The People
We’re a bunch of passionate people brought together by a shared vision for a sustainable future, working to make our communities more resilient, food secure, and connected.
We are you. We actively 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 values
Caring for the Earth, People and the Future
Positive Transition
Right to Livelihood
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
Ambra Agricola
Foodbox Coordinator; Gardener
Andrea Potter
Education Coordinator
Caitlin Allenby
Programs & Events
Manager
Casandra Fletcher
Executive Director;
Grants & Development
Dr. Chris Hergesheimer
Manager, Integrated Food Systems & Policy
Conner Wear
Legal Counsel, Land Trust, Tool Library
Hollyann Kwa'tle'maht Higgins
Leader, Traditional Foods; Salmon Project
Ian Hunt
Technology; Web Hosting
Kate McLaughlin
Finance Manager
Katy Latham
Market Garden Coordinator & Agriculture Mentor
Koy Tayler
Ag Support, Communications, Donor Relations
Mary Boulding
Herbalist, Medicinal Plant Team Lead
Sarita Moodie
Garden Design, Medicinal Plant Team
Solomon Morton
Driver/Delivery & Logistics Support
Zan Romeder
Membership Coordinator; Admin Support
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 often looking for:
- People with a 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.
- People for support and resource roles to help our work overall 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 lead on-the-ground projects and events (ie. grant-writing, I.T., building stuff).
- Summer students / youth staff for seasonal work (May – October).
We’re looking for passionate people from diverse backgrounds, whose unique skills and experiences contribute to our common goals. We value unique differences to ensure that our team members are supported to thrive. To build a strong, diverse and representative workforce, we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilities or other marginalized communities. Join us!
Members guide where we're going and how
By joining us as a member you’re being the change you want to see in the world. You get perks such as local discounts and resources, and you get to contribute your valuable voice to our vision.
