Board of Directors

2025

Chairperson: Sylvain Alie

Sylvain grew up in Eastern Canada and spent many hours helping Mom and Dad prepare weed and harvest the family plot, his introduction to gardening. A graduate in Business Administration Sylvain worked in many fields ending his career with a decade long stint in industrial baking. Now retired, he lives on Steller Raven Farm with his spouse Royann Petrell, where they have farmed organically for the past 20 years. His passion for farming, rekindled in his early 30’s, is almost an addiction. He says “There is nothing likedirt under your fingernails to make you feel in touch with nature.“ He loves to share his passion for the land and explain how Steller Raven has provided most of their fruits and vegetables while living the “100 foot Diet“. He loves experimenting with new crops and hopes to get more people growing different plants with his continued involvement in the the Plant Sale and Seedy Saturday.

Recording Secretary: Mary Anderson

Treasurer: Matt Sutton

Directors at large:

Peter Poulson

Colline Sutton

Jon Toogood

Directors’ Duties

BOARD MEMBERS – make decisions on behalf of the CVGSS membership guided by the society’s constitution and bylaws. The Board members are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting, or as needed during the year.

CHAIRPERSON – Chairs Board meetings, creates and distributes meeting agendas, and represents the organization in the community. Decisions are made by consensus. The Chair may conduct other meetings as well, including the Annual General Meeting and monthly membership meetings.

VICE CHAIR – Takes over the duties of the Chair when that person is absent and may assist the Chair when necessary.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY – Keeps an updated list and contact information of the membership, keeping that information confidential. Forwards newsletters, membership renewals, announcements and other documents as needed.

RECORDING SECRETARY – Takes minutes of the Board meetings and sends them to the Board executive. The minutes are corrected as needed and archived for reference.

TREASURER – Keeps track of financial matters of the society, records and reports this status to the Board at regular intervals.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE -Takes on various duties as needed, such as coordinating events, writing and distributing the newsletter, or updating documents.