Janet Helmer
Janet has over 45 years working in health care at all levels -for local, municipal, provincial and national organizations. She has worked as a front-line care provider- community nursing, home health care, public health nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner, supervisor, manager, director and educator.
Her practice and care has been underpinned with the knowledge of how the determinants of health impact an individual’s ability to make choices which support them to stay healthy and have quality of life.
As a resident of West Carleton for over 20 years, She is aware of the challenges experienced by many residents to access resources to stay healthy. Food security being one of those challenges.
What made you want to be a part of the Deep Roots Food Hub?
I am interested in becoming part of the Food security solution “upstream”. My activities have been mostly at the “treatment” end of supporting those without food security through food cupboards. I am looking forward to help develop a food security system which empowers the individual to meet their nutritional needs.
What does food security mean to you?
To me, food security means that families will not feel unsure of how they will get the food they need to feed their family. That they will have the resources- knowledge, skills and finances -necessary to access and use the food they acquire to meet their family’s nutritional needs.
What goals are you working towards in terms of your professional career?
As I move towards full retirement, work with DRFH is not about my professional career, but rather, part of my own personal development and living a life of service to others. I am mindful that I have been blessed in my life and now in the twilight of my work life, have time to be a steward.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career?
The person who had the most influence in my career was a nursing professor at McMaster in my undergrad BScN nursing program. Mary lived, taught and role modelled the Personhood philosophy of Nursing and life.
("Insight into Personhood" In his warm, inviting, and inclusive, style, bestselling author Leo Buscaglia manages to bring a vision of the world together within his warm embrace. Sharing the stories of his travels and his encounters with people all over the world, Buscaglia reminds us that we are all people who have the potential to share ourselves with ourselves as well as others. A lover of life and people, Buscaglia’s insight into our hearts and souls, his reassurance as to our essential good natures, is a much-needed reminder of our connectedness to one and all”
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/21971/personhood-by-leo-
What has been the most influential moment of your life?
Moments plural! Traveling with two teams of Canadian volunteers with Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) to Nicaragua and Uganda delivering bed kits to children: 5-12 years of age- one per family. Acquiring and maintaining the basic needs of food, shelter and water consume these family’s daily lives. Their ability to keep themselves safe from disease and harm relies on their ability to secure these things. Walking beside them was humbling and brought a true sense of gratefulness for our life in Canada.
This past summer, I spent 5 weeks in Pond Inlet as a public Health Nurse. A hamlet of 1600 Inuit, living on a Rock. Sustained and dependent on the food they hunted and gathered from the air, land and sea was precarious at best. Food security was the local Co Op store. Childhood obesity and poor dental health reigned.
If you had the power to solve one food related problem, what would it be and why?
Breast feeding is a health imperative to a young baby’s life with many health benefits reaching into childhood. Yet, the professional Public Health Nurse support which was once given to every mother in Ontario, beginning with a visit in the hospital and home visit follow up, is often not available or by phone call. The stress and tiredness of being a new mom often leads to the bottle-feeding option. Intake can be measured. Satiety can be achieved. Weight gained. Costly formula purchased.
Reinstate breastfeeding support of new moms with public health nurses, lactation specialists and birth doulas all being seen as supports for success with breastfeeding not as signs of failure when things aren’t going well or mom is having a hard time.
A successfully established breast-feeding routine supported with healthy food for mom, is food security for the baby.
Janet has over 45 years working in health care at all levels -for local, municipal, provincial and national organizations. She has worked as a front-line care provider- community nursing, home health care, public health nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner, supervisor, manager, director and educator.
Her practice and care has been underpinned with the knowledge of how the determinants of health impact an individual’s ability to make choices which support them to stay healthy and have quality of life.
As a resident of West Carleton for over 20 years, She is aware of the challenges experienced by many residents to access resources to stay healthy. Food security being one of those challenges.
What made you want to be a part of the Deep Roots Food Hub?
I am interested in becoming part of the Food security solution “upstream”. My activities have been mostly at the “treatment” end of supporting those without food security through food cupboards. I am looking forward to help develop a food security system which empowers the individual to meet their nutritional needs.
What does food security mean to you?
To me, food security means that families will not feel unsure of how they will get the food they need to feed their family. That they will have the resources- knowledge, skills and finances -necessary to access and use the food they acquire to meet their family’s nutritional needs.
What goals are you working towards in terms of your professional career?
As I move towards full retirement, work with DRFH is not about my professional career, but rather, part of my own personal development and living a life of service to others. I am mindful that I have been blessed in my life and now in the twilight of my work life, have time to be a steward.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career?
The person who had the most influence in my career was a nursing professor at McMaster in my undergrad BScN nursing program. Mary lived, taught and role modelled the Personhood philosophy of Nursing and life.
("Insight into Personhood" In his warm, inviting, and inclusive, style, bestselling author Leo Buscaglia manages to bring a vision of the world together within his warm embrace. Sharing the stories of his travels and his encounters with people all over the world, Buscaglia reminds us that we are all people who have the potential to share ourselves with ourselves as well as others. A lover of life and people, Buscaglia’s insight into our hearts and souls, his reassurance as to our essential good natures, is a much-needed reminder of our connectedness to one and all”
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/21971/personhood-by-leo-
What has been the most influential moment of your life?
