Upcoming Events and Opportunities

We're hiring an Office Assistant

We're hiring a Conference for the annual Growing Local Conference

St. Norbert Farmers Market is Hiring a Special Events Assistant

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Read the Good Food Heroes Comic Book

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Who we are

 

 

Our Staff

Kreesta Doucette, Executive Director
Kreesta grew up in the North and completed her undergraduate degree in Agriculture and a Masters in Rural Planning and Development. She has worked with communities and food for the last 11 years, conducted the Manitoba Farmers Market study in 2003, and from 2005-2006 worked with many volunteers and project partners to conduct over 70 province-wide government, community, and organisational consultations on food in Manitoba. These consultations resulted in the creation of the Manitoba Food Charter.
Paul Chorney Community Liaison
Paul has been the community liaison for Food Matters Manitoba since 2006, bringing more than thirty years experience in food co-op organizing, community developments and inner city revitalization. Paul and his wife Carol have lived in the West Broadway neighbourhood of Winnipeg for the past fourteen years and are involved with Spirit Park Community Gardens.
Raquel Koenig, Northern Liaison
Raquel grew up in Thunder Bay, ON, is of Ojibway ancestry and is a band member of Wikwemikong First Nation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in native studies and is delighted to be able to work with First Nations and northern communities on their food self sufficiency projects as she is very passionate about healthy living and healthy eating. As Northern Liaison she witnesses firsthand the impact that food has on empowering families and communities. In her spare time, Raquel enjoys reading aboriginal literature, hosting her monthly dinner clubs and working in her vegetable garden. Raquel joined Food Matters Manitoba in January, 2010.
Lauren Howard, Office, Communications and Special Projects Coordinator
Lauren graduated in October 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts – Advanced in Global Political Economy from the University of Manitoba and shortly after began working here at FMM. She is planning on pursuing a Master’s degree in International Communication and Development Studies in London in the future. Lauren loves traveling and music and thinks that this job is an excellent opportunity to combine her education with her love of food!
Stefan Epp, Community Food Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator
 Stefan has a long interest in food issues, particularly food policy. He is currently the Community Food Assessment and Evaluation Coordinator. Previously, Stefan worked as the Project Coordinator and Research Associate for the Manitoba Alternative Food Research Alliance and as a local food policy analyst for Food Matters Manitoba.  He has also been involved with the work of the Winnipeg Food Policy Working Group and the Growing Local Conference.  Stefan holds an MA in History from Queen's University.  Stefan also enjoys gardening, which he does in his community garden plot in West Broadway

Sagan Morrow, Dig In Manitoba Coordinator
Sagan is passionate about healthy eating and food security. She has worked in the field of health in various capacities as a newspaper columnist, blogger and radio co-host over the past four years. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric, Writing and Communications from the University of Winnipeg, she worked as the Coordinator for Fruit Share, a local organization that rescues urban fruit from going to waste in Winnipeg. Sagan is delighted to be working on the Dig In project to support local food in the community.
Allyson Watts, Accountant 
She is a self-employed Certified Management Accountant (CMA) who works at many other not-for-profit/charitable organizations. Although accounting is considered more of a “business” career, Allyson has used her skills to support community based, grassroots organizations. She has a strong passion for community development both locally and internationally. In her free time Allyson volunteers with Amnesty International and enjoys walking, creating paper art and reading mysteries. Allyson lives with her partner Lee Bushell in their home near Birds Hill Park.

 

Dayna Kroeker, Communications Liason + Graphic Design
Dayna Kroeker is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Environmental science program where she majored in sustainability and minored in fine arts. Since graduation, she has found her niche in the food scene and is a passionate foodie who loves to garden, cook, bake and preserve. She is joining the team as communications liaison and is excited to spread the word about what’s happening at Food Matters and beyond through her communications and design work. 

 

Kiley Dyck, Communications Liason
Kiley Dyck is a graduate of the Joint-Degree-Diploma program from Red River College and The University of Winnipeg in Communications. After many years of working on her education, Kiley is excited to work for Food Matters Manitoba to raise awareness about the organization by building relationships and engaging Manitobans. Kiley loves to travel and has travelled around the world, but she is ready to spend some time at home getting more involved in her community.
 

Shawn Derfoot, Office Coordinator

Shawn grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and holds a Bachelor's degree in Global Political Economy from the University of Manitoba.  He joins Food Matters Manitoba as the Digital Logistics Intern, and is enthusiastic about getting involved in Manitoba's food movement.  After completing his internship, Shawn plans to pursue graduate studies at the University of Winnipeg in the Environmental, Resource and Development Economics program.

