Our Staff

The Cowichan Green Community Foundation is made up of a dynamic group of community members.

Board Members

Tina Reynolds

Tina Reynolds

Director

Tina has worked in the food industry for over 20 years with a focus in sales, manufacturing and distribution. She has a keen interest in all things food related, particularly food security and community access to healthy food. Born in the US, she moved to Canada in her early teens and has lived in Sudbury, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria before settling in the Cowichan Valley in 2010. Tina enjoys spending time in her garden where she grows food and flowers.

Vivianne Allen

Vivianne Allen

Director

Vivianne feels like a relative newcomer in the Cowichan Valley having lived here just over 10 years. During her long career in the food industry, she has witnessed untold food waste. As a new member to the board of Cowichan Green Community she is grateful to belong to this community where it's possible to see the results of the energy and commitment towards food security and food management that she finds in this organization. The goals of trying to meet the needs of those who could go hungry and effective use of our bounty are dear to her heart.

Brigid Reynolds

Brigid Reynolds

President

Brigid Reynolds is a settler of immigrant parents grateful to be living on the unceded Coast Salish lands of the Stz’uminus, Quw’utsun, and Semiahmoo First Nations.

Brigid started her own consulting company, Compass Rose Planning Services, in 2021 after more than twenty years of working as a professional planner in smaller communities on Vancouver Island and Whidbey Island, Washington. Her interest in social justice and community planning started when she worked as a welfare and tenants’ rights advocate in Vancouver’s downtown eastside neighbourhood in the early 90’s.

One of her greatest achievements was as a founding member and co-chair of the Cowichan Housing Association (CHA). She’s glad to be taking an active role with the Cowichan Green Community’s team and fulfilling the organization’s mission.

Brigid grew up in the Maritimes and has lived on the west coast most of her adult life. This has fostered an enduring relationship with the ‘salt chuck’. In her spare time, you will find her sailing somewhere around the Salish Sea.

Staff

Kortnee Smith

Kortnee Smith

Co-Executive Director

Kortnee was born in Duncan and grew up in Northern BC. She spent most of her adult life in Calgary AB and relocated back to Duncan in 2012. Kortnee spent the last 17 years in the financial industry, working in many positions. She worked her way into senior level positions in which she spent her last 6 years. Kortnee joined Cowichan Green Community in April 2024. It is a deep passion of hers to work with and give back the community. Cowichan Green Community's mission and values align closely with Kortnee's own personal passions and she is very grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization.

Alyssa Krawchuk

Alyssa Krawchuk

Program Manager

Born and mostly raised in Ontario, Alyssa moved out to beautiful British Columbia in 2008, and has been working at CGC since 2010! With her Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Youth Care, Alyssa’s passions lie in working with children, youth, and families to create an inclusive, safe, and vibrant community celebrating the gifts and strengths of all people. On the side, she thoroughly enjoys playing music, creating art, and taking in the beauty of Vancouver Island by going on mini adventures and hikes.

Carol Kastelic

Carol Kastelic

Program Manager, Cob Oven

Farming continues to be Carol's passion, having grown up on a mixed farm in Alberta. Success in growing food and preserving the harvest comes from many years of hard work and practice so naturally working at Cowichan Green Community is the perfect fit, helping to grow food for others. When not at work she enjoys working on her home renovations, outdoor activities, hiking, paddle boarding, and spending time with her family.

How Can I Get Involved?

The Cowichan Green Community Foundation is a registered charity that relies on the hard work and generosity of volunteers and donors. If you would like to contribute, consider donating either time or money. Volunteers are needed throughout the year, please apply here.

Members of the Cowichan Green Community Foundation receive discounts on select events and workshops, voting rights at our Annual General Meetings, and empower the Foundation to create engaging and supportive initiatives, workshops, and demonstration sites throughout the Cowichan Region.