky Corridor, where her passion for environmentally sustainable design led her to joining the amazing team at GNAR Inc. With a Bachelor's in Architecture, she specializes in digital prefabrication and residential design. Outside of work, you'll find her rock climbing or hiking with her pup in Squamish's forests.
Rachel Hermansen
Sustainable Home Designer
With over 15 years of experience, Jessica is a seasoned interior designer specializing in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Her background in project coordination ensures smooth execution, blending creativity with meticulous planning. She thrives on collaboration, making every project efficient, effortless, and enjoyable.
Jessica Routhier
Lead Interior Designer
Also hailing from Quebec, Audrey has experience crafting functional and beautiful spaces. She blends creativity with precision, ensuring every design is both stylish and practical. When she’s not bringing interiors to life, you’ll find her on her mountain bike, embracing the thrill of the trails—her love for adventure and design inspires her dynamic approach to creating inspiring interiors.
Audrey Robitaille
Interior Designer
Courtney, GNAR Inc’s Director of Sales and Marketing, has a BBA in Marketing and 15+ years of experience in branding, design, and content strategy. A lifelong athlete, she landed in Whistler in 2004, where her love for sustainability grew—leading her to join this dynamic, eco-conscious team..
Courtney Foxgord
Sales and Marketing
Tara, our Operations Manager, visited Whistler for five days—19 years ago! With Irish roots, she balances out our Irish-heavy team. She keeps projects moving, sparks great conversations, and has a history of running businesses in the Sea to Sky. Off-duty, she’s golfing, biking, or doing stand-up comedy.
Tara O'Doherty
Operations Manager
Mya and Billie are the ultimate office dogs. When not napping, they greet clients, join brainstorming sessions, and maintain perfect attendance. Off duty, they love trails and snow play. Stop by the office—they’ll welcome you with a wag (and maybe a slobbery kiss)!
Billie and Mya
Barketing Assistant &
Snacking Specialists
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