With the cost of living continuing to rise, spending more to buy less food is a reality for an increasing share of Canadian families.
Who We Are
Our Board &
Staff Members
Our Board of Directors and Staff Members comprises vibrant and passionate individuals from the Cowichan Valley community.
Rod Allen
Rod Allen
President
Rod Allen, recently retired as Superintendent for Cowichan Valley School District after 36 years in public education. Rod is married with two grown children. An avid wood worker, cyclist, and want to be guitar player, Rod is grateful to be able to pursue these while living on the ancestral and un-ceded lands of the hul’q’umi’num people.
Rod Allen, recently retired as Superintendent for Cowichan Valley School District after 36 years in public education. Rod is married with two grown children. An avid wood worker, cyclist, and want to be guitar player, Rod is grateful to be able to pursue these while living on the ancestral and un-ceded lands of the hul’q’umi’num people.
Fatima Da Silva
Fatima Da Silva
Executive Director & Executive Chef
Born and raised in Mozambique, Fatima moved to Canada in 1987 and to Vancouver Island in 1990. The Cowichan Valley has been her home since 2000. As Nourish's Co-Founder, her focus is primarily on improving the nutrition of children living in poverty. She has a strong belief that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
Born and raised in Mozambique, Fatima moved to Canada in 1987 and to Vancouver Island in 1990. The Cowichan Valley has been her home since 2000. As Nourish's Co-Founder, her focus is primarily on improving the nutrition of children living in poverty. She has a strong belief that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
Alyson McKenzie
Alyson McKenzie
Kitchen General Manager
Born and raised in the UK, Alyson is an integral part of the Nourish Cowichan team. She moved to Canada in 2006 and is grateful & honored to live in the Cowichan Valley. A trained chef with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she has an amazing work ethic and unparalleled dedication to feeding children.
Alyson loves "The Great Indoors" movies and music, and that our food is better than English cuisine.
Born and raised in the UK, Alyson is an integral part of the Nourish Cowichan team. She moved to Canada in 2006 and is grateful & honored to live in the Cowichan Valley. A trained chef with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she has an amazing work ethic and unparalleled dedication to feeding children.
Alyson loves "The Great Indoors" movies and music, and that our food is better than English cuisine.
Lori John
Lori John
Treasurer
Lori John was born in Lethbridge, AB and moved to Duncan, BC, to attend Queen Margaret’s School at age 15. Lori has called the City of Duncan home for over 35 years, where she met and married her husband, Jeremy and raised her three sons.
Lori started her career as a bookkeeper in 2007 and, with encouragement and support from her grandmother, decided to return to school and obtain her CPA/CGA from Laurentian University in 2017. Shortly after receiving her designation, Lori joined Palmer Leslie to further her career and gain more experience working with local businesses. She was excited to start working with the people of Palmer Leslie because they provided a high level of knowledge, and the firm’s priority to help their clients navigate complicated issues aligns with her own.
When Lori is not at Palmer Leslie she can be seen helping as the treasurer of the Cowichan Exhibition Society or walking with her loyal companion Bella, the English Bull-dog.
Lori John was born in Lethbridge, AB and moved to Duncan, BC, to attend Queen Margaret’s School at age 15. Lori has called the City of Duncan home for over 35 years, where she met and married her husband, Jeremy and raised her three sons.
Lori started her career as a bookkeeper in 2007 and, with encouragement and support from her grandmother, decided to return to school and obtain her CPA/CGA from Laurentian University in 2017. Shortly after receiving her designation, Lori joined Palmer Leslie to further her career and gain more experience working with local businesses. She was excited to start working with the people of Palmer Leslie because they provided a high level of knowledge, and the firm’s priority to help their clients navigate complicated issues aligns with her own.
When Lori is not at Palmer Leslie she can be seen helping as the treasurer of the Cowichan Exhibition Society or walking with her loyal companion Bella, the English Bull-dog.
Darcy Monroe Grobe
Darcy Monroe Grobe
Nourish Board Member
Monroe recently retired following a 35 year career with School District No79. He was instrumental in finding the space where the Nourish kitchen is located. Monroe and his wife Denise live in Lake Cowichan where he is a Volunteer Firefighter, Ice hockey referee and enjoys all outdoor activities. “Being a part of the Nourish team is a privilege!”
Monroe recently retired following a 35 year career with School District No79. He was instrumental in finding the space where the Nourish kitchen is located. Monroe and his wife Denise live in Lake Cowichan where he is a Volunteer Firefighter, Ice hockey referee and enjoys all outdoor activities. “Being a part of the Nourish team is a privilege!”
Denise Augustine
Denise Augustine
Nourish Board Member
Swee’alt, Denise Augustine, Director of Indigenous Education and Learner Engagement for SD79 Cowichan is currently seconded to the Ministry of Education, where she is supporting the implementation of the British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement and professional development for ministry staff. Drawing on the knowledge and experiences of her First Nation’s community and family, and with over 25 years experience as an educator, Denise carefully weaves story and research together, inviting us to imagine a community that values diversity, advances equity and inspires innovation.
A recipient of the 2016 Indspire Indigenous Educator Award for leadership, she is an active participant in the local, national and global conversations seeking educational equity for Indigenous children and youth. She has been a speaker for BCSSA, BCCASE, BCASBO, and a keynote for the Learning Forward Conference.
Swee’alt, Denise Augustine, Director of Indigenous Education and Learner Engagement for SD79 Cowichan is currently seconded to the Ministry of Education, where she is supporting the implementation of the British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement and professional development for ministry staff. Drawing on the knowledge and experiences of her First Nation’s community and family, and with over 25 years experience as an educator, Denise carefully weaves story and research together, inviting us to imagine a community that values diversity, advances equity and inspires innovation.
A recipient of the 2016 Indspire Indigenous Educator Award for leadership, she is an active participant in the local, national and global conversations seeking educational equity for Indigenous children and youth. She has been a speaker for BCSSA, BCCASE, BCASBO, and a keynote for the Learning Forward Conference.
Julie Winter
Julie Winter
Nourish Board Member
Julie Winter has lived in the Cowichan Valley for most of her life, together with her husband, they have raised 2 sons. Julie has used her expertise of over 25 years working in the broadcasting industry to uplift many of the nonprofit organizations around Cowichan Valley.
As the general manager for Sun FM, she is the driving force behind annual fundraisers such as “Stuff the Truck” as well as the “Nourish Radiothon”, which, combined with other annual fundraisers such as the Tour the Rock, Special Olympics, and many others, helps raise impactful funds that support many worthy causes in the valley.
Julie has a strong belief in serving her community.
Julie Winter has lived in the Cowichan Valley for most of her life, together with her husband, they have raised 2 sons. Julie has used her expertise of over 25 years working in the broadcasting industry to uplift many of the nonprofit organizations around Cowichan Valley.
As the general manager for Sun FM, she is the driving force behind annual fundraisers such as “Stuff the Truck” as well as the “Nourish Radiothon”, which, combined with other annual fundraisers such as the Tour the Rock, Special Olympics, and many others, helps raise impactful funds that support many worthy causes in the valley.
Julie has a strong belief in serving her community.
News & Resources
Nourish News
Explore the latest updates from Nourish Cowichan and discover valuable information about food resources in the Cowichan Valley.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, spending more to buy less food is a reality for an increasing share of Canadian families.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, spending more to buy less food is a reality for an increasing share of Canadian families.
