Board of Directors

It was inevitable that I would wind up leading a community composting project in the name of food security. The project trajectory started in Ontario where I spent my roaring early twenties in Kitchener-Waterloo,  chasing a piece of paper and a good time.  That degree in Environmental Studies, Geography landed me a job with Metro Toronto in the Solid Waste Management Division as a Business Advisor and then as a Facilitator for a long-range planning process. Extremely formative work experience and networking is an understatement. Romance and adventure sent me out to BC and settling for  five years in Kelowna. A great way to immerse myself in the industry and. meet all the players. After fast-tracking there and getting into air quality due to forestry operations,  my peers helped me realize I needed more autonomy than a government job could grant me. I started up Footprint Environmental Consultants and headed north in search of a new homebase. Working with progressive clients throughout BC made it very clear to me that the old ways of defining and managing community resources don’t work anymore. We cannot continue to bury and burn resources while our soils dry up and become depleted. It’s also clear that in small communities, there is plenty of room for private and grassroot initiatives when it comes to building community resiliency.  I am grateful and honoured to do this work on unceded Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en territory.  Let’s be great together 🙂

Chris has deep roots in the Hazeltons and has lived here on and off for the past two decades. He is currently owner/operator of Aurora Sporealis, an edible mushroom farm that sells fresh mushrooms, fruiting blocks and several dried mushroom products. With this venture, he has learned much about product development and marketing in the food industry. As a regular vendor and Director for the Hazelton Farmer’s Market, Chris brings valuable insights and connections to MASH.

Chris has been hands-on with our Apple Pressing program this year and has helped us to refine our work flows and the mechanics of our equipment.

For several years now, Chris has also been a shuttle driver for Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition’s Youth on Water and Women on Water rafting programs which means he is an expert at backing up with a trailer and heavy loads. He was also a contractor for the Hazeltons Recycling Pilot Project developed by Laurie when she worked for RDKS.

Fun fact about Chris is that he built a cob pizza oven for his child’s fifth birthday party.

Vance Barritt is the new guy in the area and on our Board. Laurie and Vance met at a Permaculture Design Certificate program on Denman Island in 2010 and kept in touch. When it comes to cattle farming, regenerative agriculture, long-distance trucking, and farm equipment auctions, Vance is Advanced.  Glad to have you my old friend, and now you are Vice-President.

Adam Zonnis where are you? This guy build our website, created our logo, and has performed at least three times at MASH events with his songstress wife Andrea. Based in Victoria, we don’t see Adam much but with that much influence on our branding it’s like he’s with us all the time. Thanks Adam for being the guy that always backs up the Executive Director. Us creatives have to stick together.

Kevin Pegg is the dark horse. He’s been to lots of MASH events and is the reason we have solar power at our favourite event venue Bulkley Canyon Ranch. As the owner of Energy Alternatives and an off-grid homesteader, Kevin brings all kinds of skills and expertise to our Board. Brave enough to take over the Treasurer position, he was relieved to find out we decided to pay an accountant to do all the heavy lifting.