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Meet Our Team:
Squamish CAN Staff
Krystle tenBrink - Executive Director
Krystle began working on food initiatives with Squamish CAN in 2010. To date she has co-lead establishing the Squamish Food Charter; co-founding the Squamish Food Policy Council; the development of the CAN Grow Community Garden & Mamquam Edible School Yard & integrating food system policies into Squamish's Official Community Plan.
Krystle@squamishcan.net
Krystle@squamishcan.net
Harriet Jarvis - Downtown School Farm Manager
Originally from England and with a background in environmental science, Harriet now embraces an off grid lifestyle here in Squamish. She embodies a deep connection to nature, making her a skilled gardener and a steward of sustainable living practices.
When she's not tending to her crops, you will find her outside in the mountains, birdwatching, trail running, cycling, or out on the ocean trying to master her new hobby of wing foiling.
harriet@squamishcan.net
When she's not tending to her crops, you will find her outside in the mountains, birdwatching, trail running, cycling, or out on the ocean trying to master her new hobby of wing foiling.
harriet@squamishcan.net
Marie-ève Boutin - Seed Library & Greenhouse Manager
Marie-ève started with arts & photography in Québec & continued on to the film industry in Vancouver, intertwined with service industry roles. After starting a family in Squamish, landscaping followed, then permaculture design & volunteering with Squamish CAN which lead to her role as Food Projects Coordinator.
Marie-eve@squamishcan.net
Marie-eve@squamishcan.net
Shannon Friday - Zero Waste Coordinator
Shannon Friday (she/they) has been a member of Squamish CAN since moving to the area in 2018, helping out with Repair Cafes and the Re-Use-It Fair and having a downtown community garden plot. She is excited to be the Zero Waste Coordinator because it combines a passion for recognizing diverse skills like mending and repair, community exchange, and spreading the word about how to save our planet!
Before moving to Squamish, Shannon lived in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to founding a theatre company, Shannon worked as the manager of a TimeBank, a community organization that facilitates skill sharing throughout a community. Shannon lives with their partner James, their two adorable and perfect cats, McTavish and Flick, and a rotating door of visiting pets.
shannon@squamishcan.net
Before moving to Squamish, Shannon lived in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to founding a theatre company, Shannon worked as the manager of a TimeBank, a community organization that facilitates skill sharing throughout a community. Shannon lives with their partner James, their two adorable and perfect cats, McTavish and Flick, and a rotating door of visiting pets.
shannon@squamishcan.net
Stephanie Heaton - School Garden Educator (Don Ross)
Passionate about nature and nurturing sustainable communities, Stephanie likes to immerse herself in hands-on projects that make a positive impact. With a background as a school garden facilitator in Vancouver and volunteer with the Landed Learning Project at UBC Farm Stephanie is looking forward to becoming part of the gardening network in Squamish.
She is also looking forward to working on her roller skating and skiing skills.
She is also looking forward to working on her roller skating and skiing skills.
Marissa Carlberg - Educator and Grower at Mamquam Elementary Schoolyard
Coming from a background in outdoor education and guiding, Marissa found her love of organic agriculture four years ago. She has since been dedicated to working on small scale organic farms, learning about ecologically sound farming practices and supporting local food systems. Marissa loves connecting with community members about growing, living lightly and how we can better empower our local communities.
When she’s not dreaming about the plants she’s growing, Marissa can be found trying to learn a new craft (currently this is knitting) or looking for the next beautiful place to camp.
marissa@squamishcan.net
When she’s not dreaming about the plants she’s growing, Marissa can be found trying to learn a new craft (currently this is knitting) or looking for the next beautiful place to camp.
marissa@squamishcan.net
Diane Mitchell - Communications Coordinator
Diane had a 25+ year career in museums in the UK and Canada before setting up her own business as an exhibit interpretive planner and writer. Woven into this work, she also enjoys working for non-profits, helping with communications and capacity building. When she’s not working or parenting, she studies herbalism in a bid to deepen her connection with the land and its healing abilities, while experimenting with growing healing herbs on hr patio.
communications@squamishcan.net
communications@squamishcan.net
Caroline Manuel - Development Coordinator
Caroline grew up on Canada’s East Coast, on the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq People in Halifax (K’jipuktuk), Nova Scotia. After years working abroad in Asia and Europe, she put down roots in Vancouver and forged a dynamic path—co-owning a popular diner, working in factual TV, and lending her expertise to organizations like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Fresh Roots, and Story Money Impact. Now, joining Squamish CAN, Caroline continues to champion resilient food systems and sustainable communities. Based in Nanaimo, she loves uncovering hidden local food gems, growing food despite curious creatures, and adventuring with her family and their Mexi rescue dog, Canela.
development@squamishcan.net
development@squamishcan.net
Michael Staveley - Head Chef
Michael’s love of cooking began in the beautiful farming community of Ladner BC, where he graduated from high school with scholarships which then led him to the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver. After achieving his red seal, Michael spent time at both Fairmont & Rosewood hotels and finally at the Westin Whistler, where he took the role of Restaurant Chef. Michael was the Head Chef of Catering and events operations at the Sea to Sky Gondola, and consulting chef for House of Lager.
chef@squamishcan.net
chef@squamishcan.net
Robbie Deane - Special Projects Lead
Robbie is a Jack of all trades - Think all things building and infrastructure from
repairing garden beds to building cold storage buildings. As well as support the community gardens throughout the season.
