Britt Karlstrom traces her concern for environmental issues to her childhood on a large orchard in the Okanagan. Daily exposure to pesticides contributed to her developing respiratory problems later in life, a struggle that ignited her passion to educate British Columbians about healthy food production and healthy communities.

"Because of my experience with respiratory illness, I began wondering and questioning the way we do things.  It's like a quest - you work through all the layers of inherited beliefs about what makes for a good life," says Britt.

With other like-minded people in her Victoria neighbourhood, Britt joined the Oak Bay Green Committee and helped to develop and coordinate a campaign against engine idling in local schools. The group also successfully lobbied the municipality to assess its own carbon footprint and launch various initiatives to build awareness within the community around conservation.

Not surprisingly, Britt spends a lot of time on her hands and knees in her backyard, nurturing her other passion - local food security.

"We purchase 96 percent of our food off-island, at vast cost to the environment. Meanwhile, we have all these lawns where we could be growing food! And we can, if people really want to – if they want to take back some of the control, feel more secure in their ability to take care of themselves," says Britt.