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.
Swee’alt, Denise Augustine
Swee’alt, Denise Augustine
Director of Indigenous Education & Learner Engagement for SD79 Cowichan
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 of 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.
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 of 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.
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!”
Lori John
Lori John
Nourish Board Member
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.
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.
What We Offer
Nourish Programs
Nourish Cowichan provides nutritious food programs for individuals and schools within the Cowichan Valley School District, as well as supporting family food programs.
