Since joining OCO in early 2016, Carolyn has placed renewed emphasis on serving members' needs and campaigning for an Ontario organic regulation. Prior to joining OCO, Carolyn worked as the Director of Sustain Ontario, the alliance for healthy food and farming. Together with member organizations, she advocated for the support of healthier food systems through education, network development and collaborative action.
Before Sustain, Carolyn had extensive experience in food security, farming and environmental policy issues through her Masters research focused on farmers' markets and her time at the Stop Community Food Centre. She has worked on farms and farming issues in four provinces in addition to visiting farms across Canada and abroad as an Independent Organic Inspector.
Kaelin joined OCO in August 2021 and they are now the Policy and Research Manager. While attending the University of Waterloo for Environment, Resources, and Sustainability, they developed a passion for food security, food justice, and sustainable food systems. They are drawn to the complex and truly universal nature of food issues, and hope to see the human relationship to food become a point of reciprocal positivity between people and the planet. They are excited to bring this passion into their work with OCO, where their focus is facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen the organic sector within the province.
Brazil Gaffney-Knox joined OCO in November 2022. Brazil developed a deep admiration for the food-growing community during her time studying Philosophy and Environmental Science at Trent University. During her time at Trent, Brazil built relationships with plants and animals and the community; she coordinated the student-led apiary, worked at the community radio station, and gardened and baked at the farm-to-table café. Most recently, Brazil worked as the coordinating editor of the independent student press at Trent University. Outside of OCO, Brazil works as an illustrator, graphic designer, and sometimes food grower.