Meet Our Staff
Introducing Mimi, the interim Executive Director, temporarily holding down the fort until the return of our esteemed Executive Director, Liisa, from maternity leave. With a passion for people and an extensive leadership background in non-profit organizations, Mimi works hard to create a friendly, open, and approachable atmosphere. When she's not out at the farm office or working, you might find her behind a sewing machine, at the curling club or hugging her kids and grandson! Her favorite phrase is "You ROCK!" and she uses it often! She'll be the first to say "stop in to say hi and let's have an amazing year!"
Alaina Archibald
Dipl. BA, Major in Marketing
Extension & Office Manager
C: 780-834-7256
Though she grew up in the suburbs of north western BC, Alaina became a Peace Region resident while attending college in 2010. She quickly fell in love with the vast diversity of the area and has called the Fairview area home ever since! Alaina attended Grande Prairie Regional College and while completing her studies in Business Administration, she found a particular love for Marketing and enjoys expressing her creative side through various types of marketing media.
In addition to her career, Alaina is a mother, avid outdoorswoman and a producer of grains and forage with a love for supporting fellow young farmers and women in agriculture. Alaina also owns a small business, Fairhaven Equestrian, where she specializes in Equine Reproduction. In her spare time she enjoys riding horses, hunting, fishing, volunteering, hiking and enjoying life with her daughter.
Working with PCBFA aligns with Alaina’s agricultural passions while blending with her professional experience in Business, Office Management and Marketing. Alaina is very excited to be a part of such an invigorating team that shares the same passions surrounding innovative and sustainable agriculture.
Akim is PCBFA’s Science Director and a Forage/Livestock Research Agronomist. He is responsible for planning, executing and tracking research projects and demonstrations as well as making the findings available to producers for local adoption. He has incredibly enjoyed working with producers since joining PCBFA. "Producers drive my research. They have great research ideas and I learn a lot from them." Akim is very passionate about sharing his research findings with producers in the Peace and with other researchers worldwide.
Akim is originally from Nigeria. He holds a Ph.D. from Western Sydney University (formerly University of Western Sydney, UWS) in Systems Agriculture (2005), M.Sc. in Animal Production and Forage Agronomy (1998), and a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Animal Science (1988). Akim is a member of several national and international professional societies/organizations such as the Canadian Society of Animal Science, Nigerian Society for Animal Production, and Alberta Institute of Agrologists. Akim has authored/co-authored several research articles in appropriate agricultural journals.
Akim lives in Fairview with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys traveling, photography, tennis, watching documentaries and reality TV shows (e.g. Survivor), and designing houses & shopping malls just for fun.
Chelsey grew up on a seed farm near New Norway, Alberta where she was responsible for maintaining several hundred laying hens and all other associated farm chores (too many to list here). Following high school, Chelsey attended the University of Alberta to receive a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. She worked in the oil and gas industry for nearly 5 years across Alberta and decided with her husband, Thomas that they would love to raise their family in a small town surrounded by a supportive community. They moved to Fairview and established a family farm partnership then soon followed two daughters.
Working for PCBFA really reflects my personal goal and vision to be part of a team that is passionate about building innovative practices for farmers and ranchers, an integral way of life for our rural communities.
Blasius Azuhnwi is a Livestock Scientist with rich knowledge and practical expertise of over two decades in livestock research, teaching, consultancy and sustainable livestock production. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Tannins in Forages) from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland and was originally trained as a veterinarian.
Fresh from vet school in Nigeria, he worked as an extension veterinarian with the Ministry of Livestock in his native country, Cameroon, before taking up post graduate studies in Europe. After his PhD, he worked with the Swiss Federal Animal Research Station (AGROSCOPE) as a Research Associate, and later as a postdoc and researcher in Toulouse, France with the French National Agronomic Research Institute (INRA). Before immigrating to Canada two years ago, he worked as a consultant in Africa with international livestock organizations such as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the FAO and also as an adjunct professor in animal sciences with universities in Cameroon. He has authored and co-authored several research works in peer reviewed journals and farmer oriented journals, as well as policy briefs.
I am originally from Ghana. Living with my grandmother in rural Ghana helped to shape my passion for agriculture. This is because I witnessed how she struggled to improve her farm
productivity and income. Based on this, I decided to take agriculture as a profession to provide solutions to other producers who struggled like my grandmother.
I hold a PhD in Perennial forage agronomy from University of Alberta (Canada), BSc in Agriculture from EARTH University (Costa Rica), and diploma in Agriculture from Kwadaso Agricultural College (Ghana). I worked with producers as a commercial officer with AGRO ECOM Ghana, before relocating to Canada in 2016 where I took up a role as Barn officer with Henry J. Peters Farms, Thedford, Ontario. I take pride in seeing producers smile due to changes made in their farming activities. It is always an honor to meet and discuss challenges that producers may face and profess solutions. Over the years, it is clear to me that producers have wealth of ideas and there is a lot that I can learn from them. During my free periods, I love to play soccer or table tennis, sing, or read.
Cameron Bilodeau
Dip.Sc. (Env), Major in Biology
Lead Agricultural Research Technician
Camerons family moved a lot during her childhood. Her father worked in the oil and gas industry and that lead her family to move from small town to small town throughout British Columbia. It’s due to this connection Cameron chose to go into an Environmental
pathway, recognising the importance of working with companies rather than against them.
After graduating from highschool she moved to Edmonton, Alberta where she got her diploma in Environmental Science from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She continued her studies at Concordia University of Edmonton receiving a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology.
Cameron has always been an animal lover, having owned dogs, cats, horses, and the occasional fish. Nicknamed the animal whisperer by baffled family members, there has yet to be an animal that did not end up loving her. She’s loved the feel of being on a farm and getting right in the dirt and mud. Moving to Fairview is her chance to really get to know the community and reconnect with the small
town life she grew up loving.
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Alex originates from a small bush town in Northwestern Ontario. In 2017, at the age of 18, she embarked on a solo journey to Alberta with nothing but her truck, trailer, and her faithful puppy named Luke, driven by a compelling dream. Settling in Grande Prairie in the Peace Country, she immersed herself in various roles, from towing vehicles to serving as a compassionate funeral director.
In 2020, Alex found herself in Fairview, initially not planning to stay long. However, fate intervened when she met her now-fiancé shortly after relocating, anchoring her in the community. Passionate about horses from a young age, she competes enthusiastically in local barrel races. Her commitment to volunteering shines through her involvement with the Fairview 4-H Multi Club, local rodeos, and weightlifting competitions across the Peace region.
Currently pursuing her Business Administration Diploma at NAIT, Alex eagerly applies her newfound skills at the PCBFA, where she embraces every opportunity to learn and contribute.
Alex invites connections to share interests and explore new opportunities, embodying a spirit of growth and community engagement.
Millet
Pest Control Lead