It’s fairly easy to keep a plane flying once it’s in the air; but try getting a plane with no engine off the ground, and loaded with passengers (our clients). This team has managed to accomplish this undeniably unenviable feat (miracle) over the years which I am most proud to be a part of. This society would not be where it is today without the amazing work of the CFFFS volunteer team, past and present. I’ve had the good fortune of working with some extraordinary people since our inception. To every one of you: Thank you for your truly unconditional kindness and inspirational character in helping others in need in our community.
Marrett Green is an award-winning former news anchor (YTV, UTV, Global, CTV), television news journalist, producer, and published author. He has taught Oral Communications and Electronic Media Strategies within Applied Communications, and the School of Business, respectively, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Mr. Green is also a post-secondary education program developer creating a Media Relations course for the Forensic department at The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) as well as a new (Media Relations Associate Certificate) program for BCIT, chairing the Communications Advisory Committee – assembled as part of the accreditation process. Before achieving his Masters in Mass Communications Research with the University of Leicester in 2005, Mr. Green worked in the Media Relations Office at the Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver) and soon after took on the role of Media Relations Manager for BCIT. Marrett is also the founder and CEO of a registered Canadian charity the Canadian Flowers for Food Society (CFFFS) http://www.flowersforfood.com. Mr. Green also conceptualized and developed the Philanthropy Bank for members to deposit their talents and skills directly into the noble cause of bettering another person’s Life. Marrett also developed the Community Leadership Program teaching young people as the head instructor how to make a positive experience in their community, http://www.communityleadershipprogram.ca. Mr. Green was also asked by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. to be one of the book reviewers for the First Canadian Edition of Lucas “The Art of Public Speaking” prior to its publication in 2008. Marrett continues to be involved in several projects but spends the majority of this time on CFFFS, which he finds most rewarding.
Karan D’souza is currently a second-year undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, where he is pursing an Integrated Science Degree with the Faculty of Science specializing in Neurobiology, Immunology and Public Health. He graduated from Pacific Academy High School where he received the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Karan joined the Canadian Flowers for Food Society in May 2010, as a Program Director, focusing on planning the annual Art Gala, and establishing the composting program. As of September 2010, Karan has become a Executive Board Member, where he continues to oversee those specific programs. Karan also serves on the Board of Directors for the Campus Crown (CCA), where he is currently managing the Logistics, and Marketing portfolios.
Karan also continues to be heavily involved in the community, and retains most of his volunteer positions in the Lower Mainland. He volunteers as a Emergency Volunteer at Vancouver General Hospital, serves of the Youth Committee of the Canadian Cancer Society to name a few of his other commitments. He also continues to advocate for children worldwide, volunteering with orphans and children in South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, China and Trinidad.”
Brandon Gee is an accountant for CFFFS. His responsibilities include authorizing, creating and recording tax receipts for charitable donations. He has recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Toronto and will be pursuing an accounting designation. Being a part of CFFFS has allowed him to keep his roots intact and give back to the community that has given him so many opportunities.
Anne-Marie landed in Canada in 2010 in search of new adventures and has not looked back since. Although born and raised in England, she does not drink tea and so headed for the coffee capital that is Vancouver! She holds a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature) and a Post Grad in E-learning Design. Anne-Marie came to Vancouver to start a freelance career as an Instructional Designer and Copywriter. She specializes in e-learning and works for a number of companies in Canada, US and the UK to help aid adult learning within their organizations. She loves the variety of writing for different audiences and styles and is thrilled to be part of Canadian Flowers For Food working on projects that are having a real impact on the local community, and having the chance to give back to the city that she now calls home. One of her sideline projects is http://www.hitchwhistler.com, a free rideshare website designed get Vancouverites to the mountains while looking out for the environment. Anne-Marie has a passion for the written word, music, snowboarding, enjoying the outdoors and Bikram Yoga.
