Our Team

Cara McArthur is BCCF’s Acting Executive Director. She is a community engagement strategist and consultant, who’s practice's main focus is urban and regional planning from the lens that is inclusive, equitable and accessible. Cara’s work to date has allowed her to provide strategic guidance on the executive level while leading teams and initiatives cross-organizationally. She has had the pleasure of advising and developing strategies for for the following organizations: Dillon Consulting, Our Plan  To,  Create  To,  City  of  Toronto Indigenous Affairs office, Native Women’s Association of Canada, Sephora, Canadian Tire, T1 Agency, Two-Rows Architects, B + H Architects, Ridge Road Consulting, George Brown College, Royal Ontario Museum, North York Arts and The McMichael Gallery.

With over a decade of experience spanning executive leadership, program design, and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility consulting, Cara’s work bridges strategic planning with grassroots action centering the lived experience of equity-deserving communities. Her  passion for stewarding the co-creation of equitable communities can be seen through her most recent work with  Malvern Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Cara co-developed equity focused initiatives to strengthen belonging and community. During her tenure at MFRC she had the opportunity to lead the Student and Family Advocate (SFA) Program, where she worked in partnership with Parents of Black Children (PoBC) to support Black students and families navigating anti-Black racism in the education system. Her leadership helped shape MFRC’s outreach strategy, internal IDEA program and while deepening resident-led engagement while fostering authentic partnerships with Black-led organizations and local leaders. 

During the pandemic she contributed to the development of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), a community-based, trauma informed alternative to policing. Working alongside Indigenous and grassroots partners, she shaped Kamaamwizme wii Naagidiwendiiying, the Indigenous-led crisis response pilot rooted in relational care, cultural safety, and holistic wellness. Her broader experience includes leading trauma-informed food access programming at Building Roots and developing land-based learning programs at Green Thumbs Growing Kids, including The Local Explorers, which connected youth to Indigenous land stewardship, urban agriculture, and environmental stewardship.

As the former Vice-Chair of the Black Creek Community Farm Board of Directors, she provided strategic oversight rooted in food sovereignty, urban agriculture, and resident leadership. Grounded in equity, strategy, and community voice; Cara’s leadership continues to cultivate spaces where under-served communities thrive through food, belonging, and shared power.

Ohemaa Boateng, a long-time resident of the Jane-Finch community, has been a leading organizer for urban agroecology, social justice, community work, food security, and climate action in Toronto.

Ohemaa started her journey into food justice work at Black Creek Community Farm as a farm staff – spearheading the Farm School program, coordinating family and children activities, and leading the weekly farmers markets in front of Jane and Finch Mall and Driftwood Community Centre. Ohemaa advocated for fair access to fresh locally grown and affordable food, raised awareness of the food injustices experienced in the community by racialized residents, and developed her urban farming skills.

In 2014, Ohemaa, alongside the BCCF team, received the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Award for the innovative work happening at the farm.

Greetings! My name is Leeann, and I am a Farm Educator at the Black Creek Community Farm. I graduated from the University of Guelph-Humber specializing in Media Communications, specializing in Journalism. I have experience working with a plethora of people in the community through facilitating workshops from Harm Reduction to Computer Literacy Skills for Seniors. I have also had the amazing opportunity to partner with Black Creek Community Health Centre while working with youth in Jane and Finch community engaging in cooking activities with youth and the seniors at the farm. I have also done fundraising for the David Suzuki Foundation and volunteered for the Neighbourhood Clean-up with City Counsellor Anthony Peruzza.

I am eager to learn how to grow vegetables, maintain and care for a garden and enhance my communication, service, and facilitation skills. I also look forward to meeting new people, exchanging new ideas, and experiencing new things to do my part in making a difference in food justice and the environment.

I enjoy reading, writing, and researching topics I’m interested in. I am passionate about the arts- speaking, writing, teaching, and performing. Also, I have done theatre acting in the past. For some time I have been looking forward to learning more about agriculture, farming, and planting and it is such an eye-opening, amazing experience to have this opportunity to have a position as a Farm Educator to enhance my skills and someday teach others what I’ve learned.

Mildred Agsaoay is an active resident, volunteer and organizer in the Jane and Finch community for the past 10 years. She is in her third year as Coordinator of the Urban Harvest Program and she hopes to inspire more residents to grow their own food, share their surplus and learn preservation methods as a resilient food practice.

In 2017, she began a Moms Group at the farm and has engaged over 250 parents and their children from low-income families to participate in gardening and a healthy lifestyle program. She is passionate about gardening, reconnecting people back to nature, growing and eating good food.

Hello! My name is Susan Henry-Bassaragh. I am a Market Garden Coordinator and very excited to be part of the hard-working Market Garden team at Black Creek Community Farm. Come by the farm and say “hello”, I would love to meet you!

I am the youngest of 4 girls. My parents and 3 sisters were born and raised in Jamaica, while I was born in Canada. Before settling in Brampton, my family lived in the Chalkfarm community, south of Black Creek. I grew up listening to stories from my parents and sisters about cultivating the land back home. My Grandparents had a farm, where some of my sisters had many adventures tending to goats, cows, and chickens and enjoying the yield of their many fruit trees. These stories were brought to life as my parents cultivated their beloved backyard garden in Canada. Being a steward of the land is in my blood and heritage.

