Brenda Carson is a long-time knitter and fibre crafter. In more recent years, as she learned natural dyeing techniques, she developed an interest in local wool. As an avid consumer of locally grown food, she began to search for wool made locally, even regionally, which led to her enthusiasm for Canadian fibre.

Christina spends her days at a desk in Vancouver daydreaming about owning a textile mill. A lover of all things textile, she is delighted to support the mandate of the Canadian Wool Collective.

Shirley Harvey comes from a fifth generation, family-owned farm on Treaty 2 territory (southwestern Manitoba). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and is currently an allied health care worker specializing in clinical genetics and inborn errors of metabolism. What started out as a creative passion for weaving tapestries in 2020 quickly became a need to know more about where the materials she was using were coming from. White Spruce Heritage Farm (WSHF) originated in 2022 after researching various sheep breeds, learning about the Canadian wool industry, and discovering the fascinating history behind the Navajo-Churro sheep. Canadian wool is important to Shirley because of the need to preserve and promote rare sheep breeds and their wool for future generations. 

Since bringing her first sheep home to WSHF, Shirley has had opportunities to share her fibre art skills (hand processing wool, spinning and felting) and love of the Navajo-Churro breed with others at various events. The sheep of WSHF have been awarded with prizes at several livestock and wool shows. Shirley is working with other Navajo-Churro sheep producers across the country to consolidate their efforts in registering the sheep with the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association in the United States. She takes great pride in being able to provide quality fleeces to folks within her local Pembina Fibreshed, and others across the country that are looking to support heritage sheep breeds and small fibre producers. Her future goals include helping to increase the genetic diversity of Navajo-Churros within Canada and hosting fibre workshops/tours at the farm.

Chair of the Board

Anna Hunter is a sheep farmer and wool mill owner based in eastern Manitoba. She is passionate about grassroots social change and exploring the connections between wool, textiles, regenerative agriculture and climate change. She is the author of a book that explores innovative approaches to raising sheep and growing wool across Canada in Sheep, Shepherd & Land. www.longwayhomestead.com

Marcelo Martins is a textile artist, consultant, and project manager specializing in promoting Canadian wool. Trained in education with a master’s degree in sociocultural linguistics, he combines pedagogy and creation to support local fibres. Founder of Makeloo Studio, he develops innovative craft projects blending traditional expertise with modern technologies like e-textiles. www.makeloo.com

Emily McIvor is a sheep farmer and owner of New Wave Fibre, an online yarn business on the West Coast of BC. She hosts workshops and mentors farmers and others interested in developing their own wool businesses in Canada. She is a long-time leader in community economic development.

Karri Munn-Venn is a knitter, policy analyst, and climate justice advocate turned wool farmer in west Québec. With over 20 years of engagement in the fibre arts community, Karri has experience as both a knitting instructor and a knitwear designer.

Wave Weir is a clothing designer, wool mill owner and operator in Seguin, Ontario, near Parry Sound on the shores of Georgian Bay. Looking for a quantity and quality of local, natural fibre and materials for her clothing line, Weir came face-to-face with the limitations and bottlenecks in wool processing being felt by small sheep farms. Living in an area in desperate need of permanent year-round employment, Weir decided to start a fibre processing mill in her small community. Purchasing vintage equipment from a retired business, Weir has established a semi-worsted spinning and weaving mill, providing  processing services for fleece farmers, as well as purchasing raw fibre, from regenerative farms, to be used in the mill's own brand of clothing, fabric, blankets, houseware, toys and accessories.