Credentials

Certified Organic by OPAM (Organic Producers Association of Manitoba) 1995 – 2007. OPAM: (204) 748-1315 – no longer certified since summer 2007 – but still growing according to organic standards.
Ten years with Mennonite Central Committee in South Africa, Saskatoon (Sask. Canada) and then Lesotho.
Began Room To Grow greenhouse business in 1993 – expanded with the guesthouse in 2002.
Certified ‘Local Food Plus’ in 2010 – see: www.localfoodplus.ca

Honours BA from University of Waterloo 1982.
Director on Mennonite Central Committee (Manitoba) board from 1993 to 1997.
B Ed (After Degree) from Brandon University in 2000.
Master of Education from Brandon University 2008.
Qualified in FAST Reading Program, MathRecovery Program, Roots of Empathy, and Cognitive Coaching.
Currently working toward EAL TCP (English as a Second Language Teacher Certification Program) through University of Winnipeg.
Student Services Teacher in five small schools in Turtle Mountain School Division, including one small town and four Hutterite schools – Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Founding member of Organic Food Council of Manitoba in 2000 – a regional arm of Canadian Organic Growers.
Co-Founding director of Turtle Mountain Community Development Corporation (TMCDC) – 1997.
Founder/Chair of the Agriculture Committee under the TMCDC. 2002 – 2009
Writer/Editor of the 2002 ‘Organic Food Guide to Manitoba’.
Editor/Publisher of the 2004 ‘Successful Small Farms in Southwest Manitoba’ booklet.
Co-Founder/Chair of Turtle Mountain – Souris Plains Heritage Assoc. 2005 – 2011
Co-Reviver/Chair of Boissevain-Morton Farmers’ Market. 2008 – 2011
Co-Founder/Leadership Team of Manitoba Farm Mentorship program of OFCM-COG. 2008 – 2011