Nadine began her nonprofit career here in Victoria working with many local nonprofits, including the Inter-Cultural Association, the Dragon Boat Festival, Habitat Acquisition Trust, and the Silver Threads’ Meal on Wheels program. Inspired by all the great work done here in town, she then pursued a Masters of Environmental Studies with a concentration on Nonprofit Management and Community Involvement from York University. With her environmental background, experience in Volunteer Coordination, and love for what she now calls her home, joining us in 2007 was a natural fit! She recently embarked on a new chapter in her life, and became a mom in 2010 and decided to break the Centre’s tradition by actually coming back after maternity leave. She is looking forward to teaching her son Cole all the wonderful things at the Centre from red wrigglers to red raspberries and from green lettuces to green roofs. In her spare time, she loves to go hiking with her family, explore new recipes made from local produce, and show her son all the wonderful and beautiful things this Island has to offer
Marika has been with the Compost Education Centre since 2008. She has recently completed the Restoration of Natural Systems Program at the University of Victoria and will be working towards a Masters in Environmental Management with a focus on organic waste recovery through Royal Roads. Marika is deeply committed to waste reduction initiatives and resource recovery programs. She has a near zero-waste household and looks forward to the day when disposable coffee cups no longer exist. When she's not informing everyone she's knows about the value of composting and recycling, Marika steps off her soap box long enough to train for half marathons and 10K races.
Kim joined the centre as a volunteer in 2006 before becoming the Site and Garden Manager in 2009. Her path to managing an urban agriculture and education site has been a lifelong one. Kim grew up in a family of farmers, organic gardeners, permaculturists, and food-lovers, who nurtured her passion for green living from a young age. Kim is a graduate of the Linnaea Farm Ecological Gardening Program and holds a bachelor in Child and Youth Care. Managing the demonstration site here at the Centre feels like a natural fit, and Kim is pouring her green thumb, creative mind and passion for local and global change into the gardens
Nashira Birch was born and raised in a tiny back-to-the-land community in the mountains of British Columbia. She has since lived in Hawaii, Victoria, Malawi, and India, but has decided that BC is definitely home, and is now rediscovering the joys of gardening and composting. She has her BA in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria. She has been working for many years with young people and communities, as a youth program leader, an environmental educator, a curriculum developer, and a program evaluator. Most recently, she completed a two-month bicycle trip on Vancouver Island with The Otesha Project, conducting workshops and theatre productions on social justice and environmental issues. Her position here at the centre is exciting for her because it allows her to bring together her work with young people with her passion for playing in the dirt and creating a more sustainable life.
Shannon is joining our team as the new Project Coordinator for the third year of our Grow a Row Program! While finishing an internship at the Richmond Sharing Farm last year, Shannon fell in love with community-based agriculture, and is excited to now be a part of a food-equality program on the Island! Along with working at the GVCEC, Shannon owns and manages her own urban organic farm with two partners. When she is not out in the field, Shannon also loves to take off for adventures outside the city, ride her bike around town and can everything and anything in her fridge.
Clare is excited to be starting her second year coordinating the SLUGS (Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening Skills) program for youth enthused about urban agriculture. She is a journeyman cabinetmaker who has also spent time farming and running a gardening business with her partner. When she is not finding out about various aspects of growing, eating and preserving food, she can be found riding her bike, hanging out with her two year old daughter, hiking, or just relaxing with a book. We are thrilled to have her back again, but this time as paid staff, and we are hoping to benefit from her carpentry knowledge and skills while she is with us