Notice of AGM: Invitation to the 2026 YLFMS Annual General Meeting & Board Election
We are pleased to invite you to the 2026 YLFMS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Directors.
This year, director voting will take place online in advance of the AGM, allowing eligible members to participate whether or not they attend in person. We have also redesigned the AGM experience to create meaningful opportunities for conversation between board members, vendors, and community members ahead of strategic planning this fall.
Prior to the AGM, we will host a Community Forum “The Board is Listening” featuring table-based discussions with board members.
How to Participate
Step 1: Review the AGM Package
The AGM package is now available and includes:
- 2026 YLFMS AGM Agenda
- 2025 Annual Report
- 2025 AGM Minutes
- YLFMS Rules of Order
- YLFMS Bylaws
- Board of Director Candidate Bios (last section on this blog post)
Step 2: RSVP for the AGM & Community Forum
We hope you will join us in person for seasonal refreshments, community discussion, AGM presentations, and the announcement of election results.
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 2:30-5:30pm (AGM starts at 4:30pm)
Location: First Christian Reformed Church – 2670 Victoria Drive
Accessibility notes:
- RSVP Required to secure seat
- Accessible ramp and washroom available;
- Onsite and street parking available;
- Walking distance (500m) from Trout Lake and Commercial-Broadway Skytrain;
- Children welcome – no child-minding available
Space is Limited – Members are asked to RSVP by June 1 in order to secure their seat and help us plan food and refreshments.
Click here to RSVP to attend the AGM and Community Forum
Step 3: Vote Online for the Board of Directors
Eligible members may vote online in advance of the AGM.
Voting Dates
- May 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM- Voting opens
- June 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM – Voting closes
How Voting Works
Receive the Voting Email
Eligible members will receive an email from Simply Voting containing:
- A direct voting link
- A unique Elector ID
- Password
- Login instructions
Simply Voting Tutorial: https://help.simplyvoting.com/docs/the-voting-experience
Cast Your Vote Online
Members may:
- Vote directly through the emailed link, or
- Use the Simply Voting Elector ID and password in the voting email
Submit Your Ballot Before Voting Closes
Each member may vote one time for up to 3 candidates.
Election Results Announced at AGM
Results will be announced during the AGM on June 6.
Important Notes
- You do not need to attend the AGM in order to vote
- Only members in good standing as of 11:59 PM on May 5, 2026 (30 days prior to the AGM) are eligible to vote.
- Only eligible members will receive a voting link and Elector ID.
- If you believe that you should have received an email to vote but didn’t, contact us at email IDs mentioned below.
Questions?
Membership Status
Voting Platform & Process
General Inquiries
604-879-3276
Board of Directors Candidate Bios
This year, the Board of Directors has three (3) vacancies to fill. The Society is seeking candidates with the following:
Skills and Experience:
- Planning
- Public Relations
- Human Resources
- Policy Work
Characteristics required:
- Committed to advancing the VFM mission, vision, values and strategic plan
- Collaborative and respectful communicators, adhering to VFM Code of Conduct
- Experienced with non-profit governance or have the ability and commitment to learn
- Familiar with farmers markets in Vancouver’s diverse neighbourhoods
- Interested in our regional food system
The following 6 candidates have let their names stand for consideration and have included their bios:
Geneviève Blanchet
I am just completing my first term with VFM and would love to be elected for a second. I am the owner of Le Meadow’s Pantry, a small food production business founded in 2013, and some of you may recognize me, as I have been selling at VFM since then. With a background in holistic nutrition, I have a deep understanding of the local food system and the importance of providing fresh, accessible food to our community. During my first term, I have been serving on both the governance committee and the vendor advisory committee, and most recently I joined the BCAFM board; an experience that has broadened my perspective on the provincial food system and that I believe makes me a stronger, more connected advocate for markets like VFM. I am passionate about supporting fellow vendors and advocating for a thriving, sustainable marketplace where local food and businesses can flourish. My work is rooted in the belief that food is not just nourishment but a vital part of building stronger, more connected communities.
Sarah Mackenzie
My name is Sarah Mackenzie, and I am a dedicated food systems advocate in both my professional and personal life. I have connected with farmers markets as a lifelong shopper, a former farmer-vendor in the Sea to Sky corridor, and now as a weekly shopper at the Vancouver markets.
I am interested in joining the VFM board because I believe in the incredible power of connecting people with local food, their neighbours, and the people in their communities who produce local goods.
