Preserving the past by planning and building for the future
ABOUT
Matrix Heritage is an Eastern Ontario based heritage and archaeological consulting firm. From background reviews to complex mitigations, we find innovative solutions that benefit our clients while upholding the highest standard in cultural resource management practices. We work closely with our clients, First Nations communities, and stakeholders to find project specific approaches that meet planning, development, and heritage preservation needs.
Our highly qualified staff of professionals are well versed in provincial and federal policies which enables us to provide targeted services to both the public and private sectors. No project is too big or too small to receive excellent customer service. Every client receives the same comprehensive and personal approach. We are here to help navigate the assessment process from initial advice and planning through to assessments and mitigation.
Matrix Heritage brings together archaeologists and heritage professionals with extensive experience in the pre-contact Indigenous and historical archaeology of Ontario, built heritage, and cultural landscape evaluations and impact assessments. Our core staff includes Ben Mortimer, Senior Archaeologist and Principal and Nadine Kopp, Senior Archaeologist and Associate. Ben and Nadine have participated in hundreds of archaeological projects and, under their licenses, have successfully completed over 400 archaeological assessments across Ontario.
Our team is made up of bright and like-minded individuals, who have come together to provide a full suite of services. We come from a variety of different fields and technical backgrounds, yet our passion for heritage ties us all together.
Check out the people who make Matrix Heritage the amazing company it truly is.
OUR TEAM
Archaeology
Principal Archaeologist
Nadine attended her first excavation in 1999, sparking a lifelong passion for uncovering stories buried beneath our feet, and sometimes beneath the waves. With two decades of experience in Cultural Resource Management, she has worked on a wide range of projects across Ontario and beyond, from large-scale infrastructure and urban heritage assessments to shoreline and underwater investigations. A trained Underwater Archaeologist, Nadine’s expertise spans both terrestrial and submerged cultural landscapes. She approaches each project as a partnership in stewardship, helping clients achieve their goals while ensuring cultural heritage is understood and preserved.
Associate Senior Archaeologist
Ben has been pursuing his love of Ontario archaeology for over three decades. He was introduced to archaeology with his first site visit in 1982 and started getting his hands dirty volunteering on excavations with Parks Canada in 1990. Ben's experiences include a diverse breadth of sites across Ontario where he has lead hundreds of projects.
Staff Archaeologist
Andrea has had a fascination for history and archaeology from an early age. Following her undergraduate degree, her first job in archaeology was in 2004 on an incredibly large site in Ontario which solidly hooked her into life as an archaeologist. Her post-graduate education took her to Scotland in 2006 where she worked in archaeology following her studies. For more than a decade she has worked on a wide variety of sites across Ontario.
Archaeological Operations Manager
Jeff has been working in Ontario archaeology since 2003, developing extensive experience in the Trent Valley and across Southern Ontario. With a background in GIS-based spatial analysis and landscape archaeology, he has contributed to research on settlement patterns, mortuary practices, and cultural landscapes. His work with Parks Canada and private-sector archaeology has taken him across Ontario, applying innovative approaches to archaeological resource management.
Field Director
Carina’s early love of history led her to study Classics and Anthropology at the University of New Brunswick where she earned her Bachelor of Arts. She undertook her first archaeological dig in 2016 where her love of history, the outdoors, and continued learning were joined. These passions have grown over her decade long experience in the field that she now brings to her role as a Field Director. She has directed and supported Stage 1–4 assessments and burial site investigations across Ontario, including projects with the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada.
Field Director
Em has always had a love for history and heritage, but their love for archaeology started on a family trip to L’anse Aux Meadows in 2012. During their undergraduate degree, they worked on various projects across Nova Scotia, using ground penetrating radar to locate everything from shipwreck mass graves to paleolithic shorelines buried beneath old Acadian landscapes. Since returning to Ontario, they have worked across the province on pre- and post-contact sites, complex urban sites, and remote northern projects.
Natasha Dilkie
Forensic Archaeologist
Natasha holds an Honours B.A. in Near Eastern Archaeology and Anthropology from Wilfrid Laurier University and an M.Sc. in Applied Science from Saint Mary’s University. She has completed archaeological fieldwork in Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, England, and Chile, specializing in human skeletal anatomy and burial site investigation. Her professional experience includes work with the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office, the Miami‑Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Nova Scotia RCMP. Her current work focuses on the analysis and interpretation of North American history and Indigenous artefacts.
Heritage
Senior Architectural Historian
Natalie’s passion for architecture and history was sparked during two years in the UK as a child, exploring castles and historic sites most weekends. Natalie’s research and reporting experience includes a wide variety of built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes across Ontario, for federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector clients. She is a current board member of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada, and a Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP).
Associate Senior Architectural Historian and Heritage Planner
Julie is a cultural heritage professional with over 30 years of experience and training in the fields of heritage planning, environmental assessment, public history, cultural landscapes, and heritage assessments. Julie has led major heritage and public history projects for federal and provincial governments, Indigenous organizations, developers and architects, law firms, and municipalities. Julie is also trained and experienced in museums, interpretation, online media production, public consultations, and program evaluation.
Junior Architectural Historian
Giulia holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science and a Master of Architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her academic work focused on Heritage Architecture, emphasizing archival and primary-source research and a strong understanding of municipal and provincial heritage policy. With her architectural training, she brings advanced knowledge of building systems, material comprehension, and historic construction techniques to heritage assessment and reporting. This work is anchored by a thoughtful sensitivity to the cultural landscapes and layered histories that underpin heritage planning in Ontario.