 In his spare time, Shawn cultivates his inner foodie through cooking, gardening and beer-making.
 

Our Rural Board Members                  

Rita Doyon, Community Member, Holland, Manitoba 

After thirty years of teaching and into retirement, Rita remains active, whether it be growing vegetable gardens with her husband Danny on their farm near Holland, baking and preserving nutritious foods, or marketing their produce at farmers’ markets and regional vestibules. She continues to learn about life and living when traveling, reading, or taking on a variety of projects such as teaching English to immigrants and French to Anglophones, or doing interviews for historical societies. Food continues to be a daily ritual in Rita’s home, best when enjoyed with her three grown children and three grandchildren.
 
 Glen Franklin, Farmer, Deloraine, Manitoba 
 

Ryan Graves
Ryan Graves is currently the Community Development Coordinator for the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corp, and an active member of the Brandon Community Garden Network (BCGN). Ryan grew up on the East coast of Canada, obtaining a bachelor’s degree at St. Francis Xavier University, majoring in Sociology. Through her travels across the country, she has seen and experienced first-hand the impact food security has on people at all socioeconomic, cultural, and generational levels. As part of her work in Brandon, she is an active member of the Brandon Cultural Awareness Network, and the BCGN. The Community Garden Network currently offers more than 500 plots throughout Brandon to residents interested in growing their own food, and providing fresh, local produce for their families. Ryan has also provided presentations and expertise throughout the province through her work with the CED Network to communities and organizations that are starting and expanding community garden programs in their areas. 
 

Our Northern Board Members

Carol Hydamaka, Flin Flon, Manitoba

Carol was one of the founding and only remaining members of the Lords Bounty Food Bank 20 years ago. She currently is the chairwoman. ln her 40s she went back to school and graduated from Applied Counseling. She worked full time at a Woman’s Safe Home for a few years and with the Canadian Pre Natal program CPNP part time. When she was offered a full time position with CPNP Carol jumped at the chance and now spends her working days educating pregnant moms and moms' with babies.
  
 
 Erin Wilcox,Thompson, Manitoba
 

Laurel Gardiner, Bayline Regional Roundtable

Laurel Gardiner is the Director of the Manitoba Division of Frontiers Foundation, which addresses the needs of under-developed communities in Northern Canada and elsewhere, especially in the area of housing. She is also a Healthy Community Advisor at her consulting company, Upstream Connected, and holds a Masters degree in Health Promotion. She has worked for the last 30 years with Aboriginal Communities in Northern Manitoba, and has worked extensively with the Bayline Regional Roundtable and Food Matters Manitoba in promoting Northern food self-sufficiency. Laurel is married, with three daughters and eight grandchildren and lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
 

Our Urban Board Members

Rhonda Lorch, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rhonda is the owner and manager of Lorch and Associates, a Winnipeg based firm that offers facilitation, training and consulting services to non-profit organizations across Manitoba. Her particular interests are in organizational effectiveness, human resources and board governance. In addition to her work with a wide range of organizations, Rhonda volunteers by serving on a number of Boards of Directors and committees. She is a quilter, voracious reader, and enthusiastic gardener. But by far, Rhonda’s most satisfying roles are mother to three adult children and grandmother to the world’s most adorable grandsons.
 
 
Bohdanna Kinasevych, Health In Common
Having worked with community organizations to support and enhance capacity to integrate evaluation into program planning and design, Bohdanna has conducted several evaluations in health promotion and service delivery employing both qualitative and quantitative methods.  She has a particular interest in applying community-based research principles and supporting the integration of evaluation findings into practices.  Bohdanna has Master’s degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba and currently works as an Evaluation Consultant for Health in Common.
 
Annika Weeks, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Annika brings experience and knowledge from several backgrounds - forage seed producer, business development officer and policy analyst. She has volunteered with a variety of organizations: Age and Opportunity Inc, LEAF Manitoba, YW/YMCA Women of Distinction Awards, Farm Women's Conference. Food issues have always been important and in her opinion there is no better place to learn and contribute than at Food Matters Manitoba!
 

Expert Advisory Seat

Michelle Visser-Wikkerink, Indian Family Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Our Federal Government Representative

Pat Lachance, Rural Secretariat

 

Our Provincial Government Representative

Paul Fieldhouse, Manitoba Healthy Living Youth and Seniors
 

Our Major Funders