About Us

About Columbia Valley Food & Farm

Founded in 2018

With gratitude we work, live, play, eat, and grow on the unceded shared territories of the Shuswap Indian Band of the Secwépemc Nation, the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, and the land chosen as home by the Métis Peoples of British Columbia. We give thanks that we are welcomed to share this beautiful place.

About Columbia Valley Food & Farm

Founded in 2018

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We envision a thriving local food system in the Columbia Valley.

Columbia Valley Food and Farm is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting our local food system. To support our region’s growers and makers, we produce an annual local food guide connecting producers with consumers. We are embarking on an exciting project to build food recovery. We work with complementary organizations to strengthen local food initiatives, we host events to celebrate our local food culture, and we work hard to build community through our shared love of local food.

ENHANCE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM — Support the local food system by
connecting producers and processors with consumers through our Local Food
Guide and implementing and enhancing food recovery in the Columbia Valley.

COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE — Collaborate and partner with like-
minded organizations locally and beyond, to align awareness, avoid duplication,
and share best practices.

ENGAGE — Build an engaged and inclusive community to sustain and grow our
vision and mission.

EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY — Promote, advocate for, and highlight the
importance of a local food system within our community.

OUR SEEDS (MISSION)

We support and celebrate local food from farm to plate, through education, collaboration, advocacy and action

OUR SOIL (PRINCIPLES)

Enhance, Collaborate, Engage, and Education

OUR HARVEST (VISION)

We envision a thriving local food system in the Columbia Valley.

What We Do

Columbia Valley Food and Farm is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Columbia Valley-made and grown food. To support our region’s growers and makers, we develop an annual local food guide to engage vendors and connect them with consumers. We also work with complementary organizations to strengthen local food initiatives, host events to celebrate our local food culture, and recruit engaged people to build an inclusive membership.

Navigate the Future of Agriculture with Our Farm

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We always welcome people who are passionate about local food systems to join our Board

Sylvia Page

Chair

Sylvia’s interest in local and in particular local, organic food, began in the year 2000 and was mainly driven by health concerns. Committing to local and organic brought great results for her health and she has been committed ever since.

She became aware of the CV Food and Farm a few years ago and attended the 2019 Annual meeting. She was so impressed with the passion that was evident to support locally grown and produced food.

As she was exploring ways to give back to the community in a volunteer capacity, this seemed a perfect match.

She joined as the Board’s Secretary in January 2021 and was elected Chair in March 2022.

Glenda Wah

Treasurer

Glenda, alongside her husband Jack embarked on their horticultural journey in 1982 when they purchased Winderberry Nursery from the Taylor family. At that time the business consisted of two small greenhouses and was only open for two months each spring.

They spent the next 36 years ‘growing’ the business into the thriving family operation it is today. Winderberry is now made up of over 20,000 square feet of greenhouse area, a nursery and garden centre, a five acre certified organic vegetable and fruit farm, Edible Acres, operated by daughter Lin and husband Oliver, and the Edible Acres Cafe and Catering, operated by daughter Anna and partner and chef, Randy.

Although the business is now owned and in the capable hands of Lin, Oliver, Anna and Randy, Glenda remains committed to the vision of community, healthy lifestyle, and all that Columbia Valley Food and Farm stands for. She encourages anyone who is interested in the many aspects surrounding local food to join our vibrant organization!

Jane Fleet

Secretary

Jane fleet currently works as a GP in Invermere. When she’s not working she keeps herself busy with her family, her dogs, singing in the choir, outside activities and living off grid. She has been chair for living lakes Canada for the last 6 years and has a passion for environmental protection.

Stephanie Hall-Fellows

Director

Stephanie comes from a long line of Columbia Valley Farmers. Her passion for food has taken her through culinary school and across the world. Where she lived in Galway working at a restaurant that changed the menu daily in order to utilize all the produce the local farmers could provide. This was a spark that lit her passion for local food and supporting local farmers.

Since moving back home to the Columbia Valley she has been a member of Food and Farm as it has connected her with more local farmers. Her interests lie in preventing food waste and supporting local farmers.

Ute Juras

Director

Born and raised in Germany, Ute immigrated to Canada in 1982 and moved to Canal Flats in 1992 to start a family. In 2004, following the incorporation of Canal Flats, Ute ran successfully for Council and served 2 ½ terms as Councillor and 2 terms as Mayor. During her time on Council, Ute also represented Canal Flats at the Regional District of East Kootenay.