(Jeff) Son Nguyen is a student at the University of British Columbia. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sauder School of Business. 2009, Jeff came from the crowded metropolitan of Saigon, Vietnam to arrive in the beautiful scenery of British Columbia in a quest to pursue his dream of become a successful banker–more than his parents were. Jeff deeply believes in giving back to the community. He is very enthusiastic in doing volunteer work–has been with several local charities since he came to Vancouver and currently hold a chair position at The Canadian Flowers for Food Society, a local environmental initiative. Aside from his academic routines, Jeff plays various sports including basketball and dragon boat. He is the captain and steer person of the relatively young C.C. Riders, who finished just seconds short of a medal at the 2010 Harrison Dragon Boat Festival.
Karen Poon is a new member to our team with international working experience. After working overseas, she realized that there is no place like home – beautiful British Columbia. Dedicated to social work and believing in giving back to the community, she is not only responsible for the Media Relations in Canadian Flowers For Food, she is an active member of the Vancouver Cathay New Century Lions Club. She enjoys the challenge of working with minimal resources and still be able to maximize public awareness with the help of socially conscious kind-hearted mass media types.
After achieving her business degree, Karen decided to embrace her roots, she went back to Asia to work for a few years in the marketing field. She was able to enrich her marketing skills by working in different industries internationally, from telecom to logistics, to the educational field.
Alison Doyle became Managing Director of CFFFS in June 2010. She has also been volunteering her Graphic/Web Design & Website Management services since 2009. In her spare time she enjoys DJing, riding her bike, flying sport kites, traveling with her boyfriend and spending time with her dogs.
Alex is a senior at Dr. Charles Best Secondary school in Coquitlam, BC. His talents go beyond student council, hockey, rugby and good grades having successfully lead his team to winning the YPI grant for Flowers for Food in 2010. Today, Alex is researching and managing composting options for CFFFS floral discards.
Following graduation from Lord Byng High School in Vancouver, Chris worked for a year as a volunteer with mentally handicapped adults in France. This led him to decide on a pragmatic career path to help less fortunate people in developing countries. Earning a bachelors in Agriculture and a masters in Planning and Regional Management, he went on to work for the United Nations as an agronomist, project development specialist and manager over the next twenty-five years. During this period he helped to change the lives of impoverished and often hungry people through the creation of rural development projects or through humanitarian interventions. His work took him from southern Africa to the Sahel, the Horn of Africa to central and western China, including Tibet, the Middle East to Chechnya and the North Caucasus and finally to his last post directing the World Food Programme efforts to feed over a million victims of civil war in North Darfur. In 2007, family circumstances led Chris to leave his long career with the UN and return to Vancouver. He is married and has two grown sons. It is his hope to continue to use his skills and experience, on a local level, to improve the lives of the less fortunate.
Irene is responsible for coordinating the florists, flowers, classes, and smiles that make the Oakridge Senior Center floral classes memorable. Check out the Scrap Book page for pictures of the ladies at Oakridge classes.
Winnie is from beautiful Dominican Republic and has a passion for helping, communicating and sharing with different people from all walks of life. She graduated in psychology last year and is now in Vancouver searching for adventure and new ways to be useful to her fellow being. Her mottos is “A little help can make a big difference,” and her goal in life is to extend this creed at every opportunity possible, beginning with the Canadian Flowers for Food Society.
Hi, my name is Kate Devine and I am new to the CFFFS team. I come on as the Managing Director and I could not be happier! I have spent the last few years mainly working with floral arrangements and would now like to bring my enthusiasm and expertise to a new and different level. I look forward to getting to know you all.
Patricia Fu is a new addition to the Marketing team at the Canadian Flowers for Food Society. She is thrilled to be bringing her skills and experience in branding, PR, social media, event planning and online marketing to the team. She believes that giving back to the community is vital to a balanced lifestyle and is key to developing and maintaining a thriving community for everyone.
Patricia is also on the Richmond Hospital Foundation Committee and is a member of the Vancouver Cathay New Century Lions Club. Aside from her involvement with non-profit/charitable organizations, she is a real estate consultant and enjoys frequenting the many wonderful restaurants and coffee shops in the Lower Mainland as a hobby.