I currently work as the Education and Curriculum Manager for Canadian Organic Growers, supporting farmers and farm-advisors through education, resource development, and program/extension event planning. Over the past five years in the non-profit sector, I have worked closely with boards and staff teams on governance, strategic planning and policy engagement.
Before joining COG, I was a vegetable farmer in Pemberton and sold at weekly markets in Pemberton, Squamish, and Whistler. Upon my return to the city, I worked with Sole Food Street Farms, deepening my connection to our local food system and the urban context of growing/selling produce. I would be honoured to contribute my experience and energy to VFM’s work as essential community food infrastructure.
Sophia Cheng
A lifelong Vancouverite, Sophia Cheng is a strong advocate for local food systems and was appointed to the VFM board in 2026 – a role she is deeply grateful for and honoured to hold, and one she hopes to continue. She is also a member of the Strengthen Markets committee. A regular at Trout Lake Farmers Market, Sophia enjoys visiting farmers markets around the world and believes they play a vital role in supporting farmers, producers, and purveyors, while creating direct connections between communities and the people who grow and make their food. She sees farmers markets as an essential part of the social and cultural fabric, helping to sustain small businesses and celebrate seasonality.
Sophia runs her own boutique public relations consultancy, working with clients across a range of sectors, with a focus on hospitality and F&B. With nearly two decades of experience, she has helped launch some of Vancouver’s most celebrated independent restaurants, in addition to representing both emerging and internationally recognized brands.
She is committed to bringing her expertise in PR and communications to her role on the VFM board.
Stephanie Hollingshead
I am a long-time Vancouver resident, non-profit board director, and supporter of local food systems. As a neighbour to the Trout Lake farmers market, I’ve been a regular shopper there for 20 years. I value the markets not only for access to fresh, local food, but for the role they play in building community and supporting small-scale producers. I love to cook and take pride in meals sourced entirely from local farms.
Professionally, I bring over 25 years of leadership experience in human resources and governance, most recently as CEO of TAP Network and previously as Vice President, Human Resources at Sierra Systems. I’ve served as Board Chair for both Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver and The Cultch, where I led governance improvements including compensation policy, succession planning, and strengthening board practices. I’m a collaborative, hands-on leader who contributes at both a strategic and operational level. In 2021, I was honoured to receive the BC Business Women of the Year Award in the Community Builder category.
I’m particularly interested in supporting Vancouver Farmers Markets’ work to advance inclusion, accessibility, and resilience. I bring experience leading a national diversity, equity and inclusion initiative that engaged over 600 organizations across Canada.
Susan Horne
Susan grew up in the Niagara Fruit Belt in southern Ontario where she worked at the local farmer’s market polishing apples, filling baskets with peaches, pears, and concord grapes and experienced first hand the important role that local markets play in building community and connection with the farmers who grow our food. She moved to Vancouver three decades ago and she and her family have been neighbours and enthusiastic customers of the Vancouver Farmers Market for close to 20 years.
As a local government lawyer, Susan is experienced in governance, environmental, indigenous, and development matters. She earned her Law degree at the University of British Columbia and has an undergraduate degree in Commerce. In 2025, she completed her Graduate Diploma in Climate Action Leadership through Royal Roads University with a focus on community engagement, climate change resilience, and impact mitigation.
Susan is excited by the opportunity that the position of Director presents to be part of the future of the Vancouver Farmers Market, using her professional experience and climate change leadership knowledge to help ensure the long-term resilience of farmers’ markets in Vancouver and advance VFM’s vision of improved accessibility and inclusivity of the markets.
Susanna Fong
As an operations and advocacy professional dedicated to British Columbia’s economic vitality, I recognize Vancouver Farmers Markets’ (VFM) mission as an essential community infrastructure. I am eager to apply my expertise in government relations and policy strategy to solidify VFM’s role in building a resilient, barrier-free regional food system.
In my current work at the BC Chamber of Commerce, I help drive the strategic engine behind our provincial advocacy. I navigate the policy cycle to translate legislative shifts into tangible wins for the BC business community. I view our markets as vital economic incubators; they are the frontline for the “BC Brand” and the heartbeat of local entrepreneurship.
My foundation in non-profit governance has equipped me to lead through intersectoral collaboration and principled, code-based leadership. As a Vancouver resident and active market shopper, I am professionally committed to VFM’s vision of an equitable food network. I look forward to leveraging my public relations and policy background to ensure VFM remains a powerhouse in our provincial economy and a strategic leader in BC’s food security landscape.
