Current members
Aisha Malik, RD
Chairperson Public Health Dietitian - HKPR District Health Unit Aisha Malik has a BSc Honors in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario. Aisha completed her dietetic Internship with Manitoba Partnership Dietetic Internship Program and obtained her license to practice as a Registered Dietitian in Ontario. As a Registered Dietitian she has been working at HKPR District Health Unit since 2007. Aisha co-led development of City of Kawartha Lakes Food Charter and Food Security Strategic Priorities. As Chairperson of Food Security Working Group of Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition, Aisha led several projects including development of Food Security Action Plan for City of Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton, advocacy efforts for income-based policy solutions to address root causes of poverty and food insecurity, i.e. basic income guarantee, liveable income, affordable housing/transportation, and childcare. As Chairperson of City of Kawartha Lakes Food for Kids Program and member of Haliburton Food for Kids Program, Aisha supported implementation and enhancement of student nutrition programs in both counties and has been advocating for a National School Food Program for Canada. Aisha also co-led development of the City of Kawartha Lakes free “Healthy Summer Outreach Lunch Program for Children” with support of community partners. Aisha is an active member of Northumberland Food Policy Council and Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition working on initiatives related to food security and advocacy for a sustainable local food system. Aisha is excited to partner with the members of Harvest Haliburton in development and enhancement of a sustainable local food system in Haliburton County. She has accumulated extensive experience in mobilizing community partners, cultivating networking and collaboration, and enhancing community capacity building through her work in public health practice. Aisha possesses a deep appreciation for the science of nutrition and takes delight in preparing and cooking delicious and nutritious meals. Feeding her family and friends brings her immense joy. Together with her husband and two children, Aisha has a passion for travelling and immersing herself in diverse culinary experiences that showcase the unique traditions of each destination. |
Barrie Martin
Interim Co-Chair Vice President, Haliburton County Community Cooperative After a successful career as education specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources developing and delivering natural resource education curriculum and programming, Barrie owns and operates Yours Outdoors, a company that specializes in experiential tourism and offers unique adventures in nature, art and culture in the Haliburton Highlands. His company has been recognized for innovation and excellent customer service. One of his distinctive adventures has recently been selected as an Ontario Signature Experience. Yours Outdoors offers culinary tours and adventures. He is a Co-chair of the Haliburton Highlands Tourism Stakeholders Group, Past Chair of Adventure Haliburton, an active member of Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization Travel Trade Partnership, Vice-president of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative and project manager for the Hike Haliburton Festival. Barrie also provides consulting services in tourism, outdoor and ecological education, trail development and management, and community development. Barrie is Harvest Haliburton’s liaison with Haliburton County Community Cooperative of which HH is part. |
Elsie Azevedo Perry, RD
Public Health Dietician - HKPR District Health Unit Elsie Azevedo Perry has a BSc from the University of Alberta and a MSc from the University of Saskatchewan, specializing in Community/Public Health Nutrition. A Registered Dietitian working at HKPR District Health Units since 2001. Elsie has developed, delivered and evaluated community-based programs to increase access to healthy foods, including local foods; poverty reduction advocacy strategies to address food insecurity; and working with staff and community partners to deliver and evaluate food literacy programming. She has also conducted practice-based research in all these areas. Her public health practice has led her to gain much experience in mobilizing community partners, fostering networking and collaboration with partners, and community capacity building. Elsie is a ‘foodie’ and is passionate about preparing and cooking healthy food that tastes good using simple, fresh, ‘right from the garden or farm’, basic ingredients. Her own family has a long history of farming, both dairy and cattle and cultivating the land for produce. Elsie loves to travel to new places and having new culinary experiences that reflect the culture and traditions of the area. |
Larry Clarke
Councillor, Township of Dysart et al Larry is a Councillor with the Township of Dysart et al, and a past Councillor with the Township of Minden Hills. Before retirement, Larry was with involved in helping companies improve management of their expenses, assets and operations. Larry’s background includes project and general management for financial, legal and government clients. Since moving to Haliburton County, Larry has been a Director with the Chamber of Commerce, a Director with U-Links Centre for Community Based Research, and a Director with Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning. Larry has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, and has also received certifications in IT Service and Project Management. |
Angel Taylor
Owner Operator, The Nest Egg Angel Taylor has been active in Haliburton County on several organizations engaged in food policy and food production for years. She has been a member since 1999 of the Haliburton County Farmers’ Association and is currently secretary, member since 2009 and currently secretary of the Haliburton County Garlic Growers Association and vendor at their annual Garlic Fest, coordinator and implementer of Farm Tours for SIRCH clients in summer-fall 2012, and member of the Culinary Tourism Steering Committee 2015 and of its successor organization, the Culinary Tourism Task Force 2015 – present. Angel was a founding member of the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market Association and board chair from 2009 to 2017 and, with her husband, vends at the market. She was a member of the Steering Committee and citizen-science participant for a U-Links directed and grant funded (Agricultural Advantage Council Growing Forward-2) research project to investigate non-toxic remedies for garlic pests, 2014 – 2016 and was the contracted coordinator for U-links to oversee completion of the research project, 2016-2017. She made several regional presentations about the research which was described by one large garlic producer as provincially significant. Angel has been engaged in small scale farm animal production starting with chickens in 1992 near Elmira, ON. She added ducks, geese, turkeys and sheep in 1999 to present in Haliburton County. Angel was a community college professor from 1977 - 2014. One of the courses she frequently taught, contemporary social issues, included topics associated with food production and food policy. |
Andrew Gordon
Director, U-LINKS Andy is the director of U-LINKS, a small not-for-profit community-based research centre concentrating on Haliburton County. He holds a BScF in Forest Science from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD in Ecosystem Ecology from the University of Alaska. For 32 years, he was a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, where he taught and researched in the broad areas of agroforestry and forest ecology. Andy and his family have been associated with the Highlands, Dorset, and Algonquin Park since the late 1940s, and recently relocated to Haliburton County. After working for many years in agroforestry research and development, Andy has a strong appreciation for sustainable agriculture, locally-sourced foods, and the impacts of climate change on food production systems. He is dedicated to finding logical solutions to resource management and societal problems and welcomes input from all sectors. He resides in Minden Hills with his wife and son, who pitches and plays first base for the Muskoka Hornets out of Bracebridge. As a result, he drives Hwy 118 on a regular basis and marvels at the rocks, trees, and water that comprise this neck of the woods, and how research can maintain them and the societies that inhabit them. |
Original members