In 2017, she relocated to Invermere and served one term on the Invermere Council. In December 2021, Ute joined Family Dynamix as the Director of Program Management and was promoted to Executive Director in November 2023. Alongside her professional career, Ute has been an active volunteer and board member, contributing to the Canal Flats Newsletter, serving as Block Parent Coordinator and a Parent Advisory Council member for Martin Morigeau School, as well as being involved with the Family Dynamix Board and Lake Windermere Ambassadors.

Lara McCormack

Chef and Nourish CV Program Director

My introduction to fabulous food began as a young child. My parents entertained a lot, my grandmother was a caterer, and my Dad travelled the world with his career as an architect. He often brought my brother and I with him, where I dined in some of the world’s best restaurant at a young age. My grandfather was a farmer, my mom made cheese at home and a Ukrainian heritage exposed me to lots of time spent in the kitchen for preparation of meals that were featured over the holidays. Celebration around food was always a big part of my life and this is why I choose to make it my career. It is where I find people are happy.

At the age of 16 I was hired by Earl’s Restaurants where, most of what I do today, came from training over the 8 years I worked with them. After graduating with a BBA, majoring in marketing and management from St. Francis Xavier University, I worked at Banff Earl’s for a brief stint before deciding to travel to the UK where I had a 2-year work visa. During this time, I worked for the St. Andrews Links Trust managing the lounge at the new public clubhouse that sat between the Old, New & Jubilee courses in the golfers’ paradise at St. Andrews. This job gave me the footing and confidence to move to London where I was hired as the Hospitality Manager for London’s largest restaurant group; Groupe Chez Gerard. It was here that I not only met my husband, but I had the opportunity to work with world class chefs and plan big events for a stellar clientele. My eye for detail and my palate was exposed to a whole new world!

Married life led me to Vancouver for 5 years where I worked in a cookbook shop doing cooking classes with well-known chefs publicizing their cookbooks, served at the Teahouse in Stanley Park, managed a popular Italian bakery/ café and operated our own personal chef service. From there, my husband was offered a position with Gordon Ramsey where we found ourselves back in London for 2 years where I continued to work in well-known cafes and gastropubs.

Returning to Canada, we settled in Edmonton where I consulted for various businesses in marketing plans while raising a young family. All roads eventually led to Fairmont Hot Springs as we decided to raise our family in a mountain lifestyle. I made the decision to go to culinary school knowing my future was to continue working in food. While operating the golf food and beverage program at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, I took time off to attend Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland where I learned about food from the ground up on this organic farm.

Coming home with a vision in hand, From Scratch Foods was incorporated and opened in April 2012. Thirteen years later, this business still thrives in the local community catering to locals & tourists alike while we develop relationships with local farmers and producers, educating the children in schools about food and fill a niche in the valley for a healthy eating. We continue to focus on our production kitchen, making food for retail grocery stores, small event catering, and offer consulting services. The most recent position of Food Recovery Coordinator for Nourish is full circle as my deepest desire is to do all I can to ensure that no one goes hungry in our community, country and world.

Alison Bell

Past Chair

Alison Bell is a chef, food educator and all-round gastronome. Her commitment to bolstering the local food system has seen her work closely with local farmers, highlight and utilize local food in culinary education for over two decades, initiate innovative projects like the Groundswell Community Greenhouse and lead the formation of three local food non-profits. A passion for food and the local food system saw Alison complete an MA in Gastronomy, with her dissertation focusing on food security and agriculture in the Columbia Valley. Alison sat as the Chair of Columbia Valley Food and Farm for 5 years.

Sarah Nason

Event Planning Lead

Sarah joined the CV Food & Farm Board of Directors shortly after moving to the Columbia Valley in November of 2024. After leaving a career in the Aviation Industry, she entered the world of food service and food accessibility—first in a family-owned restaurant, then an organic grocery store, and eventually a not-for-profit mobile grocery service where she discovered the challenges of food waste and food recovery. This sparked her passion for tackling the complex issue of food security.

In 2017, she relocated to Invermere and served one term on the Invermere Council. In December 2021, she joined Family Dynamix as the Director of Program Management, advancing to Executive Director in November 2023. Throughout her time in the region, she has been an active volunteer and board member with several community organizations, including the Canal Flats Newsletter, the Martin Morigeau School PAC, the Family Dynamix Board, and the Lake Windermere Ambassadors.