Executive
David Munro - President
I work for Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation and the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission. On the side I help on my family’s beef/hobby farm. Through my work and growing up in a community with a strong agricultural history, I gained a better understanding of where our food comes from, the economic contributions of agriculture and the presence of rewarding careers in the industry.
The BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation’s various programs and initiatives focus on increasing awareness on the importance of agriculture. It is BCAITC’s mission to “work with educators to bring BC’s agriculture to our students” that motivated me to become involved with the organization.
Jamie Scoular, BA, B.Ed., MBA, CMSL - Treasurer
I currently teach at Thomas Haney Senior Secondary in Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows (School District No. 42). I discovered AITC during the organization's Summer Institute and share its passion for agriculture and in its mission to bring BC's agriculture to our students. As writer and philosopher Wendell Berry said, "Eating is an agricultural act." Consequently, if we are better informed about the sources of our food and the people who provide it, we will be better able to make wiser choices for our families, our environment and ourselves.
Tracey Kirkness - Secretary
As 4th generation dairy farmers, I'm proud to be part of AITC and do what I can to help "plant seeds of knowledge" in our next generation of food producers and get them excited about the vast opportunities available in agriculture - our future depends on it!
Sydney Massey, M.P.H., R.D.
I am Director of Nutrition Education for the BC Dairy Foundation. Through my work I develop nutrition education programs and deliver nutrition education workshops to teachers and health professionals in BC. I am committed to teaching others about the importance of using local foods to maintain a healthy food system.
Pat Tonn, B.H.Ec., B.Ed
Pat Tonn is the Manager of Youth and Community Development Programs with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. She works in partnership with agricultural associations and the BC 4-H Program to deliver agricultural and leadership educational programs to young people.
Directors
Mark Johnson
“I work for TD Canada Trust Agriculture Services and I found out about BC Agriculture in the Classroom while talking to David Munro; and it was David who got me involved. Growing up in a small town, in Saskatchewan I was exposed to Agriculture no matter what I did or where I went, and then having parents who were teachers; I saw the benefits and self satisfaction to getting involved in organizations like BCAITC. It is these programs that not only support healthy eating but also provide additional knowledge that could provide opportunities for the children to think about Agriculture as a career down the road.”
Sarah Ryall
Sarah Ryall along with her husband, David, own and operate an 18 acre tomato farm, Gipaanda Greenhouses, in Delta. Sarah brings to the Board her experience in business as well as her passion to help people make a direct connection to the food they eat and the people who produce it through education and first hand experiences.
Dr. Peter Jolliffe, Ph.D.
We live in a heavily urbanized society, with a result that many young people are increasingly disconnected from the sources of their food. This is unfortunate because agriculture is the largest employer in our Province, and young people need to be aware of the many exciting careers available in the world of agriculture. Through its efforts, the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation plays an increasingly important role in helping today's youth access knowledge and information about British Columbia agriculture. Such education is essential for the sustainability and future well-being of our food system. I support the Foundation, both through my activities on its Board and through personal financial contribution.
Chris Michell
My husband Ralph and I live in Kamloops on the family farm that we operate along with his family. We operate 300 cow/calf pairs as well as backgrounding 150 yearlings during the winter. I have a small flock of sheep that our children show and sell. Both my husband and I were and continue to be in the 4-H program and our children will also become involved in it. I am currently chairperson on the Women in Agriculture Agri-Futures Fund that created a strategic plan for Investment Agriculture, as well as being involved with the BC Cattlemens' Western Family beef promotion. I have a great interest in the Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation as we have young children that are just starting out in the school system. I believe that with all the technology that our children are exposed to today, it sometimes gets forgotten where and how our worlds' food is produced. Along with the age of the disappearing family farm and so few children coming from rural areas, I believe the basics of all types of agriculture are not being shared with our youth. I welcome the challenge that this opportunity with Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation presents and I look forward with great excitement the chance to continue to develop the very important role that it plays.
Dr. Ruth Wiebe, B.G.S., M.A., Ph.D.
As an educator of children and youth, my hope is that Agriculture in the Classroom will be catalytic to deep change in our nation’s collective attitudes toward eating, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. Growing up on a Fraser Valley farm, my family and I experienced the rich culture involved in raising and preparing our own food. How much has changed! Many children in Canada’s urban centres have no knowledge of how their food is grown and many have not developed good judgment about nutrition and food preparation. Currently, I am a Director of Instruction with the Chilliwack School District and would like to see each child healthy, fit, and prepared for focused learning.
Gerry Kasten, R.D., H.Dip. (Comm.Cook)
I support BC's Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation because of my longtime work as a dietitian. I work with people daily and talk about nutrition. Yet I frequently find that they have little idea about how their food is produced. Without this information, people are open to misunderstanding BC's farming practices. They may even become fearful of foods. BC AITC helps children learn about the various places food comes from and how it is grown. It can help people understand complex issues such as biotechnology, or educate them on day-to-day topics like food safety. BC's AITC foundation helps bring the farm to the city, and to demystify the origins of food. That's why I believe it enriches the education of BC's students.
Executive Director
Lindsay Babineau, B.Ed., P.Ag.
Lindsay has been seconded from her classroom to act as the Executive Director for the B.C. Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation.
For more than 20 years, Lindsay was a teacher of agriculture, horticulture and science with School District #35, Langley. During her years as a teacher, she encouraged many young people to join the agriculture industry and in her new position, she still calls on past students for advice and support. Lindsay brings her passion for agriculture to the classroom ready resources and programs she is creating for other teachers in the province.
