Staff Member

Alyssa Loucks

Biography: Alyssa is 19 years old, and was born in Toronto, Ontario. She lived in Ontario for 16 years then moved to the Cowichan Valley along with her mother. She is very passionate for music and art. While she is taking a Summer Student Internship Program with CGC, she is also preparing for University to become a youth counselor. Alyssa is very grateful to be working with CGC. She believes that it’s a great opportunity and learning experience.

Position: Food Security Intern

e-mail: alyssa@cowichangreencommunity.org

Amanda Reimer

Biography: Although she is a prairie girl at heart, Amanda moved to the Valley because of her longstanding love affair with the West Coast. When she isn’t gardening, combing the beach or exploring the mountain terrain, you will find Amanda reading works of poetry alongside authors that inspire the heart and the mind. Currently she has a degree in professional writing and is working on her MA in creative non-fiction.

Position: Communications & Administration

e-mail: amanda@cowichangreencommunity.org

Brenda Brown

Biography: Brenda moved to Duncan to be with her partner in 2010 and together they made a cozy home at his hobby farm. It is twelve acres with a big funky house, barn, garage, large organic garden, sheep, chicken and paddocks. Brenda graduated from Georgian University in Barrie, Ontario with a diploma in Business Administration/Accounting. In subsequent positions she learned from her mentors and these roots grew into a thirty year career of various supervisor/management positions in full cycle accounting.

Position: Bookkepper

e-mail: bjbooks101@gmail.com

Heather Kaye

Biography: A long-time locavore, Heather is keen to be putting her skills in agricultural communications back to work with CGC. When she’s not talking to farmers, she can be found hiking with her family, puttering in the garden and drawing up plans for a wood-fired pizza oven on her property.

Position: Food Security Coordinator

e-mail: heather@cowichangreencommunity.org

Judy Stafford

Biography: Born in Vancouver, Judy took a long detour through life and other countries before she was enticed back to this gorgeous Valley. Blessed to be living on a float house and working in a fabulous organization that fuels her creative and environmental fire, she's reminded how much more inspiring life is when working in a place that is aligned with her passions.

Position: Executive Director, and overall fabulous person

e-mail: judy@cowichangreencommunity.org

Kristi Tomlin

Biography: Having moved from her home town of Saskatoon over a year ago, Kristi is delighted to be on board at CGC! Her love of plants and resolve to build a healthier, happier world, are the driving forces in her life. Kristi holds a diploma in Horticulture, a certificate in Permaculture Design and is currently completing a Horticulture Therapy Certificate. Outside of work, Kristi can be found humming in the garden, knitting mittens, and paddling about in her wooden canoe.

Position: Ceres Edible Landscaping

e-mail: kristi@cowichangreencommunity.org

Raelynn Gibson

Biography: It was while working abroad in Thailand when Raelynn was first introduced to the kind of 'radical' farmers that have inspired in her a deep passion for food, farming, and environmental stewardship. Raelynn holds a degree in International Development, has recently completed her Organic Master Gardener Certification, and has just enrolled in a Holistic Nutrition program. She loves to bake, garden, knit, and she attempts to sew. When she isn't playing arts and crafts she is often hiking in the Island's forests or exploring the beaches.

Position: Buy Local Buy Fresh Mapping Coordinator

e-mail: raelynn@cowichangreencommunity.org

Robin Sturley

Biography: Since the beginnings of her adventure with permaculture at sixteen, Robin has been actively seeking ways to integrate sustainable practice into her life. She holds a degree in Anthropology, which illuminated the extreme diversity that exists in human culture on Earth, and confirmed her intuition that we are all alike on some level. After two years of apprenticeship on a Certified Organic farm in the BC interior, Robin has now settled on Vancouver Island to continue farming, to grow organic seed and to give back to this community that so inspires her.

Position: Volunteer, FruitSave Coordinator

e-mail: robin@cowichangreencommunity.org

Todd Gesshe

Biography: A tree hopper at heart, Todd loves working with plants. When he isn't climbing trees as a certified arborist, or working with CGC, he can be found in the greenhouse or outside in his garden tending to his veggies.

Position: Ceres Edible Landscaping

e-mail: thetreehopper@gmail.com

Vanessa Goodall

Biography: From Lantzville, BC, Vanessa is enthused to now call the Cowichan Valley home. Vanessa has a background in globalization and food security, and is passionate about the relationship between building peaceful communities and food. When she is not talking about food or enjoying a good meal, you can find Vanessa hiking about Vancouver Island or paddling about her veggie garden.