TEAM
Cheryl Keetch, MANAGER/Coordinator
cherylovfc(at)gmail.com
CONNIE MATTHEWS-CULL, NEWSLETTER
connie.cull(at)gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Amanda Hudson, President
Amanda is the newly elected President of the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op. She’s truly excited and honoured to be part of the organization, believing there’s little more important than the quality of the food we eat, supporting our local farmers, and coming together in community.
She lives near Killaloe with her husband Ryan and their two rescue dogs. Since moving to the area about five years ago, she’s fallen in love with the nature, the people, and the peace that comes with living in the Valley. You can often find her playing pickleball in Eganville or hiking the local trails.
Professionally, Amanda has been running her own consultancy for the past 12 years and previously served as Board President of L’Arche Toronto. She also spent several years teaching at Algonquin College in Ottawa. In addition, she’s a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner and teaches people how to “tap” to relieve stress and improve well-being.
Joanne McManus, Treasurer
Joanne McManus is the current treasurer for the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op board. As the treasurer she is responsible for managing our financial resources. She has worked as an organizational change management and business process management expert within the finance industry and with a number of non-profit organizations. Ms. McManus has a strong background in both finance and accounting. In previous work, she has been responsible for multi-currency, multi-million dollar budgets. She has experience in all aspects of financial forecasting, resource allocation, fund management, accounting and control. Ms. McManus received a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies from Athabasca University and is a Certified Management Accountant. Currently based in Burnstown, Ontario, she grows organic vegetables to supplement food she buys through OVFC.
Chris Tanner, Secretary
Chris has been on the OVFC board for 3 years and is currently the secretary. He is an active OVFC consumer member and was part of a food coop in Deep River during the 1970’s and 80’s, where he also served on the executive. He served as treasurer of the Deep River Choral Group for a number of years, is on the board of THEOP, which presents concerts in Deep River, and is a member of the executive on the local NDP riding association. He retired from AECL in 2003, where he worked for most of his career, primarily as a computer engineer.
Perri-Rae Boell
Perri-Rae grew up on a small hobby farm on the Barr Line between Cobden and Douglas. Her father raised chickens, beef cattle and also had horses. Perri-Rae is the financial advisor/owner of Perri-Rae Boell & Associates Inc/The Co-operators in Pembroke, Ontario. She has worked for The Co-operators for over 30 years. She worked along side her father Brian Yuke who was the farm specialist with The Co-operators in the Ottawa Valley. He taught her the farm business and is happy to carry on with his legacy. Perri-Rae lives in Rankin with her husband Rob, and have 3 children. “I am a huge supporter of local farms and businesses and I enjoy volunteering and giving back to my community.”
Neil Douglas
Neil Douglas is a retired nuclear power plant operator and operator trainer who moved back to the Valley two-and-a-half years ago. He now lives in the Germanicus area with his partner, Ann. The two of them were seeking a quiet, rural experience and had fond memories of living in Deep River when they were first married. (After being born and raised in Mississauga, Neil spent six years working at NDP until the plant closed in 1988.)
Neil has always been an active volunteer, serving on (and then chairing) the Board of Directors at his church in Peterborough; serving on the board of the Hastings Highland Public Library in Maynooth, Ontario; and volunteering with a number of other community groups in both communities. Neil is a strong believer in supporting local farms and businesses and enjoys volunteering and giving back to the community.
CAMERON MONTGOMERY
Cameron Montgomery – B.A.Hon., M.A., Ph.D. Currently Cameron is the Special Projects Coordinator for North Algona Wilberforce Township. Formerly she worked as a researcher for the Labour Market Group Renfrew & Lanark and the Local Immigration Partnership at Algonquin College Pembroke Campus, and she was a professor at Algonquin College Woodroffe Campus for 10 years before that. Cameron volunteers for several organizations locally, including EcoPembroke, Kiwanis, and Pembroke Pride. She is the founder of Studio Dreamshare and her creative practice includes making films which showcase the beauty of the Ottawa Valley.
BLAKE MALO
Blake is the co-owner and operator of Seed and Stone Farmstead. She and her husband, Jackson, purchased their farm property in Rockingham, Wilno, in 2014. They have dedicated the last decade to their small-scale, diversified, draft and tractor powered farm. Over the years they have been vendors at markets, run a CSA, are currently producers on the Ottawa Valley Food Co-op and host a weekly farmstand. At their farmstand they sell farm products, artisanal baking, and bring people together. Blake believes strongly in local food economies and the power of small-scale, local food systems to enhance both individual and community wellbeing.
Blake has spent her entire adult life growing and producing high-quality farm products here in The Ottawa Valley. She is deeply committed to improving accessibility to local foods that are fresh, environmentally conscious, community oriented, and delicious!
JACK SMYE
Jack is a mushroom grower and software developer who moved to the Ottawa Valley two years ago. He runs Cedar Roots Mushrooms, which grows gourmet mushroom varieties like blue oyster, lion’s mane, and shiitake. You can currently find him and his mushrooms at a host of farmer’s markets throughout Ottawa and the Valley. His partner, Charlotte, runs Atomic Apiaries which specializes in queen bee breeding. Together, they’ve started producing honey products using mushrooms from Cedar Roots.
Jack’s background is in software and web development, and he’s interested in how technology can support local food systems. He believes strongly in the value of small-scale, local food economies, both for the growers producing the food and the communities eating it.
ALEX BENZIE
Alex and her partner moved to Pembroke in 2022 to be closer to her family in Renfrew County. In search of the best food and products the Ottawa Valley has to offer, they were thrilled to discover the OVFC and have made countless meals from local food since.