Speaker Bios
Keir Cordner, Environmental Health Officer, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Workshop: MarketSafe
Keir Cordner is a Certified Public Health Inspector presently working for Vancouver Island Health Authority. Keir has worked in the profession for 19 years after graduation from Ryerson University. He is both a FoodSafe Instructor and Marketsafe Instructor, and he also lead the Food Safety Initiative on Vancouver Island as part of this National project focused on establishing food safety management systems in small to medium sized food manufacturing businesses. He is the Past President of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, BC Branch and remains active in the field of Environmental Public Health in BC and Canada.
Lynne Corrigan, Certified Human Resources Professional
Workshop: Harmonizing the Employer-Employee Relationship
Lynn Corrigan was the Regional HR Manager for Capers Community Markets for over eighteen years and has been providing writing, consulting and training services as an independent since 2008 with small business, government, and non-profit clients. She focuses on value and mission-based enterprises and is passionate about helping clients discover their unique strengths and helping them build the skills they need to create work environments that reflect their values and fuel their mission.
Bruce Fatkin, Abbotsford Farm & Country Market Manager
Session: Breakout Session B: Income Enhancement Strategies at Farmers' Markets
Bruce is a native to the Fraser Valley and a former farmer in the Bradner area. He spent several years mentoring local small businesses through their planning and start-up and helping not-for-profit societies with strategic planning and project management.
Bruce was hired as manager of the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market at the beginning of the 2007 season, the markets third year of existence. He also managed the Langley Community Farmers market for the 2010 season — that market's second year of operation.
Bruce has also served as member of the BCAFM Board of Directors for two years, including one year as treasurer. He plans to apply to re-join the Board at the AGM in March.
Chris Hergesheimer, MA Farmers Market Research and Development Consultant
Breakout Session B: "The Business of Farmers Markets: New Perspectives and Strategic implications"
Chris Hergesheimer holds a Masters degree in Sociology from SFU and has worked as a consultant, researcher and project manager for a variety of food related projects over the last three years. He has attended numerous national and international conferences both as a presenter and as a participant including the Canadian Association of Food Studies (2009) Agriculture and Human Values (2009) and an International Panel conference dealing with issues of Food Sovereignty in Canada and abroad (2010). Chris was also an official delegate of Slow Food Vancouver at the most recent Terra Madre Gathering in Turin, Italy. Chris recently completed a contract as a Research Associate and consultant for the BC Association of Farmers Markets (BCAFM). This in depth project focused on building business case materials and delivering workshops to assist with the future planning and strong development of farmers markets in the province. He is the co-author of a number of academic papers and reports about farmers markets and alternative food system models.
Dr. Jennifer Horn, PHD, Vancouver Island University
Workshop: Market Manager Training
The Market Manager training will be delivered by Dr. Jennifer Horn of Vancouver Island University, who also authored the BCAFM's Market Manager Training Manual. Jenny started and managed a Farmers' Market for several years and is now a producer and direct-farm marketer based in the Cowichan Valley. Her research has focused on rural community development, small-scale agriculture, social capital and farmers. Her areas of expertise include: agri-tourism, agriculture, sustainability, sociology and education.
Honourable Don McRae, BC Minister of Agriculture
Welcoming Remarks
Don McRae was appointed Minister of Agriculture on March 14, 2011. McRae was elected on May 12, 2009 as MLA for the Comox Valley riding. During his time in government he has served as the convener of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and was a member of the select standing committees on Health, and Finance and Government services.
McRae was born and raised in the Comox Valley. For the past 14 years he has taught at GP Vanier Secondary School. Aside from teaching social studies, military history, and psychology, he has also served as a rugby coach, athletic director, department chair, and staff leadership committee chair.
McRae has served as a Courtenay City councillor for the past seven years. During his time on council, he served as a municipal director for both the Comox Strathcona Regional District and the newly restructured Comox Valley Regional District. He has also been a member of the Comox Strathcona Hospital Board, vice-chair of the Comox Valley sewer and water committees and numerous community organizations and boards. In 2008, he was also appointed by Premier Campbell to the Citizen's Conservation Council.
He is an avid runner and enjoys hiking and fly fishing. McRae has been married to his wife Deanne for 16 years and they have two daughters, one busy in elementary school and the other who has recently learned to walk and open every cabinet in the house.
Stacy Miller, Farmers Market Coalition (USA)
Sessions: Keynote: Integrity at the Market
Panel: What's In A Name? Protecting Farmers Market Integrity through a Common Definition
Stacy began her work with farmers markets as a grower and vendor in 1999, when she served as a forewoman at Even' Star Organic Farm in Maryland. In 2005, she graduated with an M.S. in Agricultural and Environmental Education from West Virginia University, where she studied the characteristics and educational needs of farmers market vendors and managers throughout the state. In 2005 and 2006, she served as the Manager of the Morgantown Farmers Market, also coordinating outreach for West Virginia AgrAbility, a program providing resources for farmers and gardeners with disabilities and chronic conditions like arthritis. Since 2009, she has served as Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a 501(c)(3) dedicated to strengthening farmers markets through education, networking, and advocacy. By providing a voice for the nation's more than 7,100 grassroots community farmers markets, and spurring cross-pollination of best practices, the organization helps farmers markets succeed in nourishing healthy farms, healthy consumers, and healthy communities.
In 2010, Stacy co-authored the report "Real Food, Real Choice: Connecting SNAP Recipients with Farmers Markets," which offered an analysis illuminating the challenges and opportunities in integrating federal nutrition programs, specifically SNAP, into farmers markets. When not working for FMC, Stacy can be found in her garden or cleaning up after her ten hens.
Garth Yule, MBA, Evaluation and Community Impact, Vancity Community Foundation
Session: Measuring Social and Economic Impact: A Toolkit for Farmers' Markets
Garth joined the Vancity Community Foundation in 2011 as a social enterprise program intern and returned in 2012 to apply his skills in social issues communication and strategic management to Demonstrating Value and other social impact evaluation programs at VCF. Garth has ten years experience in non-profit communications, planning and governance support from his work as a Resource Coordinator for the student unions at Simon Fraser and Capilano Universities. Since 1998 he has successfully run an independent graphic design business, producing materials for Co-op Radio, Bike Month, and the album covers for the band Delhi 2 Dublin. He loves dancing and bicycling and has a one year old daughter. Garth holds an MBA from the Sauder School of Business at UBC and a BA in Communication and Certificate in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University. And....Garth's mother manages a farmers' market in Ontario!