Duncan is a Japanese-Italian- Canadian, a social innovator, facilitator, entrepreneur, and connection cook aiming to create spaces where we can slow down, cook, eat, reflect, and connect, bringing our full selves, in the multiplicity of our identities. 

After burning out scaling local food and tech social enterprises serving local economies in 2017 as a self employed consultant and through various social enterprises (see Linkedin for details), cooking in community and healing in community led Duncan to co-found the Front Street Community Oven and the How We Thrive Narrative Project.

Duncan serves as the Executive Director of the Front Street Community Oven, where the community uses the magic of food, cooking together, fire, and story to bridge divides and create belonging for all. A more generous, generative community is emerging from this place of belonging. The community oven has provided space for 5000+ people to cook and eat together since 2019. Every day the oven community gives Duncan hope that the more beautiful world he believes is possible is emerging. 

Duncan is also very passionate about facilitating cooking groups that provide nourishing space for people who are male, or identify with masculinity, to experientially learn and grow together exploring relevant mind, body, and spirit topics. Duncan believes it’s critical for people who identify as men to explore underlying beliefs, identities, values, and leadership skills in healing spaces to fully understand which of them no longer serve all inter-beings on this planet. 

His work is informed by a deep interest in living systems, thrivability, building cultures of belonging, complexity, trauma-informed practice, and social determinants of health. His education includes a BBA from Acadia University, as well as training in facilitation approaches such as Art of Hosting, Narrative Re-Authoring, Emotional Culture Design, and many others in the 12+ years facilitating change in Atlantic Canada.

When he’s not hosting gatherings or co-cooking in community, you can find Duncan in and around Wolfville, Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia, cycling with friends, gardening with his partner, or playing with his nieces; and of course, he loves to cook and share great food, too.

With the love and support of my community every step of the way, I recently achieved a life goal of completing my PhD in Community Psychology. My dissertation research focused on transforming the ecosystem in which evaluation takes place so that it can better serve African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities.  I am currently bringing my Community Psychology perspective and tools to my work with to GEO Nova Scotia and the Community Oven, where I provide evaluation and learning support, and help the teams explore how to transform systems to support social justice and work with love and kindness.

I co-founded and for 18 years co-directed Horizons Community Development Associates, a phoenix that rose from the ashes of a national pilot project that ran out of funding. I have worked in health promotion and community development for over 30 years. My training and experience has filled my toolbox with a number of different methods of working for social justice, such as community based research; program design, implementation, and evaluation; facilitation; adult education; strategic planning; advocacy; and organizing for social change from an experience-based perspective.

Over the years I have had the privilege of developing relationships and working with diverse communities and organizations who continually teach me important lessons about doing good work. I am grateful for my experience working with many First Nations and Indigenous communities, African Nova Scotian and Black communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, newcomers, youth and women in rural family violence prevention groups, seniors’ advocacy groups, leaders and advocates in sexual and reproductive health programs, survivors of the mental health system, health promoters, and Community Psychologists. Drawing on their wisdom and generosity, I have gained a strong respect for the diverse perspectives people bring to the table, and an ability to validate and work with differing interests and needs.

I am a Credentialed Evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society, a member of the Society for Community Research & Action, former Secretary General of the International Association for Community Development, and founding President of the Health Promotion Clearinghouse in Nova Scotia.  In 2015 I was awarded Acadia University Department of Community Development’s inaugural Community Leadership Award.

Bio coming soon

Aaron is passionate about bringing people together to connect around food, fire, and creativity. Crafting authentic, analog moments in a digital world. Aaron is a social impact, craft beer, and food industry veteren 

I was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario but my family roots are in Wolfville, NS. My
grandfather was the local agent for the Dominion Atlantic Railway in Wolfville for 35
years and my Dad and his sister were born in the apartment above the train station that is
now the Wolfville Library. The location of the Front Street Community Oven therefore,
holds very special meaning for me.

I hold diplomas in Medical Laboratory Technology and Dental Hygiene and am a
graduate of Acadia University with a BScH in Biology and Western University with a
MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Previous to my retirement, I worked with the
Canadian Public Health Service of the Public Health Agency of Canada as a Field
Surveillance Officer – Epidemiologist in support of the work of Nova Scotia Health.

Post retirement, I have been very fortunate to have been involved as a project coordinator
with both the Food-Art-Nature project, a joint undertaking by the Wolfville Farmers’
Market, the Blomidon Naturalists Society and an experiential tourism company, “Earth
Rhythms” and the work of the Wolfville Front Street Community Oven. I play clarinet in
three local bands and every day, enjoy life with my partner David in our beautiful
Annapolis Valley.

A proactive and dynamic educationist, researcher and learning manager with over 20 years of proven antiquity for teaching, research development and learning enhancement. Skilled in creating adept learning environment by organizing training programs based on need assessment. Possess expertise in literary endeavors to provide platform for discussing and sharing the latest developments and ongoing issues in the field. Always lead by example demonstrating a high degree of honesty, integrity, professionalism, and commitment to excellent service.