Executive Director

“I believe that substantial change in our relationship to food - what we eat, where it comes from, how it’s grown, and how it gets to us - is a foundational piece of a human future on this planet”

Hailing from the other side of the Rocky Mountains in Canmore AB, I have been developing grassroots community food solutions for around a decade. I am a passionate local food advocate, community builder and changemaker. I was the co-founder of Farm Box a community food hub, local & organic home delivery service, and regional network connecting the communities of Canmore, Banff & Cochrane to local farmers and seasonal food. I was also involved in the founding of the Canmore Community Garden, and Alpine Edible Schoolyards, a non- profit hybrid school garden & urban farm initiative. Now located in the Blaeberry Valley I am an avid gardener and homesteader increasing our food producing capacity every year.

Program and Market Manager

“The future of the earth can seem daunting, but I believe local food systems are one of the most important ways individuals can change their environmental impact.”

I am very excited to be a part of the Local Food Matters Team as the Program and Market Manager. With a background in hospitality and education, I have been lucky enough to engage with food systems and actors from various corners of the world, and look forward to continuing this in Golden. My passion started in university, when I completed a thesis on lobster fisheries and the lack of local knowledge within the policy surrounding them. I was then lucky enough to join a restaurant with a local food and carbon neutral focus in Oslo, Norway, where I saw how we can connect local farmers to economic enterprises that contribute to the nourishment and culture of the city. As a substitute teacher formerly and now again in Golden, I am excited to combine my hospitality background and skillset with my knowledge of local food systems and passion for education as the Program and Market Manager.

Program Coordinator

“Local food matters, because it is the backbone of our bodies and our communities. I'm thrilled to work towards a local food system that is accessible, abundant, and thriving.”

Growing up in an agricultural community in Ontario, I spent many Sunday afternoons on friends' farms, getting into trouble and taking for granted the bounty around me.

As a college student living in the city, I'd long forgotten the smell of compost, the feeling of dirt on my hands. A few friends began volunteering at a local organic farm, and all those childhood memories came flooding back.

I realized how impersonal my relationship with food had become, and the gulf between muddy boots and grocery store shelves.

This set me on a passionate journey of discovery, of gardening and soil and microbiology, of taste and smell and stronger relationships through shared callouses. I'm an enthusiastic composter, gardener, cook, baker and preserver, and a loyal customer to local farmers wherever I am. 

Our most intimate relationship with nature is when we put it in our mouths to feed us- knowing where our food came from, what it's made of, and most of all, where the next bite is coming from, is our most basic human need. 

President

“I joined LFM as a way to contribute my skills to the community that is raising my children and I look forward to bringing my experience, strategic planning skills and systems thinking in support of a thriving local food production system in Golden.”

My first awakening to the flaw of our conventional global food system was during my time spent working in Ghana. Walking through local food markets flooded with rotting tomatoes during the high season while everyone then consumed canned tomatoes imported from Italy the remainder of the year struck me as fundamentally wrong. Later as the ED of a non-profit focused on serving First Nations Youth I learned about the depth of the connection between people and the land on which we live and play, and food is often at the core of this relationship. Nutritious and healthy food has become an important tool to navigate some family health issues and there is much evidence about the dwindling nutritional content in commercially grown food products. For these reasons and more, I believe local food production is essential for the future of food for health, well-being, community development and even affordability.

Our family found our way to Golden in 2021 in an attempt to live a passionate life while raising children in a small community grounded in nature and the outdoors. I love helping my two girls feel connected and passionate about food in all aspects; growing, cooking and eating!

Vice-President

“I want to help tell the story of where our food comes from, so we can sustain a better relationship with the soil and planet which we rely upon!”

I was born and raised on an organic and ecological farm in a very agricultural community. Local food was a large part of my upbringing and I learned from a young age what is involved in producing, processing and cooking your own food. During the year of 2020, I really dove into the art and science of composting and building biologically active soil on my family farm. I love to talk about soil and compost as it is the most important resource in securing our food consumption as we move forward into a critical time of changes on our earth. I love to grow my own food and I also love to cook and talk about food. In my role as president, I want to help build a culture of food where people feel empowered to sell and buy local food and it is an integral part of our commerce. I also hope that we can help build food security, access to nutritious and affordable food into the fabric of our community. Overall, its my mission to educate and inspire our community about the local food in our home here in the Columbia valley.

Treasurer

“I’m hoping to meet like-minded people who are keen to contribute and make improvements to our community.”

I’m passionate about the local economy and working on climate change as well as making improvements to food justice issues and having more fun together as we increase our local food production and consumption. I joined this board because as a new mom and being new to Golden, I’m hoping to gain a sense of purpose and optimism as we contribute to tangible improvements towards food security in our community. To me this means, access to nourishing food and our food systems working in sustainable, ecologically and economically functional ways. I’m confident that from my experience working in organizational management in the private and public sector as well as volunteer/student initiatives in the refugee space for universities that I bring efficiency, governance knowledge, decision-making skills and curiosity to the non-profit/ Local Food Matters space. Beyond my business acumen, I had the awesome opportunity to be a part of the food growing and farmers’ market scene in Yellowknife and the Ottawa region as a grower and a seller. I’m hoping that with this position, we will have fun gardening and this will be a space where I can explore animal husbandry, hunting and foraging together, skills building, relationship building, and eating tasty food from recipes learned together using the abundance of garden and orchard produce.

Director

“I am a lifelong learner, and I am thrilled to learn from and contribute to this organization brimming with experienced and passionate people who, like me, are local food enthusiasts and advocates.”

I am a curious individual who is constantly seeking new ways to connect, to get engaged and to contribute my experience. I came to Golden with my small family to step back, spend time outdoors, and enjoy time in the mountains with my growing sons. I became a teacher, gained new perspective from my time away from the city and the corporate world, and am now enjoying bringing my engineering, project management, team leadership, management systems, and learning design knowledge in everything I am involved in. 

My gardening and food growing journey was heavily influenced by the generations of women in my family who planted beautiful gardens and taught me patiently. I lived on an acreage in windy Alberta, where I developed respect for food producers as I spent countless hours seeding, nurturing, weeding, thinning, harvesting, preserving, and sharing the plenty from my little cultivated plot. Fresh food excites me and my kitchen is one of my favourite indoor places. I want to share this love of food, and this organization of like-minded people is a great starting point to have a tangible impact. I am joining LFM to contribute to building a reliable, diverse and sustainable local food system that is accessible and can benefit everyone.

Director

“Food isn’t just a commodity, it’s a connection.”

They call me the “Crazy Professor” - a nickname coined by a friend after seeing one too many of my backyard DIY experiments. Honestly, anyone who knows me would probably agree. My journey to Local Food Matters began in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where I studied architectural engineering and discovered a lifelong passion for sustainable design.

A rock-climbing trip to India changed everything when I met a fellow climber from Canada who is now my husband. After relocating, I spent a formative year on Haida Gwaii. Without a work permit, I spent my time "working" the land instead, immersing myself in Indigenous knowledge and the abundance of the coast. As the locals say: "If you ever get lost on the islands, just get down on all fours and start eating." From harvesting seaweed and mushrooms to starting my first Canadian garden, that year taught me that food isn't just a commodity; it’s a connection. Since moving to Golden in 2014, I’ve established my sixth garden, raised chickens and goats, and even took up hunting—a far cry from my suburban childhood! Throughout my life, especially when navigating mental health challenges, the act of growing and producing food has been my anchor. I joined LFM because I believe food resilience is the heartbeat of a strong community, and I’m eager to share that frugal, sustainable spirit with my neighbors.