Before joining the Market Garden Team at Black Creek Community Farm, I assisted in the management of a certified organic seedling nursery in Guelph/Eramosa, Ont. I have a diverse educational background in Sociology, Psychology, Food, and Agriculture. With 15+ years of experience in the food industry, spanning from baking and pastry arts to operations and brand management, I have been able to have a birds-eye view of how food is produced, manufactured, and distributed. I’ve also had the privilege of operating my bespoke wedding cake boutique. I am very honoured to serve the Etobicoke community through my church. I’ve led various volunteer activities, but my true love was serving as the leader for children and youth programs. I enjoy connecting with people to cultivate a positive atmosphere and encourage well-being.

I am passionate about nature and sustainability. I am fascinated by the microscopic world of soil and its role in creating a healthy and diverse food ecosystem. I am always eager to learn new things to expand my knowledge and skills. I believe that eating well is not only a matter of personal choice but also a way of contributing to the well-being of the planet and future generations.

My role at BCCF has allowed me to immerse myself into this amazing community of like-minded people, who are also passionate about farming, food sovereignty, and teaching the young and young at heart to thrive, not just survive. I hope to see you soon at the farm. You can volunteer in the field, check out our greenhouses, or pick up something delicious at our Thursday Market. Either way, you are always welcome and we are excited to connect with you.

Keep thriving!

Andre Baynes is an educator and designer with a passion for community-focused education and action toward collective land stewardship. With a background in traditional gardening, design, and storytelling, Andre brings a unique perspective to land stewardship education.

Their work aims at imagining and building nature-centric systems for a world beyond the one we have now and encourages and empowers people to work together toward this vision. Andre works with local food growers, earth workers, and community members to co-create the many pathways toward a life of play, joy, and justice.

Hello, Black Creek Community Farm community! My name is Sheldon Caruana, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Community Support Coordinator at BCCF. I’m honored to step into this role and be part of a space that has long been a pillar for food justice, environmental sustainability, and community resilience.

My journey into this work has been shaped by my deep passion for food sovereignty, youth empowerment, and community-building. As a Co-founder of the Black Youth Farming Collective, I’ve dedicated my efforts to creating spaces where Black youth and community can reconnect with land, culture, and sustainable food systems. My work has centered around making farming and food education accessible, ensuring that young people have the resources and support they need to thrive in agricultural and environmental spaces.

At BCCF, my role focuses on strengthening connections between the farm and the communities through the development of the organization’s administrative and financial capacity. My goal is to support the development and management of financial processes to ensure that BCCF can continue focusing its energy on growing, providing education, and creating a sense of belonging at the farm. I’m looking forward to learning from the team here, as well as from the many families, elders, and youth who make BCCF such a special place.

Beyond my work, I have a deep love for food, technology, and the warm weather! Whether it’s using automation to improve systems, experimenting with new ingredients, or digging in the soil, I’m always thinking about how we can use our skills to build stronger, healthier communities. I hope to bring some of these perspectives to BCCF and explore new ways to connect people to the land and each other.

I’m excited for the journey ahead and to meet more members of the BCCF community. If you see me around, don’t hesitate to say hello!

Living in the city all my life, I have always been surrounded by multiculturalism, leaving me with an appreciation for diversity. I grew up understanding the importance of community involvement. I was introduced to agriculture early on as a child, and having my own family now, I try to continue this tradition by growing my own vegetables at home during the summer months. I also love traveling and being surrounded by nature is where I feel most comfortable.

I have always known that helping people is where I want to devote my career. My education and extensive experience as a frontline worker in mental health and research over a decade, has made me realize how a lack of basic human rights such as food insecurity can lead to lifelong adversities. Eating locally fresh food is a priority to me but having access to affordable and equitable food is a challenge we are all facing.

As the Development Manager, I am excited to learn and create new ways for families to get involved and enjoy their experience at the farm. And I’m looking most forward to connecting with the community and giving back through good and impactful work.

Hi, I’m Nia Tinker, a Social Impact Trainee at Black Creek Community Farm and a concurrent education student at York University. My journey with the farm started back in high school during a class trip in 2018, but it wasn’t until I saw a job posting in my building that I finally made my way back—and I’m so glad I did.

In my role, I’ve had the chance to help bring community events to life, from coordinating the open mic series to supporting fundraising efforts and creating social media content. I’ve loved seeing how the farm brings people together, whether through food, music, or shared learning.

One of the most impactful aspects that will stick with me forever is how much the community needs the farm. Over my time here, I’ve seen countless community members show up for programs and events. The programs at the farm cater to those within the community, and I saw this through the tea and cooking workshops, which always include a proper meal (I’m still waiting for Mildred to give me the basil pesto recipe). During these programs, you can really feel the love and the exchange of knowledge and learning that occurs just from sharing space and the willingness to learn from each other. Another aspect of the farm is how it centers family. The staff and visitors onsite care not only about keeping the land healthy but also about each other. The relationships and love I’ve witnessed drive the passion to continue to do this work even when it’s hard because they understand how much of an impact it will have.

Working here has deepened my appreciation for nature and community in ways I never expected. It’s shown me the importance of spaces like BCCF—places where people can connect, heal, and grow. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and continue creating spaces for my community, especially in the arts.