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
Partner and Senior Archaeologist
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Nadine attended her first excavation in 1999, confirming her desire to become an archaeologist. Since that first summer she has accumulated extensive experience on sites in Bermuda and across Ontario. As a trained Underwater Archaeologist, she has worked on shipwreck sites and submerged cultural resources in the waters of Ontario and as far afield as the Yukon, North Carolina, and Hawaii.
Principal and Senior Archaeologist
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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.
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.
Natalie Rathwell, MA
Architectural Historian
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Natalie is a PhD candidate at York University who specializes in the study and preservation of 19th and early 20th century Canadian architecture. Natalie has used her research expertise, report production skills, and innovative public engagement strategies, to make significant contributions to high-profile projects such as the Rideau Cultural Landscape Study and Tunney’s Pasture Cultural Landscape Analysis. Natalie's academic and professional dedication is evident in all aspects of her work, making her an invaluable asset to the field of architectural history and heritage preservation.
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.
Staff Archaeologist
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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.
Senior Field Director
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Mercedes has been working in archaeology since 2017 when she was involved in her first excavations at the Fortress of Louisbourg, where she developed her love for osteoarchaeology. In 2022 she completed her graduate degree and further tailored her knowledge through her research in ancient proteomics and paleopathology. Since 2019 her career has focused largely on CRM where she has participated in many exciting projects that have contributed to her growing knowledge of Ontario archaeology.
Kristian Johnson, MA
Cultural Heritage Technician / Indigenous Engagement Coordinator
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Kristian (Kiki) is a recent Master of Arts in History graduate from Nipissing University where he specialized in perpetrator studies. He began working with Matrix in 2021 as an archeological field technician in 2021 before moving into the roles of cultural heritage technician and indigenous engagement coordinator in 2023 and 2024.