As a lifelong nature lover with a heart for simple and sustainable living, Heather was naturally drawn to working with Squamish CAN.
repairing garden beds to building cold storage buildings. As well as support the community gardens throughout the season.
As a lifelong nature lover with a heart for simple and sustainable living, Heather was naturally drawn to working with Squamish CAN.
Heather Kennedy - Waste Auditor
As a lifelong nature lover with a heart for simple and sustainable living, Heather was naturally drawn to working with Squamish CAN.
She enjoys little moments of connection and education with community members on recycling audit days!
Heather is a veterinarian turned life + performance coach to fellow sporty souls and can often be found trying to keep up with her amazing trail-pup in the forests and mountains of the Sea to Sky region and beyond.
She enjoys little moments of connection and education with community members on recycling audit days!
Heather is a veterinarian turned life + performance coach to fellow sporty souls and can often be found trying to keep up with her amazing trail-pup in the forests and mountains of the Sea to Sky region and beyond.
Squamish CAN Board of Directors
Holden Bonwit - President
After moving a dozen times on a few continents, Holden finally found home when he fell in love with Squamish in 2017. With a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA focused on early stage finance and social impact from the University of Oxford, he brings a blend of technical and business expertise to his consulting clients. Holden has a decade of successful product design and launch experience, followed by 10 years in business consulting in strategy, finance, and expansion. His consultative approach helps organizations break down complex challenges into manageable solutions. Passionate about environmental impact, Holden connects with nature through kiteboarding, trail running, and hiking with his family,
Gizem Kaya
Gizem settled in Vancouver from Turkey back in 2009 to pursue her studies at SFU. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Developmental, Economic and Environmental Issues in International Studies. Over the years, she's worn many hats operationalizing strategic plans in the non-profit sector: fundraising, volunteer management, developing and implementing social service programs, food security initiatives such as school food programs, food recovery and food banks. Gizem also has governance experience from having served on the board of Whistler Community Foundation. She is passionate about strategic planning, sustainable community development and currently works at Squamish Nation helping with grant proposals and development. She is dedicated to learning decolonizing practices and how to be a better ally.
Jane Raycraft
Jane is excited to share her deep experience as an accountant with a sustainability perspective,
based on an interdisciplinary master’s degree that links sustainability to accounting. Jane has
an understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with climate action here in
the Sea to Sky based on a recent sustainable forestry project with the Howe Sound Biosphere
Region Initiative (HSBRI). In addition to bringing great non-profit volunteer experience, she is
committed to the mission and values of Squamish CAN and believes that the organization has
the potential to make a significant impact on the sustainability and resilience of the Squamish
community.
based on an interdisciplinary master’s degree that links sustainability to accounting. Jane has
an understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with climate action here in
the Sea to Sky based on a recent sustainable forestry project with the Howe Sound Biosphere
Region Initiative (HSBRI). In addition to bringing great non-profit volunteer experience, she is
committed to the mission and values of Squamish CAN and believes that the organization has
the potential to make a significant impact on the sustainability and resilience of the Squamish
community.
Pamela McGarel
Pam is a sustainability consultant and entrepreneur with a specialty in responsible tourism. She runs a small-group educational travel company in BC, Mosaic Earth Travel, along with various side projects for the Squamish Community Foundation and supporting businesses in adopting sustainability initiatives. Pam is excited to contribute her passion for change and skills in project management and community engagement to Squamish CAN & important programs.
Christen Young
With deep roots in Squamish and Whistler, Christen has lived in and around the Sea to Sky her whole life lovingly intertwined with nature through sport (skiing, trail running and hiking), work (The North Face) and everyday life. She has had had the pleasure of volunteering with Squamish CAN through Valleycliffe Elementary working with kids aged 5-12 in the school garden learning about soil health, pollinators, plant stages and so much more. In business she has worked as a Sales Rep for the last 16 years with national accounts and local independent businesses and as a challenge has taken on the role of aligning The North Face Canada sustainability initiatives with those in the US.
Amy Morris
Amy (she/her) is settler of Slovakian, Dutch, German and British ancestry. Amy resides and recreates on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, & sel̓íl̓witulh Nations, currently known as Vancouver and Squamish. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Simon Fraser University with a thesis focused on regulating dog breeding to improve well-being and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Concordia University with a specialization in Business. Amy has wide experience in the animal protection movement, campaigning for policy changes at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to curtail animal exploitation. Amy shares her life with Clover, a collie mix who guides their day to day adventures.
Patricia Lightburn
Patricia has been deeply involved in the nexus of climate change mitigation and public policy since her first environmental studies class in 2005. She has supported governments, non-profits, utilities and the private sector with a range of building decarbonization, clean mobility, and energy system transformation policies and strategies across Canada. Patricia is also an avid gardener and recently implemented a native plant restoration project in her backyard. She is a firm believer in the power of community gardening to support healthy humans and ecosystems.
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With a passion for zero waste initiatives, Eden (she/ her) is a lifelong Squamish resident with over 10-years of waste management experience. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Studies and has co-developed the Residential Tote Auditing Program, which has reduced recycling contamination through personalized education. Eden believes that community collaboration and engaging in decolonizing practices are key for making positive changes. Outside of work, she volunteers with the Marine Stewardship Initiative and enjoys biking, skiing, camping, throwing axes, and sharing good food with family and friends.
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