Staff Spotlight: Meet Marilee!
Marilee joined Nourish Nova Scotia as Board Chair one year ago. She has spent time living in Ottawa, Calgary, and Powell River, BC before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she has lived for 7 years. As a Mom to two kids (10 and 14), wife, Architect, and Project Manager, she wears many hats. She loves to craft and can usually be found knitting, sewing, or creating something unique. Right now I’m working on some ceramic jewelry pieces. Also a big reader - always have a book on the go!
“I’m looking forward to developing more structure within Nourish that aligns with our strategic planning process and sets the organization up for successful growth and expanding programs.”
What drew you to get involved with Nourish?
A lot of my work focuses on schools and the design and construction of educational facilities. Through the company I work for - Colliers Project Leaders, I have the opportunity to support local organizations that align with our corporate values. I wanted to help students and in talking with teachers, they told me that the biggest challenge students face in a classroom is hunger. So I decided to organize a cereal drive within my company and donate boxes of cereal to organizations that support breakfast programs across Canada. Nourish NS was the chosen organization for Nova Scotia and a few months later, they reached out and asked me to join the Board!
What is a food story you cherish?
When I was in University, I was fortunate enough to study in Finland for a fall semester with a group of about 20 Canadian students. For many of us, this was our first Thanksgiving away from family and we were getting a bit homesick and nostalgic for the holiday. I decided that we would host Thanksgiving dinner from our small dormitory apartments and invite some Finnish friends as well. Everyone emailed home to get their favorite recipes which a group of us then recreated as best we could with ingredients from a Finnish grocery store. I even managed to convince the grocery store clerk to sell me half of a display pumpkin so that I could make a pumpkin pie since they only carried pickled pumpkins! It was a wonderful day of planning and a great meal and helped alleviate some of our homesickness. I think that was the first time that I realized how powerful such a simple thing as good food and a shared meal could be to bring a diverse group of people together. It’s a lesson that I have carried with me throughout my career.
How do you see young people helping to influence food systems today?
I have two children who are learning to bake and cook and share a love of food with me. I think that young people today are exposed to so much more information about food and food systems than we were - how it is grown, where it comes from, food poverty issues, food deserts, sustainable and ethical food choices as well as a diverse range of flavors and ingredients. While I have spent much of my life learning about food systems and challenging the perceptions that I was taught, youth are much more aware of these issues at a young age and are advocating for changes which reflect their values and priorities.
If you could wave a magic wand and have your dream come true, what would your wish be for the food landscape in Nova Scotia?
That’s a hard one! I wish that all Nova Scotians had access to seasonal and locally grown foods that reflect the amazing agricultural system we have here as well as the skills and knowledge to create nourishing meals for themselves and their families. I wish that people didn’t have to decide between paying for groceries or the power bill and that food access and equality were known and accepted facts for everyone.
Is there anything you love to grow or cook?
My husband is the gardener so he keeps me stocked with fresh veggies throughout the summer. I am a baker, so I love to have muffins or biscuits baked in the oven on a cold day. I also make homemade pizza every Friday night for my family as a way to finish off the week and celebrate the start of the weekend!