Our staff at Canadian School of Natural Nutrition are active in all areas of nutritional development and organizational research. Click on a faculty member below to jump to their bio: 

Dr. Decker is a naturopathic doctor practicing in Victoria, BC. Born and raised in Victoria and having lived her entire life in southern British Columbia, Dr. Michelle Decker understands the balance of nature and modern life offered here. Whether camping in the rain with her family, identifying native plants with her mother or planting a garden with her grandparents, nature always had been an integral part of life.

With the intention of going to scientific research, Dr. Decker obtained an Associate degree of Science (Biology) from Camosun College in Victoria and then completed a Bachelor of Science in 2005 at the University of British Columbia, specializing in Microbiology and Immunology. She continued her education at UBC and in 2011 completed a Master of Science in Medical Genetics. During the course of the research into a premature aging disease and through her own health journey, Dr. Decker realized her primary passion was working with patients. Dr. Decker graduated from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in 2015 and opened Horizons Holistic Health Clinic, Victoria, in 2016. Naturopathic medicine has allowed her love of learning to be combined with her passion for patient care.

Kelli Etheridge graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2013, with honours.  Since that time she and a partner have created Stir Cooking School, offering regular cooking classes based on whole, nutritious food.  Kelli believes that educating and inspiring people to get back into the kitchen one of the simplest and effective ways to improve overall wellness. 

Kelli has also been the holistic nutritionist at Tillicum Lelum, a first nations health centre.  Most of her work there has been with the Building Better Babies program facilitating workshops and groups on healthy eating and cooking during pregnancy and beyond.

In 2015, Kelli began teaching at CSNN Vancouver Island. She currently teaches the Clinical Studies Business Builder Workshops. 

In May 2016, Kelli was pleased to win the Trailblazer Awards from the CSNN Alumni Association.

She is currently studying for her Advanced Holistic Nutrition certification.

From a young age, Dr. Hadikin has been fascinated by health and medicine.  While working as a pharmacy technician she saw the frustration patients had with their health and started to learn more about nutrition, preventative health and natural wellness. She attended the University of Lethbridge for pre-med studies in Neuroscience and was a research assistant at the Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience. After completing her degree and honors thesis, Dr. Hadikin moved to Toronto to attend the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and graduated in 2011. She moved back to her home province of BC to start practice and worked at a clinic focusing on allergies and hormones. While on maternity leave she experienced many challenges in the post-partum period and now her practice focuses on providing breastfeeding support and helping new mothers thrive. 

Dr. Hadikin teaches Pathology, Perspectives in Aging and Allergies. 

Dr. Hartwick has always had a passion for health and wellness and a fascination for the human body. Following her passion, she pursued post-secondary studies in the field of Kinesiology and Physical Education, as well as Psychology, at Wilfrid Laurier University. During her 3rd year of education, she was at a crossroads. Unsure of what path to take next for her career, she was serendipitously gifted with an opportunity to see a Naturopathic Doctor in her hometown of Peterborough, Ontario. She stumbled upon a career whose philosophy was in line with what she always thought medicine should be: treat the person, not the symptom, with safe and effective therapies and, most importantly, figure out why the person is unwell and address the underlying causes of disease. After her hour-long first visit, she found her path and purpose.

She then matriculated to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, in Toronto, Ontario, where she completed her four years of training as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. During her formative education, she completed an externship in Beijing, China at a hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she honed pulse and tongue diagnostic skills. 

Upon successful completion of the diploma as Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, she moved westward, toward the mountains and ocean, to start her practice with a focus on serving smaller communities that are often devoid of beneficial healthcare services. Dr. Hartwick’s four years of practice have unfolded in such a way that she fully addresses the whole person: mind, body and spirit where she integrates dietetics, herbal remedies, homeopathy, bach flowers and phytoembryotherapy to address, on an individual basis, the core imbalances for her patients.

In her spare time, she can be found at Robert Ostler park, practising yoga, in Strathcona Park conquering another hike, cycling down the roads of Quadra Island, climbing the crags at Crest Creek or Comox Lake or tending to her garden or in the kitchen, experimenting with her latest creation.

Dr. Hartwick presently teaches Pathology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Advanced Nutrition Courses.

Rhona is a food-loving, poem-writing gardener, food writer, life-long learner and holistic nutritionist, a proud graduate of CSNN Vancouver Island. She also has a master’s degree in Food Culture and Communication from Unisg (the University of Gastronomic Sciences) in Italy, a certificate in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Victoria, a Permaculture Design Certificate and other degrees (communications planning, library & information science and English) from the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Alberta.

She has been active in Victoria’s urban agriculture and food security network since 2008, particularly with Lifecycles’ Fruit Tree Project, the Gorge Tillicum Urban Farmers and Haliburton Community Organic Farm. She reads, researches and writes about nutrition on her Go Local Nutrition blog and social media accounts. She teaches Eco-Nutrition and Nutritional Literature Research and her book Digging the City: An Urban Agriculture Manifesto is on the recommended reading list for CSNN.

Dr. Kyle Maynard was born and raised in Kamloops, BC. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology at Thompson Rivers University, he moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia where he obtained a Master of Science in Neuroscience. His interest and exposure to how the brain works, encouraged him to pursue naturopathic medicine at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine.

