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.

As a proactive innovator, experienced at building & nurturing networks and coalitions, Katrina is informed by broad systems thinking. An insightful communicator and critical thinker, Katrina’s focus has been in community development through local food systems, urban agriculture, poverty reduction and advocacy for social change. By activating collaborative action and inter-sector partnership building, Katrina empowers individuals, networks, and communities to identify and attain coordinated pathways that lead to meaningful action to benefit collective wellbeing.

Carolyn moved to the Columbia Valley for the mountains and outdoor activities over 13 years ago.

Growing up on a dairy farm, she is passionate about supporting local farmers and eating healthy and local food..  Over 35 years ago she was employed at Cara Flight Kitchen where meals were provided for all major airlines.  While working there she witnessed countless amounts of food waste including items not requiring refrigeration.  Now she hopes to reduce the amount of food waste in the Columbia Valley and provide healthy food to those in need.  She is excited to see where Food and Farm & the Columbia Valley will take Food Recovery in the coming years

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.

Living in the Columbia Valley for the last 20 years with her husband and two children, Lisa is thankful to live on an acreage with many furry and feathered members.

A passion for working with little people and adults, some with diverse abilities, Lisa became an Early Childhood Educator, and a Family Steward for Diverse Family Roots Society. She takes the time required to create meaningful relationships, always honouring the uniqueness of each soul.

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.

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Ann’s experience with local food started at a young age, growing up in a family that grew and preserved as much of their own food as they could, often trading it for other goods and services. This naturally led Ann to a career in the food industry, where she worked in institutional food service management. Her career has also included volunteer management, and most recently, Kinesiology, focusing on programming and health education.

Ann retired to the Columbia Valley in 2021 and has found the perfect opportunity to reconnect with her roots. She’s excited to be involved in an organization that shares her passion for local food systems, health, and community.

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Introducing Priya Biswas, a seasoned leader with a passion for sustainability. With over 15 years of experience driving innovation and efficiency in large-scale organizations, her expertise in product management and team leadership will be instrumental in developing and implementing our new Food Recovery Program.

Before joining our team, Priya held key roles at GE Digital and ATB Financial, where she successfully led teams and transformed organizational processes. Her ability to think strategically and execute effectively will be invaluable as we work to reduce food waste and strengthen our community. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Priya is deeply committed to environmental sustainability. She’s eager to leverage her skills to develop and implement a successful food recovery program that will benefit our environment and local organizations. Her passion for sustainability and reducing waste aligns perfectly with the Food and Farm’s vision for a more sustainable Columbia Valley.

When she’s not busy leading our Food Recovery Program, you might find Priya exploring the great outdoors, capturing stunning images, and sharing stories through her lens.

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