Sustain Ontario mourns the loss of Cathleen Kneen
Posted: February 22, 2016
Categories: GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario
Sustain Ontario joins a wide food and farming community in mourning the loss of Cathleen Kneen, an energetic leader, inspiring mentor, and close friend to many. It is with sadness that we announce that Cathleen Kneen died early Sunday morning. Sustain Ontario wishes to note the incredible contributions across Ontario and Canada that were made by Cathleen Kneen during decades of food systems work.
According to those close to Cathleen, her activism in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and B.C. wove together common themes of healthy communities and people. She ran a successful sheep farm with her family, organized the Sheep Producers of Nova Scotia’s annual sheep fair, and contributed a weekly Farm Diary to the local noon program on CBC Radio. For 25 years, Cathleen worked alongside her life and work partner of 53 years, Brewster Kneen, as editor, co-writer, illustrator and designer of The Ram’s Horn newsletter, which had a worldwide following, and as editor for many books.
In British Columbia, Cathleen was instrumental in founding the Mission City Farmers’ Market, the Sorrento Village Farmers’ Market, and the BC Food Systems Network and served on the board of the Certified Organic Associations of BC. In Ontario, Cathleen was elected Chair of the newly formed Food Secure Canada, served on the management team of the People’s Food Policy Project, and was chair of the Ottawa Food Policy Council, and of Sustain member, Just Food Ottawa.
There will be a visitation on Friday, February 26, from 2-4 p.m. at the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa / Coopérative funéraire d’Ottawa, 419 St. Laurent Blvd., bus route #7. There will be other celebrations all over the country throughout the spring as well. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Inter Pares, the BC Food Systems Network, National Farmers Union and/or MiningWatch Canada /Canary Research Institute on Mining, Environment, and Health.