 As of 2016, Dr. Kyle is a licensed naturopathic doctor and is a member of the BCNA and CAND. He practices at Horizons Holistic Health Clinic in Victoria. Dr. Kyle has experience treating numerous conditions and has a special interest in mental illness, neurological conditions and physical medicine. 

Dr. Kyle teaches Biochemistry, Nutritional Literature Research, and Body Mind Spirit – The Mind Connection.

Audrey, our Dean of Programs, hails from New Zealand, but has called Vancouver Island home for 14 years. She trained and qualified as a New Zealand Registered Nurse before joining Air New Zealand to travel the world. Leaving behind a long career in aviation and Flight Attendant Management to move to Canada, Audrey now enjoys helping prospective students follow their holistic nutrition career dreams. She also plans and hosts promotional events for CSNN Vancouver Island helping to inspire a new generation of holistic health practitioners. Audrey is joint Co-Ordinator of CSNNAA for Vancouver Island helping to support local Registered Holistic Nutritionist’s in their practices.

Audrey graduated as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist™ professional with Honours in 2015. She believes in a balanced approach to wellness incorporating real foods, exercise, and restorative self love practices.  She is continually upgrading her skill set in order to better help her clients in her private Holistic Travel practice, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of holistic nutrition and healthy travel with her on line community.

To create a balanced life, Audrey enjoys spending her spare time getting into the dirt in her large garden, exploring Vancouver Island and ticking off her bucket list world travel destinations.

Keyrsten graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) in Vancouver, B.C. in 2009. After over a decade of clinical experience at one of Vancouver’s first integrated medical clinics, established in 1984 – she’s developed a breadth of traditional and innovative skills in a professional and ground-breaking setting. As a senior instructor, she now teaches several courses, including Nutritional Symptomatology, Allergies, Hormone Health, and Nutritional Literature Research. She is also the lead instructor for Case Studies and for the Clinical Studies Course Enhanced Case Studies. A former dancer and avid runner, Keyrsten prides herself on her healthy relationship with good food – and excellent wine – and on her involvement in local communities across the greater Vancouver area, where she often facilitates both public and corporate workshops on various nutrition and wellness focused topics.

Robert is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist™ professional and a professional chef. He is a graduate of New York City’s Natural Gourmet Institute (2007) and has worked in some of Vancouver’s best known vegetarian, vegan, and raw food restaurants as well as at yoga retreats in Mexico and India. Robert believes that food politics and a love for the environment cannot be separated from wellness and nutrition.

He flavours his CSNN cooking classes with these beliefs and a passion for healthy food. Robert is a certified yoga teacher and has been fueled by a plant-based diet since 2000. Robert teaches a special series of cooking classes in whole and natural foods nutrition, Fundamentals of Nutrition I & II, and Eco-Nutrition.

Joanna Brown is a graduate of the University of Calgary, holding a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation & Health Studies Degree, which a focus on Mental Health from the Faculty of Education. She has been the Co-Director of a government funded, community health organization that supports those with Dual Diagnosis in the province of Alberta for the past 13 years. Concurrently she graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition as she saw glaring gaps within the current health landscape in the areas of mental health, disability, and with those living in poverty.

During her exploration of the health industry she continued on with post-secondary education and obtained her certification as an Accredited Professional Life Coach & CBT Therapy Practitioner, Raw Food & Plant-Based Chef, Certified Mindful Eating Coach, Certified Natural Weight-loss & Wellness Coach, and she holds a Rehabilitation Practitioner Diploma from Grant McEwan University. Upon graduating from CSNN she opened her own business, Rejoice Nutrition & Wellness. She enjoys particular focus in her practice in the areas of nutrition for busy women, stress related health concerns, anxiety, depression, body positive weight management, eating disorders, and digestive concerns of all kinds. She is a teacher at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and is passionate in teaching others in the field of holistic nutrition.

Joanna also volunteers as an active national board member in the area of food insecurity to improve food access, food quality, and affordability at both the community and policy levels. She was awarded the Community Leader Award from Avenue Magazine as one of Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40 in 2018 for her food insecurity work and food drives. She was awarded the 2019 Danielle Perrault Trailblazer Award from CSNNAA. She is a National Best-Selling Author, and her work has been published in over a dozen magazines across North American. Joanna can be found at various speaking engagements in and around the Edmonton area, enjoys serving her community and loves teaching those that are passionate fostering healthier communities. She is also a CSNNAA Alumni Board member & is committed to supporting her fellow CSNN graduates to feel connect Nationally to each other and within the field of Holistic Nutrition & Wellness. 

Joanna currently teaches Business Fundamentals and Business Builder topics in the Clinical Studies Course. 

As an R.H.N. and licensed naturopathic doctor in Victoria BC, Dr. Christina Gordon, ND has over 15 years of clinical experience in 3 provinces. In her clinical practice she addresses the full spectrum of health concerns including cancer, fertility, hormone regulation, trauma and recovery, digestion and nutritional support.

Dr Christina graduated from University of Victoria with a BSc in Psychology before attending CSNN where she graduated in 2003 with the Holistic Nutrition Diploma. She graduated from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2008 and shares her many years of clinical experience in teaching Fundamentals 1 & 2, Motivational Interviewing, Body Mind Spirit – The Spirit Connection, and Clinical Studies Client Clinic.