Aaren Topley lives in Victoria, B.C. on the homelands of the Lekwungen people, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. He has an undergraduate degree in Recreation Health Education and a Masters degree in the Social Dimensions of Health from at the University of Victoria.
Aaren has been working in the field of food system development for over eight years, with a focus on creating urban food policy, building community food literacy, Indigenous land revitalization and supporting youth food system engagement. He began working with PHABC, as the Farm to School BC as the Capital Region Animator. In the four years he was in this position, he established Victoria’s first urban school farm and created an Indigenous plant garden and language revitalization program for School District 61.
In his spare time, he volunteers with various non-profits and community groups in Victoria. He is one of the co-founders and past co-chairs of the Victoria Urban Food Table which is a food policy council and advisory body to the City of Victoria. Aaren also has worked on both rural and urban farms on and off over the last seven years and does farm business development consultant.
Contact Aaren: prov.managerCYDI@phabc.org