Moments plural! Traveling with two teams of Canadian volunteers with Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) to Nicaragua and Uganda delivering bed kits to children: 5-12 years of age- one per family. Acquiring and maintaining the basic needs of food, shelter and water consume these family’s daily lives. Their ability to keep themselves safe from disease and harm relies on their ability to secure these things. Walking beside them was humbling and brought a true sense of gratefulness for our life in Canada.
This past summer, I spent 5 weeks in Pond Inlet as a public Health Nurse. A hamlet of 1600 Inuit, living on a Rock. Sustained and dependent on the food they hunted and gathered from the air, land and sea was precarious at best. Food security was the local Co Op store. Childhood obesity and poor dental health reigned.
If you had the power to solve one food related problem, what would it be and why?
Breast feeding is a health imperative to a young baby’s life with many health benefits reaching into childhood. Yet, the professional Public Health Nurse support which was once given to every mother in Ontario, beginning with a visit in the hospital and home visit follow up, is often not available or by phone call. The stress and tiredness of being a new mom often leads to the bottle-feeding option. Intake can be measured. Satiety can be achieved. Weight gained. Costly formula purchased.
Reinstate breastfeeding support of new moms with public health nurses, lactation specialists and birth doulas all being seen as supports for success with breastfeeding not as signs of failure when things aren’t going well or mom is having a hard time.
A successfully established breast-feeding routine supported with healthy food for mom, is food security for the baby.
Phil Reilly
Phil is a keen gardener and former perennial plant nursery owner/operator. He never started out with an intent to run a nursery or to be a sought-after gardening educator … but as he puts it “Life happens!”
Phil is a Carleton University Biology graduate (1968) with majors in plant physiology, biochemistry, and ecology. Over the years he has participated in community groups concerned with human impacts on the environment.
In 1991 The Ottawa Field Naturalists Club named Phil ““Conservationist of the Year” for his years’ of volunteer efforts in preserving wetlands in the Ottawa area. He was instrumental in wetland preservation campaign programmes by groups such as the Wetlands Preservation Group of West Carleton (focused on the Constance Creek Wetlands), the Leitrim Wetlands Group, the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club’s Conservation Committee, and Ecovision (a group campaigning for ecological integrity in land use planning in Ottawa-Carleton).
Starting in the early 1990’s, Phil & Carole initiated Reilly’s Country Gardens—a Kinburn-area ornamental plant nursery. Phil initially intended to focus on producing and selling native plants suited to the Ottawa region. But the then (30 years ago) lack of demand for native plants caused a need to refocus on unique ornamentals not commonly available in local nurseries and garden centres. To showcase the available plants able to be grown, in heavy clay soils, 32 display beds were designed and built.
Since closing their nursery in 2009, to enjoy retirement, Phil has maintained his involvements in gardening (now focusing on vegetable and fruit varieties) and food production and storage, and energy security. Since 2010 he has installed a 10 kw. solar panel array, upgraded household windows to energy-conserving triple-paned units, installed an air-to-air heat pump for heating and cooling, and purchased two electric vehicles to utilize site-captured solar energy.
Phil joined Deep Roots Food Hub’s Board of Directors in the spring of 2019 and has since been helping with the final stages of the Root Cellar construction project.
Phil is a Carleton University Biology graduate (1968) with majors in plant physiology, biochemistry, and ecology. Over the years he has participated in community groups concerned with human impacts on the environment.
In 1991 The Ottawa Field Naturalists Club named Phil ““Conservationist of the Year” for his years’ of volunteer efforts in preserving wetlands in the Ottawa area. He was instrumental in wetland preservation campaign programmes by groups such as the Wetlands Preservation Group of West Carleton (focused on the Constance Creek Wetlands), the Leitrim Wetlands Group, the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club’s Conservation Committee, and Ecovision (a group campaigning for ecological integrity in land use planning in Ottawa-Carleton).
Starting in the early 1990’s, Phil & Carole initiated Reilly’s Country Gardens—a Kinburn-area ornamental plant nursery. Phil initially intended to focus on producing and selling native plants suited to the Ottawa region. But the then (30 years ago) lack of demand for native plants caused a need to refocus on unique ornamentals not commonly available in local nurseries and garden centres. To showcase the available plants able to be grown, in heavy clay soils, 32 display beds were designed and built.
Since closing their nursery in 2009, to enjoy retirement, Phil has maintained his involvements in gardening (now focusing on vegetable and fruit varieties) and food production and storage, and energy security. Since 2010 he has installed a 10 kw. solar panel array, upgraded household windows to energy-conserving triple-paned units, installed an air-to-air heat pump for heating and cooling, and purchased two electric vehicles to utilize site-captured solar energy.
Phil joined Deep Roots Food Hub’s Board of Directors in the spring of 2019 and has since been helping with the final stages of the Root Cellar construction project.
