Linda Geggie, Executive Director

Linda has been actively working on regional food system issues since the early 1990s and has been instrumental in building and shaping CRFAIR into the organization it is today. She has worked extensively with a wide range of individuals and groups and believes in collaboration as a path to meaningful change. In addition to her work with CRFAIR, Linda is a member of the Peninsula Agricultural Commission and a Community Research Fellow with the University of Victoria's Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community University Engagement. Linda is heavily involved in the local soccer scene, loves walks with her dog Leroy and lives with her family near Prospect Lake.

Jess Bossert, Operations Manager

Jess has had a diverse career that includes more than two decades of leadership and project management experience in the public and private sectors. Having spent many years working for government and large corporate organizations, Jess is thrilled to be seeing the world from the perspective a small but highly effective not-for-profit. Jess has travelled extensively throughout his professional life but loves his little farm in Central Saanich best. In his spare time, he gardens, tends to goats, chickens and pigs, operates a small business and enjoys being active in the outdoors with his kids.

Aaren Topley, Food Literacy and Youth Flavour Projects

Aaren Topley has a degree in Recreation and Health Education from UVIC. He first became interested in local food systems as a Community Kitchen Coordinator with the James Bay Community Project.

Aaren first got involved in CRFAIR three years ago conducting a joint research project with CRFAIR and UVIC. Some early career highlights include sitting on a discussion panel with Dr. Vandana Shiva, developing a conceptual framework for food literacy and being CRFAIR’s first Animator in their Collective Impact strategy. Reflected in his work is his belief that food is a powerful tool that can create common ground to bring together communities. Outside of work, Aaren loves to cook, play guitar and spend his days off taking long bike rides.

Lee Fuge, President

Lee has been an avid supporter of local farms and foods for over 35 years, on both a personal level and through her work in the retailing of natural and organic foods. Lee is a founding member and manager of the International Women’s Catering Co-op, serves on the board of LifeCycles Project Society, and is a board member the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society. Lee has served on the boards of the Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia, Moss Street Market, and the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation. Her interest in re-localizing the food system merged with her interest in co-ops and led her to become a founding member and manager of FoodRoots Co-op, which for several years hosted the Pocket Market Network; the Sustainable Feast series of local, organic dinners; and Cinema in Season, a collaboration with Open Cinema. Lee envisions local, community controlled food systems in which co-op ownership plays a major role.

Wendy Farwell, Treasurer

Wendy has lived in the Capital Region for 40 years, and was a frequent visitor prior to that. A lifelong gardener and ‘urban farmer’, she is intensely interested in the challenges we face in our local food system and concerned about the food skills (growing, processing, cooking) that we seem to be losing. Her personal contribution to the local food system is operating a micro artisan bread bakery in the Gorge Tillicum community. This is a retirement activity; after a long career in management consulting in Canada and the UK, Wendy brings skills and experience in strategic planning, program design, outcome management and change management to the Board of CRFAIR. Recently she has been actively involved in the planning and creation of the Gorge Park Community Gardens and is a member of Gorge Tillicum Urban Farmers (GTUF).