Meet Our Staff
Staff Team
We work both in the office and from remote locations. Click a name or the envelope icon to reach us by email.
Gender pronouns: he, him, his
Demian is driven by the Inninwuk (Swampy Cree) teachings to provide for his community of Fox Lake. Learning all he can from the land and the Elders, he spends much of his time harvesting from the land as dictated by the seasons. Demian has been committed to passing on these lessons and skills to the next generations, doing work with his community’s youth and the schools to achieve this goal. Now with Food Matters Manitoba, Demian is focused on helping other communities share their knowledge with their youth.
executive director
204.943.0822
Gender pronouns: he, him, his
Myles, a recent agricultural business graduate with an ever-growing passion for gardening, foraging, community, and food. These passions have stemmed from years working with youth programs, volunteering with community gardens, non profits, spending time in nature, and learning from the environment around him. He also loves to cook, play sports, and read.
In the position of Northern Programs Manager, Myles looks forward to applying his knowledge towards helping communities with food security and food sovereignty while developing a deeper understanding of northern communities, their traditions and teachings.
Northern Programs Manager
204.943.0822
Gender pronouns: he, him, his
Myron Cook is FMM’s new Community Project Coordinator, but he’s been one of our Northern partners for quite some time. He is Assin’skowitiniwak (rocky Cree) from Barren Lands First nation. He is a hunting and fishing guide, raised in Brochet Manitoba and Reindeer Lake. Working in the drilling industry has taken him all over Canada. He’s been harvesting off the land since a young age, spending his time camping, hunting, and fishing. Myron enjoys helping others by providing traditional food and teachings. He is proud to be a part of Food Matters Manitoba, providing for his community.
Myron Cook
Community Project Coordinator
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: she / her / hers
Morgan is a recent Human Rights graduate from the University of Winnipeg. She is very excited to start her career in a field that is very meaningful to her. She spent the better part of her degree focusing on issues faced in northern Manitoba including the issue of food insecurity and is excited to apply that knowledge to her work. Outside of work Morgan loves to travel, as well as spend time outdoors, hiking and camping. Overall, she is looking forward to working with and learning from our northern partners!
Morgan McCurdy
Northern Coordinator
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: she / her / hers
Chantal is a graduate from Concordia University where she earned her B.A. in Journalism. She has worked as a reporter and editor for a number of independent newspapers in Montreal, and has experience reporting on food insecurity.
She is looking forward to applying her experience communicating important information and storytelling to Food Matters’ work.
Chantal Schromeda
Communications Facilitator
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
John Robert Halkett is 25 years old, Rocky Cree from Barren Lands First Nation (Brochet, Manitoba), and FMM’s Northern Community Facilitator and Community Harvester.
He spent half of his life in Thompson and the other half in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When he was 12 years old, he spent one year with his father in Brochet navigating the land – learning how to hunt, fish, set nets, pull nets, and learning how to gut and filet fish.
John received his high school diploma in 2018, in Selkirk. Afterwards, he pursued his Health Care Aide Certification at Red River College. In 2021, he began working as a licensed security officer in Winnipeg for the Southeast Resource Development Council Corporation until 2023, when he became an independent contractor prior to his employment with FMM.
He has been re-learning the teachings of traditional hunting, fishing, trapping, and navigation of the land as a community harvester through FMM’s land-based program.
Over the years, he has attended gatherings, sweats, ceremonies, and numerous Indigenous events – learning his spirit name, Red Running Bear Man during his third sweat. With John’s first caribou hunt in December 2023 and his first successful hunt shortly after in January 2024, his goal is to continue learning as much as possible so he may guide the younger generations to follow the path he was unable to choose earlier on in life. While he was successful in the cities, he feels his traditional ways were lost.
John has much respect for wildlife, the land, and his culture. He considers himself a student of the traditional teachings offered by the people of his community.
John Halkett
Northern Community Facilitator and Community Harvester
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
Drayden Jobb
Northern Community Facilitator and Community Harvester
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: she / her / hers
Dilaxshy Sivagurunathan
Systems and Evaluation Coordinator
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: she / her / hers
As the Executive Assistant at Food Matters Manitoba, I’m not just here to keep the wheels turning; I’m here to ensure our leadership team has the freedom to focus on delivering on our mission to increase food security in Manitoba.
With over 20 years of experience in executive support, I bring an unwavering commitment to our company’s vision and a passion for facilitating our leader’s success.
Outside the office, you’ll find me adventuring with my dog Lacie and advocating for sustainable living. I believe in the power of work-life balance and enjoy sharing tips for achieving it.
Robin Smyth
Executive Assistant
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
Lester Balfour is a dedicated traditional harvester and a valued Northern partner with Food Matters Manitoba in Kinosao Sipi (Norway House).
With decades of experience, Lester embodies stewardship of the land – leading community harvests, and sharing his knowledge and passion for the traditional ways of living with the next generation.
Lester believes in the importance of connecting youth to their heritage – frequently inviting children from the community to join him out on the land. Through these experiences, he instills a deep appreciation for the land and wild food, which he describes as “the best food you can eat.”
His commitment to sharing what the land has to offer is a testament to his belief that by giving and helping one another, we can all thrive. Lester’s work continues to inspire and empower those around him, fostering a strong sense of generosity and community support.
Lester Balfour
Traditional Harvester and Northern Partner
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
Lawrence Saunders represents Makeso Sakahikan (Fox Lake and Gillam area). He was previously Food Matters’ Community Project Coordinator and began working full time with FMM on June 5th, 2023. But he has been working with the Harvester Program for a number of years.
His goals are to teach the youth and his children about the outdoors – to help them become hunters, fishermen, trappers, and outdoors people all around.
There are limited resources for the youth in the north and Lawrence wants to do his best to help keep the youth out of trouble. He wants to help them focus on their future goals.
He learnt most of his skills in York Landing, Manitoba, where he was raised. He learnt by listening to the elders and outdoor peoples’ stories, and by going out and trying it himself – that’s how he continues to live today.
He feels he still has a lot left to learn but plans on continuing to do so with the youth alongside him.
Lawrence Saunders
Traditional Harvester and Northern Partner
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
Paul Nice is currently based in Sherridon, Manitoba, and is a youth harvester employed with Food Matters Manitoba. He grew up in a very small town, so he knows quite a bit on how to harvest and gather efficiently.
Paul loves being outdoors at all times of the year.
During his off time, he likes to study insects and birds, play the banjo, do carvings, and gaming.
He can’t wait to see what other kinds of harvests he can gather to hand out to his community. The entire process of collecting something and processing it to hand out to the community is very special to him.
Paul Nice
Youth Harvester
204.943.0822
Gender Pronouns: he / him / his
Cameron Saunders lives in Makeso Sakahikan (Fox Lake/Gillam) and has been with Food Matters Manitoba for over a year as a dedicated youth harvester in his community.
He enjoys activities like caribou and moose hunting, fishing, and gardening.
After a successful hunt, Cameron and fellow harvesters cut, clean, and bag the wild meat or fish, which they then distribute to elders, friends, and family.
He is looking forward to continuing his learning about the outdoors, and hopes to teach the younger generations the traditional ways someday.
Cameron Saunders
Youth Harvester
204.943.0822
Our office is located at 422 Notre Dame Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In addition to the core staff team, students from a wide variety of programs complete practicums and internships at Food Matters and they are an important asset to our work.
