The People
We’re brought together by a shared vision for a sustainable future, with resilient, food secure, and connected communities.
We are you. We connect people, ideas, and resources, explore your insights and experiences, and create projects where community takes the lead.
Many of us are here because we were community members that saw a barrier or had an idea, and One Straw Society acted as our incubator to put it into action. Pleased to meet you!
Our team values
Collaboration & Community Building
Sustainability & Stewardship
Equity & Inclusion
Integrity & Respect
Leadership & Our Team
Leadership comes from all sides, not just from the top – everyone has a voice, and together we create beautiful things.
In alphabetical order…
Alix Hopfengaertner
Designer & Website Manager
Caitlin Allenby
Legacy & Community
Impact Coordinator
Casandra Fletcher
Executive Director;
Grants & Development
Dr. Chris Hergesheimer
Advisor, Policy & Integrated Food Systems
Conner Wear
Legal Counsel, Land Trust, Tool Library
Hilary Prince
Events & Education Coordinator
Hollyann Kwa'tle'maht Higgins
Leader, Traditional Foods; Salmon Project
Ian Hunt
Technology; Web Hosting
Jack Chen
Kitchen, Food & Events Coordinator
Kate McLaughlin
Finance Manager
Katy Latham
Market Garden Coordinator & Agriculture Mentor
Mary Boulding
Herbalist, Medicinal Plant Team Lead
Sarita Moodie
Garden Design, Medicinal Plant Team
Zan Romeder
Membership Coordinator; Admin Support
This year's summer youth team
We are excited and grateful to welcome teams of youth interns each summer, who are bringing their unique skills and talents, and learning through the season.
Koy Tayler
Ag Support, Writer, Organization Oracle
Charlie Stevenson
Foodbox Team, Driver, Artist, Gardener, Philosopher
Ambra Agricola
Foodbox Coordinator, Gardener, Pasta Boss
Guided by the values, teachings & memories of those passed
Robin Wheeler
Founder of One Straw Society in 1995, author, teacher, & mentor
1954 – 2012
Barbara Xwu’p’a’lich Higgins
Knowledge Keeper & Teacher, Traditional Foods & Lands
1933 – 2023
Our Board of Directors
Laura Wilson
Chair
Practicing lawyer specializing in legal research and writing, governance, bylaws and policy development and analysis. Laura’s a foodie, strong advocate of local food and community resiliency, and a home gardener.
John Byrnes
Vice Chair
Manager of the Sechelt Farmers’ Market & on the board of BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, John is also a local farmer, entrepreneur, sourdough baker, and father of six.
Tessa Lewis
Secretary – Treasurer
Undergraduate in International Relations from UBC, Tessa is farm manager at Gibsons Farm now, after founding and operating a diversified regenerative farm with her family in Ontario.
Matt Livingston
Matt brings a wealth of background in food, strategy, and sustainability at organizations such as Food Stash, Nature’s Path Foods, and Spud.ca. He’s passionate that the solutions to the world’s food issues lie at the local level.
Meghan Molnar
Public Health Dietitian with 10+ years of working with various community organizations facing the unique strengths and challenges of living and thriving on the Coast. Passion for local, delicious food.
Lisa Giroday
A seasoned entrepreneur and landscape business owner, Lisa has skills in contracting, food production, community building, and project management. Past director on the board of Farm Folk City Folk.
Join our Team
Looking for meaningful and ethical work?
We're excited to get to know you!
We’re looking for:
- Passion – visionaries, creators, and people with ideas for ways to solve issues or make our communities healthier, more connected, more resilient, and more ecologically sound. A degree is not necessarily relevant.
- Resource roles – to support our work in a busy, growing, creative environment (admin, HR, design, events, fundraising, etc.)
- Knowledge Philanthropists – people with skills and experience to lead projects long-term, or on-the-ground.
- Summer students / youth staff for seasonal work (May – October).
- Diversity – Bring who you are – your unique background, culture, abilities, interests, challenges, and life experiences. We encourage applications from people who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, newcomers to Canada, differently abled, or other marginalized communities.
