About Us :: Board of Directors
Board of Directors
- President: Mary Forstbauer
- Vice-President: Bruce Fatkin
- Treasurer: Dolores Gottenberg
- Secretary: Tara McDonald
- Director: Jordan Sturdy
- Director: Tabitha McLoughlin
- Director: William Hayward
- Director: Richard Lewin
President: Mary Forstbauer
Email: info@bcfarmersmarket.org
Mary, the Organic Earth Mother is the mother of 12 children. Mary and husband Hans along with their children have been farming organically for 30 years, 18 years in Chilliwack and 12 years in Matsqui. Mary has been involved with BCAFM since its inception and served on the board of directors for many of those years. In 2007 Mary returned to the BCAFM director's position as president. "It has been a rewarding year to date" states Mary with excitement as she remembers all the exciting projects BCAFM has undertaken this year.
Mary started selling at farmers markets in 1989. She had a load of pickling cucumbers that a local "green grocer" did not need. She asked the grocer "What am I to do with these 800 pounds of cukes?" "Take them to the Chilliwack Market." stated the grocer. Mary found the market and sold out of cukes in three hours. She was hooked and sold at the Chilliwack market for many years. Mary and family sell at many markets in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
"I believe that selling at the market in my local community is important. I know that I can make more cash at the bigger city markets but that does not build my local economy, so I try to work with the local markets to diversify and hold their markets on different days so that I am able to participate along with some of the other vendors who go off to the city on the weekends."
Mary has served as director on many boards and as president on most of them at some time. Some include COABC, BCARA, Bio Dynamic Association, Chilliwack Farmers market, Mission Farmers Market, Artisan Farmers Markets, Canada Farmers' Markets, and school PACs.
It is exciting for Mary that two of her children have farms of their own, while one of her sons farms full time on the family farm. Her children who attend university all come home for their summer job "working on the farm and selling at various farmers markets".
Eat Local — visit your communities Farmers' Markets!
Vice-President: Bruce Fatkin
Email: fatkin@shaw.ca
Bruce has just entered his second year as manager of the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market. He comes from a family farming background in the Fraser Valley. The Fatkin clan made their living growing daffodils until the mid 1960s, switching to the present line of plants and shrubs for the landscape industry.
Bruce has spent over 20 years in diverse roles with a range of not-for-profit organizations. He worked for a time as a small business advisor helping develop business plans for new enterprises.
Bruce is pleased to be a part of the growing farmers market movement in British Columbia. He feels that Markets are among the most effective tools for furthering the public's understanding of the industry and that these same Markets represent an excellent opportunity for small-scale agriculture to grow by test-marketing (new) products and diversifying farm income.
Treasurer: Dolores Gottenberg
Email: dgotten@telus.net
Upon receiving her doctorate from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Dolores recently relocated to Nanaimo to be closer to her daughter and family. Having held an interest in farming and agriculture for many years, she has joined local agricultural organizations and is presently serving as Director of the Nanaimo-Cedar Farmers Institute and Vice-President / Treasurer of the Cedar Farmers Market.
With a generalist background in science, business, and education Dolores brings extensive experience in industry, government, and education to the Board. Since arriving on Vancouver Island, she has established Island VermiTech & Organics Ltd. which will market and promote vermiculture products along with vegetables and herbs from her urban community gardens.
Secretary: Tara McDonald
Email: tara@eatlocal.org
For just over 2 years, Tara McDonald has been the Executive Director of Your Local Farmers Market Society in Vancouver, BC. In that time, Tara has worked to develop and grow the society and its markets by strengthening YLFMS staff and board capacity and resources, increasing YLFMS' public and political profile in Vancouver, making the organization more open and democratic and diversifying its funding base.
Tara's commitment to the growth of Vancouver's Farmers Markets is showing results already. Annual sales to vendors jumped from $1.5 million in 2004 to $2.16 million this past year. YLFMS brought in $140 000 in grants to assist the organization's growth and support vendor development over the next few years. Thanks to YLFMS staff Vancouver now has a farmers market through the winter and is developing another farmers market to serve the city's West Side. The society is also partnering with Farm Folk City Folk and local food businesses to launch an Eatlocal Campaign in the spring of 2007.
Tara has worked in community economic development and food security for over 10 years as a Good Food Box and School Food Garden program coordinator in Ontario, and as Executive Director of SEEDS, a Community Gardening non-profit in Durham, North Carolina. She has worked with organic and bio-dynamic farmers in Canada and the US and has a deep commitment to supporting farm and rural culture.
Director: Jordan Sturdy
Email: Jordan@northarmfarm.com
Jordan was first elected to the board of the Whistler Farmers Market in 1996. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2005 after serving as treasurer for several years.
In 1994 Jordan founded North Arm Farm in Pemberton and has managed the organization ever since. North Arm Farm grows 40 acres of row crops including most vegetables, many berries and cut flowers. The product is sold at the farm, to restaurants and at Farmers markets. The Farm also includes a bakery and will cater events such as dinners and weddings. Fall is an especially busy time at the Farm with Pumpkin rides and school tours.
Jordan is very involved in the region as a trustee of the Pemberton Valley Dyking District, is a member of the Regional District Agricultural Advisory Committee and director of the Pemberton Farmers Institute, the Pemberton Valley Trails Association Board and other transportation and wildlife associations. His latest venture is as Mayor of Pemberton.
Jordan grew up in the City of Vancouver and works in the winter as a ski patroller at Whistler Blackcomb and a paramedic for the BC Ambulance Service.
Jordan and his wife Trish have lived in Pemberton since 1989 and have two children, Emma and Thea.
Director: Tabitha McLoughlin
Email: gtmcl@shaw.ca
Tabitha McLoughlin has been the market manager of the Coquitlam Farmers' Market since April 2006. Prior to her involvement with the local food movement in Coquitlam she was a project manager in the event and conference management industry. Her organizational and communication skills have been an asset to the organization and have added to the scope and reach of the market. As manager of the Coquitlam Farmers' Market, Tabitha has been instrumental in creating several annual events that have rejuvenated vendor satisfaction and increased customer attendance. Tabitha continues to work with local businesses to build strategic partnerships to raise the awareness of eating local and supporting local agriculture in the community.
As a Director for the BCAFM, Tabitha brings a positive and energetic attitude towards the role and activities of the BCAFM in the province.
Director: William Hayward
Bio coming soon.
Director: Richard Lewin
I have had many businesses but few offered as diverse opportunities as organic food processing. We opened an Art Gallery followed by a restaurant and then twenty years ago my wife had our first spawn. I was nominated to be the home caregiver and we named the "new business" after our new daughter Golda. Thus, Golda's Finest Foods! I produce my line of products in my certified commercial kitchen, on our homestead: Freeman's Flip-Dip — a series of Humous, Salsas and Tapenades (Freeman is a product of Island Winters). I practice my art skills (packaging); my food and tasting skills (organic as the mist of Vancouver Island); and my marketing skills (a fair ability to sell at farmers' markets). My intentions of participating on behalf of my vendor colleagues is food safety. This year I will be participating at markets including Sidney, Ladner, Trout Lake, Vancouver West End, Kitsilano, and Winter Markets (YLFMS) as well as a trip into the Interior.