Giving a warm welcome to our new Executive Director, Raygan Solotki!

Born on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley, Ray grew up on a small farm where her family raised sheep and ducks, and harvested all of their own vegetables to sustain their family of four. Together, they hunted and fished, learning a lot about subsistence living in the process.

After studying at the University of Northern British Columbia and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ray taught English in Japan for 6 years. During her time in Japan, she developed a love for local food and education. After a number of years working in tourism, marketing and even HR, she settled in Inuvik and became the first Executive Director of the Inuvik Community Greenhouse. This position instilled in her an intense love for the Arctic and a respect for northern cultures and peoples. Ray worked hard to shift from simply flying in trainers to teaching locals how to grow and train others.

Ray is excited to continue working on food sovereignty in remote communities as she comes on board with Green Iglu! We’re all looking forward to what the future holds.