Dr. Barry Bruce
Dr. Bruce received his MD from UWO, and established a family practice (and a family) with Dr. Carol Bruce in Carp Ontario in 1973. He was Chief of Staff ,Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Lead Physician West Carleton FHT, (awarded Family Practice of the Year, 2010), received the Ontario “Physicians Care Award”, carried the Olympic Torch for the CMA, received “Family Physician of the Year” for the Champlain Region and the Order of Ottawa, both in 2013.
Professionally, he does primary care clinical work, planning, and research, leads a local Primary Care Network, works on various LHIN and MOHLTC committees and was a clinical running instructor. He leads the “Physical Activity and Therapeutic Exercise” team for the West Carleton Family Health Team, and is the clinical lead for a Community paramedic program embedded in the WCFHT.
As co-chair of the "Rural Healthy Living Coalition" (RHLC), nutrition, food equity and food insecurity were important agenda topics. This lead to the development of a working group of local food experts and advocates, and eventually spawned the development of the Deep Roots Food Hub.
Professionally, he does primary care clinical work, planning, and research, leads a local Primary Care Network, works on various LHIN and MOHLTC committees and was a clinical running instructor. He leads the “Physical Activity and Therapeutic Exercise” team for the West Carleton Family Health Team, and is the clinical lead for a Community paramedic program embedded in the WCFHT.
As co-chair of the "Rural Healthy Living Coalition" (RHLC), nutrition, food equity and food insecurity were important agenda topics. This lead to the development of a working group of local food experts and advocates, and eventually spawned the development of the Deep Roots Food Hub.
Jenny Noonan
Jenny has lived in West Carleton for over 10 years, and is a lifetime resident of the Ottawa Valley (born and raised in Arnprior). Her background is centered around business as a Commerce and MBA graduate. Jenny is a retired Investment Advisor after having built an investment practice with a leading investment firm for over 15 years. She has 25+ years experience contributing and volunteering with various nonprofit and community organizations, including 5 years on the Arnprior and District Hospital Board (Finance Chair/Vice Chair). She has mentored aspiring entrepreneurs thru a nonprofit initiative, and developed a program to help nutritionists grow their own thriving practices. Recently, Jenny led a fundraising team and helped coordinate a national fundraiser with CARE to help fight global poverty and social injustices.
As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Jenny understands the connection between food and health, and the effect good nutrition has on one’s health, in preventing chronic diseases, and ultimately putting less strain on the health care system and community resources. She is committed to eating healthy and buying local, in-season whole food. Jenny wants to be part of the solution to the food security issue both in her community and globally. She aspires to make a meaningful contribution in West Carleton and help others have access to locally grownm nutritious food to live a healthier life.
Jenny is excited to join the Board in the fall of 2020, and hopes her background, experience and skills can help make an impact to the continued success of the Deep Roots Food Hub initiative, and in the development of a business plan to create a sustainable and scalable food system.
Jennifer Hubbard
Jenn grew up on an organic farm in southwestern Ontario where she was fortunate to have been instilled
with a value for fresh, homegrown food early on in life. Childhood summers spent hilling potatoes and frosty November days passed planting garlic gave her an appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the farmers who produce our food. This upbringing inspired Jenn to pursue a degree in Agricultural Sciences followed by a DVM at the University of Guelph.
For the past 10 years Jenn has practiced as a large animal veterinarian across Ontario and abroad. After many itinerant years, she is thrilled to be returning to her agricultural roots. Jenn is currently in the process of moving to an off-grid farm in West Carleton and she is excited to contribute to her new community through her work with Deep Roots Food Hub. Jenn is passionate about all aspects of local and national food security from farmland preservation and food production right through to food accessibility and consumption. She believes that local innovation, action, and community collaboration through groups like DRFH are the keys to solving our food security issues at all levels. Strong local food networks provide the foundation for a robust and resilient national food system. Jenn's purpose on the board is to help DRFH achieve its goals and exceed its potential within and beyond the local community. Through her involvement on the board and as a new local small-scale food producer she hopes to inspire and empower fellow West Carleton residents to grow their own food in whatever space they have!
Heather Olszewski
Heather completed her BSc in Biology at Carleton University, with a focus in ecology and evolutionary biology. Somehow, Heather’s career took her to the field of maternal-infant health and health care data analytics. She has spent the past 15 years in this area. Currently, she works for a provincial registry that works to improve outcomes for pregnant people and their infants.
A keen volunteer by nature, Heather believes in contributing to her community. She has enjoyed supporting a variety of causes over the years, including being a volunteer doula for at-risk women, Girl Guide leader, community theatre volunteer, and alpine ski race official. Many of these roles included board appointments, including senior leadership positions. Heather has extensive experience in not-for-
profit governance and operations.
At her home in West Carleton, she enjoys outdoor sporting activities such as running, cycling, and skiing in her spare time. Heather also attempts vegetable gardening, with varying degrees of success, with her husband and two daughters.
Heather joined the Board at the Deep Roots Food Hub in the winter of 2021. She believes in supporting local farmers to develop a robust food system within West Carleton, recognizing that this greatly benefits our local ecosystem. She is eager to lend her experience in not-for-profit operations to this exceptional organization.
