Meet The Contributors
Summer 2024
Lisa Richardson
Writer
When Lisa first moved to Pemberton from the Australian suburbs, she thought radishes grow in bunches, because that’s how they come in the store. Meeting local farmers was one way that living on the unceded land of the Líl’wat Nation has helped re-educate her, making her a passionate advocate for local food, seasonal rhythms and reconciliation. She is a co-founder of Pemberton’s agritourism event the Slow Food Cycle Sunday and a prolific freelance writer. Her writing has been translated into multiple languages, has appeared in a wide range of lifestyle publications and has earned her the title of “Pemberton’s Favourite Writer” since 2007. Find more at https://lisarichardsonbylines.com.
Michael Kompass
Writer
Michael has been a resident of Sea to Sky Country since 1997. As a graduate of both the International Sommelier Guild and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, he is the co-owner/operator of the Blackcomb Liquor Store and Fitzsimmons Pub in Whistler, as well as the creator and director of the Whistler and Squamish Wine Club since 2001. In addition to all things beverage related, Michael enjoys skiing, snowboarding, camping, rugby and good barbecue!
Christine Montgomery
Food Stylist
Christine is a pastry chef, food stylist, artist and mom of two (and wife of one). After her culinary training and work throughout Vancouver, Christine started a bakery in West Vancouver with her mom, where they operated for eight years. Christine is now enjoying another side of food through food styling for print and film advertising in and around Vancouver. Working with local ingredients and exploring the beauty of food is a constant inspiration for Christine. Find out more or contact Christine at Fig Food Styling.
Sue Senger
Writer
Sue is a landscape ecologist by trade (PhD, Biology; MSc, Plant Science), with a passion for homegrown food and small-scale farming. She’s spent her career translating science into understandable components and actionable steps that support good decision-making on the land. Join her newsletter, The Naturalized Human, on Substack (suesenger.substack.com) for a focus on the mind-body-food connection, or visit Rose Hill Farm online (www.rosehillfarm.ca) for more hands-on farming features.
Ellena Deen
Illustrator
Ellena is originally from Sydney, Australia, and currently lives in beautiful Squamish. She has lived between Canada and Australia for chunks of her life and has always loved both for different reasons. Squamish has always felt more like home, with the towering mountains and deep forests. It’s one of her favourite places to be. Her painting is something her time in both places has in common, highlighting her ability to make the best of both worlds shine. During COVID, when she was finishing school, her interest in painting grew. Now it is one of the main things in her life.
Meredith Gardner
Writer
Meredith is a former world champion freestyle skier turned television producer turned sport development expert specializing in inclusion for neurodiverse kids and, in 2018, turned farmer. Find Meredith Googling everything green at HappiLife Farm in the Pemberton Meadows.
Kerry McCann
Writer
Kerry co-owns and operates Laughing Crow Organics farm. For the past 10 years, she has been dedicated to growing the farm business. Kerry is passionate about farming, small farms, systems and efficiency for farmers, land stewardship, really good food, flowers and birding.
Brenda Bakker
Photographer
Brenda’s work as a hair, nail and makeup artist has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Flare, Fashion, Pulp, Strut, WedLuxe, Weddingbells and Real Wedding Magazine. Partner, gardener, yoga student and teacher, cold plunger and mother of twin boys, Brenda lives and learns on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Líl’wat Nation and St’át’imc Nation. Whether she is working alongside film and television celebrities, catwalk models, brides or organic farmers, Brenda’s goal is the same: to deepen connection and help people feel beautiful from the inside out. This is her first photography feature for a magazine.
Ashley Drody
Photographer
Ashley is a brand and lifestyle photographer based in beautiful B.C. She loves to explore and capture the deep connection between human beings and nature. You can usually find her chasing the sun in stunning landscapes around the world or in her backyard right here in Squamish. She is passionate about working with heart-centred humans and brands focused on sustainability and wellness.
Katherine Fawcett
Writer
Katherine Fawcett is a Squamish-based author and host of the Tap In Creativity Retreat for Writers. Her latest books of fiction are The Swan Suit and The Little Washer of Sorrows. Her personal berry-picking rule is “One for the Me, One for the Bucket.”
Carolyn Heller
Writer
Based in Vancouver, Carolyn B. Heller writes about food and drink, cultural experiences, and offbeat adventures from her travels to more than 50 countries on all seven continents. She’s authored three Canada guidebooks, and her articles have appeared in Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, Going.com, and many other publications.
Erin Higginbottom
Writer
A fun-loving foodie and wine aficionado who formerly called Squamish home, Erin believes every meal is an adventure and every glass a discovery. At the top of her to-do list this summer is gourmet campfire cooking under the stars in this beautiful province.
Jennifer Cole
Writer
Ever since she can remember, Jennifer Cole has been writing. Her current work focuses on the environment and the intersection between people and nature. Living in beautiful B.C., she is inspired every day by the natural beauty that surrounds us. She believes that when people come together to share locally sourced, healthy food, stronger relationships between the community and people transpire. When not writing, you can find Jennifer nurturing her small urban garden or deep into researching the next great story to write about.
Johanna Molloy
Writer
Johanna is a writer, life coach and yoga teacher living in Pemberton. She specializes in the health and wellness industry and enjoys all of the outdoor pursuits that the Sea to Sky has to offer.
Claudia Laroye
Writer
Claudia is an award-winning freelance writer, author and content creator living in Vancouver. She writes about adventure, family, wellness and sustainable travel for a variety of online and print outlets around the world, including AFAR, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Vancouver Sun, Air Canada’s enRoute magazine, the Saturday Evening Post, Explore Magazine, and CAA Magazine. Her award-winning travel anthology, A Gelato a Day, was published in 2022.
Holly Mitchell
Illustrator
Hi, I’m Holly! I’ve been living in Whistler for three years, creating vibrant and playful illustrations that celebrate the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the stunning nature and wildlife here, I blend bold colours with a fun, feminine touch to bring these landscapes to life in a unique and joyful way. Flowers are a particular passion of mine, and they’re a constant source of inspiration in my art.