About Edible Vancouver Island

KAREN ELGERSMA
Publisher & Master Storyteller

Karen loves stories. She always has. Even as a little girl, she loved to interview people—"I would pretend I had my own show, and I would use my hairbrush as a microphone and badger friends, relatives and strangers, to participate in my make-believe TV show," she recalls.  ​

She went on to study storytelling at UBC, graduating with an honour’s degree in Creative Writing and Journalism. She then pursued a career in journalism, telling people’s stories through radio, magazines and television. She was a multi-award-winning TV journalist, who spent over 20 years in front of the camera, telling the stories of the people, places, events and ideas of Vancouver Island. In 2014 she then went back to school to study the art of storytelling in the digital age and graduated with Distinction with a Master’s degree in communications from Royal Roads University.  Her thesis was an award-winning documentary on the power of storytelling.

After completing her Masters, she worked with travel writers telling the stories of Victoria and Vancouver Island as the Manager of Media Relations at Destination Greater Victoria and as the Executive Director of Tourism Cowichan.

Today, she is the Founder of Karen Elgersma Media and Publisher of Edible Vancouver Island.

ELIZABETH NYLAND
Editor

Elizabeth joins Edible Vancouver Island as the new editor, bringing with her a lifelong passion for food, health, wellness, and fitness. Born in Victoria and raised in Campbell River, she has deep roots on Vancouver Island that enrich her connection to the local culinary scene. Growing up in a family that gardened, fished, hunted, and preserved their own food, Elizabeth developed a profound appreciation for fresh, organic ingredients and sustainable living from an early age.

In 2009, she launched her food blog, Guilty Kitchen, a platform where she combined her love for cooking with her talents in photography and styling. Through engaging storytelling and captivating imagery, she inspired others to explore wholesome cooking and embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Elizabeth's personal experiences and deep connection to the island give her unique insight into the people and communities that make up Vancouver Island's vibrant food and beverage industry. She is dedicated to sharing meaningful stories that highlight the richness of the local culinary landscape.

When she's not curating content or experimenting in her own kitchen, Elizabeth can be found exploring the great outdoors with her husband Adrian and their two children. Whether it's hiking, camping, stargazing, or any activity that immerses her in nature, she cherishes every opportunity to connect with the environment that has profoundly influenced her life and work.

JENNY LEUNG
Social Media Manager

Jenny’s passion for food started when she was a little girl. She was born and raised in Victoria into a food-loving family, and her father was one of Victoria’s first dim sum chefs. Growing up, she was always surrounded by talk of good food and cooking. Working with Edible Vancouver Island has been a dream come true for Jenny, because she is able to combine her passion for food and marketing by helping share stories of local food makers and small business owners. When Jenny isn’t working, you can find her dining around town, sipping on London Fogs and snapping pictures of food to share on her personal social media account.

PEGGIE TERRY
Marketing Consultant

Peggie Terry was the publisher of Where magazine, a position she held from 1984–2019. Peggie and her husband James, have "retired" to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. She has traded in her suits for shorts and high-heels for flip flops!

Currently, she is the Volunteer Executive Director of the Vancouver Tourism Awards Program, a non-profit service recognition program recognizing front line service individuals in tourism and hospitality. She has held board positions with Destination Vancouver, Science World and most recently with The Old School House in Qualicum Beach. Peggie has been a volunteer board member with Tourism Industry Partners - TIP Society since 2010. 

 Peggie has continued her publishing persuits with Edible Vancouver Island Magazine (KEM) as a Marketing Consultant a position she has enjoyed since 2019. 

SHANE YAKELASHEK
Videographer

Shane Yakelashek is an accomplished videographer with 15 years of experience in the television industry. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's Certificate in Project Management, which has equipped him with the skills and knowledge to excel in his field.

Throughout his career, Shane has worked on a variety of projects, including documentaries, music videos, commercials, broadcast graphics, promotions and corporate videos. His work has been featured on major television networks and streaming platforms.

Shane is known for his technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills, enabling him to collaborate effectively with clients and production teams. He is dedicated to ensuring that each project he works on is executed to the highest standards, from pre-production planning to final delivery, and proves to be an enjoyable experience for all involved.

RAE-ANNE GUENTHER
Videographer & Photographer

Rae-Anne Guenther is a freelance videographer and photographer born and raised on Vancouver Island. As a child she was constantly interviewing people with her father’s camcorder, even holding the pizza guy hostage until he answered her questions. Storytelling has always been an essential part of her life. When Rae-Anne doesn’t have a camera in hand, she is playing with her two sons on their off-grid farm in Nanaimo. She is grateful to work with Edible VI and be part of such a passionate, driven team.

DAWN POSTNIKOFF
Marketing Consultant

As one of the co-founders of Edible Vancouver Island, Dawn loves to share her passion for coastal living and the local food and beverage culture. She is a writer, business owner, consultant and co-author of the Island Eats and Okanagan Eats cookbooks. Dawn loves to play outdoors, travel, sip wine and cook with her family and friends whenever the opportunity arises.