KSA Spotlight: Shannen Johnson-Barker

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I was originally hired by the KSA as a barista at Grassroots café. I worked as a supervisor at the café for many years. I was an international student and needed to find a job that worked well with my classes. Grassroots was perfect for this, it allowed me to integrate with fellow students while making money.

2. What is your position, and can you provide a brief summary of what you do?
I am now the events Coordinator for the KSA which means I get to be a part of planning all the fun events and activities that happen on campus!

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
The people. I knew almost no one when starting at Grassroots. I was new to Canada and was incredibly shy. I found a home amongst my co-workers. I finally felt comfortable enough to come out of my shell and be myself. I have made friends great friends at the KSA.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
I’m not a very outdoorsy person but whenever the sun graces us with its presence I love to get out and spend time in nature, even if it’s just sitting in the garden in the sunshine with a cup of tea. I love Vancouver and take any opportunity to explore the city. I am a bit of a foody, so any weekend spent enjoying new and unique food with my friends is a good weekend.

5. What is something that makes you unique?
Maybe that I have an accent? Or that I’m incredibly sarcastic? I am sure that I have many personality traits that make me unique, but I honestly don’t know what they are. I tend to mother everybody. I’m usually pretty concerned about the well-being of those around me. I’m always checking that they have eaten well or if they need a cup of tea.

6. What is something most people don’t know about you? 
People are usually surprised that I am a trained special effects makeup artist and worked in the makeup industry before moving to Canada. I guess it is fairly surprising considering I never wear makeup. Most people assume I'm Australian or British when they meet me. I'm South African.

7. What is your favourite food?
Oh that’s a tough one. I can’t pick one so I’m going to go with my top three, in no particular order – Sushi, a perfectly tender rare steak, any and all veggies.

8. What is one of your best memories at the KSA?
I have so many amazing memories from working at Grassroots. Honestly almost every day was memorable. I worked with an amazing team and have so many great memories with them. One of my best so far from my new position is covering my veggie hating co-worker’s desk in obnoxiously happy pictures of fruits and vegetables for April Fools.

KSA Spotlight: Erin Pedersen

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I studied at KPU Langley campus in the Environmental Protection Technology program. As the program was about to finish, my instructor Paul Richard shared that the KSA was hiring for the position of Sustainability Coordinator. I was looking for a role where I could contribute to positive environmental and social change, so here I am!

Sediment sampling at KPU Langley campus with EPT

2. What is your position and can you provide a brief summary of what you do? 
I’m the Sustainability Coordinator. My job is to research and implement policies, events and initiatives to increase environmental awareness and reduce negative environmental impacts within the organization and the student body. I also advocate for increased environmental sustainability at KPU, and support student sustainability initiatives. Some of the programs I work on are the Kwantlen St. Market, Westerman Campus Garden, ecoDAYS Sustainability Fair, Clothing+ donation bins, and more.

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
There’s a lot of variety in this job, and a great deal of freedom to experiment with new ideas and initiatives. Much of “business as usual” is inherently unsustainable, so I’m excited to work with an organization of young people who are willing to break norms and have fun while doing it.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
Hike. Climb. Ski. Mountains, Gandalf, mountains!

5. What is something that makes you unique?
Before going back to school, I worked as a boat driver and tour guide in Gwaii Haanas National Park in Haida Gwaii.

6. What is your favourite food?
Avocado toast. The more expensive, the better.

7. What is one of your best memories at the KSA? 
Soon after being hired, I was able to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my coworker Michelle and two student delegates to attend the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference. It was a great opportunity to meet people from around North America working to make higher education more environmentally and socially sustainable.

Helping out at our ecoDAYS screening of KDocs Presents: The True Cost in March

- Erin (Sustainable KSA)

Kwantlen St. Farmers Market 2019 Opening

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and what better way to celebrate than at your local Farmers Market?

The KSA’s very own Kwantlen St. Farmers Market will be opening for the 2019 season on Tuesday, April 16th. The market will be returning to Minoru Plaza, outside the Richmond Cultural Centre and Library, only a 30-minute walk or 10-minute bike ride from KPU Richmond campus. Come check it out! The Market takes place every Tuesday from 12pm - 4pm, rain or shine, until October 8th.

The Kwantlen St. Market features fresh student-grown produce from the KPU Sustainable Agriculture Program, along with baked goods, honey, bath and body products, jewelry, and SPCA-certified, organically-fed chicken and eggs. An expanding number of booths will offer locally harvested farm products as the season progresses.

Celebrate opening day at the Market! At one o'clock we will be serving up Sweet Thea's Divine Vanilla Bean Mango Cake to market shoppers, so please join us for a slice while Barry Wilson performs live at our Main Stage Tent.

Interested in volunteering at the market? Volunteers are needed to help with market set up, host the market's information table, and plan special events. For information on how to get involved, check out the market website, or email our Market Manager.

Interested in becoming a vendor? Check out the vendor application here. All products must be made, baked, or grown locally in order to qualify under BC Association of Farmers Markets guidelines. Booth space costs $40 per day plus $2 GST (30% off for KPU student vendors!), and vendors are responsible for providing everything they need for their mini storefront.

Why a farmers market? Farmers markets give students and community members an opportunity to directly support local farmers, meet their neighbors, and purchase healthy, local produce and other foods. Events like these help to build strong, resilient and healthy communities.

The Kwantlen St. Farmers Market is hosted by the Kwantlen Student Association and produced by Farm Fresh Events.

Want to get involved? Contact:
Market Manager: Anne Janzen
Email: farmfreshevents@gmail.com
Website & Applications: www.kwantlenstmarket.ca

- Erin (Sustainable KSA)