Cultivate Canada Society is a registered charity established to demonstrate and interpret the vital connections between farming, land stewardship, and community well-being; to model the economic and social possibilities for small and medium scale urban and rural agricultural and forestry projects, to address disparities in access to healthy food and the knowledge to produce it, and to nurture the human spirit through public programs, classes, and events. Sole Food Street Farms is wholly owned by Cultivate Canada, which oversees its operations and activities.

Deborah Curran

Deborah Curran is an Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria.  As a professor, she teaches in the areas of land and water regulation and law.  In her role as Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre, Deborah supervises students working on environmental law projects for community organization and First Nation clients.  Her work as a municipal and environmental lawyer influences her teaching and she typically expects students to complete course work – legal memos or research papers – on topics that are currently relevant for municipal, First Nation or community organization staff. All of Deborah’s courses explore how colonial law interacts with or has an impact on indigenous laws and communities.

John Bishop

John Bishop is an acclaimed restaurateur, chef, and cookbook author.  British born, John has been cooking since his early teens.  He attended hotel school in Wales and served his apprenticeship at a private club in London.  After ten years as chef at a restaurant in Kinsale, County Cork, he came to Canada in 1973, where he continued to pursue his culinary career.In 1985 John launched the restaurant that bears his name Bishop’s, located in Vancouver.  It was an immediate success and continued to garner accolades until closing in early 2022. John Bishop pioneered regional and seasonal cuisine. In Chef Bishop’s view, it makes sense to showcase British Columbia’s lush bounty of seafood, organic produce, and meats.

Katie Blake

Katie Blake has spent the past 20 years working for non-profit organizations toward land conservation across British Columbia. She is currently the Executive Director of Habitat Acquisition Trust in Lekwungen and WSANEC territory, or Victoria, BC. Katie is passionate about working locally to enhance community relationships to place, land and stewardship, and is honoured to serve the important work of Sole Food Street Farms on the board of Cultivate Canada Society. She’s dedicated to the social sector and the power of grassroots organizations to bring about nimble and innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges. 

Russell Precious (Chair)

Educated in history and economics, Russell is passionate about where we have been and where we are going.  His passion has fueled him in his 40-year history as an activist and “ecopreneur.”  He has initiated several intentional communities and businesses all of which have been grounded in his primary interests in group collaboration, inspired leadership, and personal transformation. His core business focus has been redefining the place of food and agriculture as a grower, wholesaler, and retailer. Russell also has a keen interest in design and sustainable building practices, and he spent many years engaged with Waldorf education.

Thanks to Our Supporters

Private Foundations & Donors

Real Estate Foundation of BC

Spencer Creo Foundation

Swift Foundation

Tweed Collective

Vancity Community Foundation

Vancouver Foundation

Volken Foundation 

West Coast Reduction

Whole Cities Foundation