CHRIS šŸŒ± REID

_STORY

Chris Reid (he/him) is a second-generation Canadian settler living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, SkwxwĆŗ7mesh, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in East Vancouver, BC.

Originally from Montreal and raised in Toronto, Chris headed west in 2008 to plant trees in Northern BCā€”a journey that would shape the path of his future ventures. In 2011, a casual pitch at a picnic table on Cortes Island sparked the launch of Shifting Growth, a registered charity dedicated to creating temporary community gardens. That mission evolved in 2017 into Community Garden BuildersĀ®, a social enterprise focused on turning underutilized spaces into vibrant growing areas.

Chrisā€™s entrepreneurial spirit branched further in 2016 with the co-founding of the Canadian Pine Pollen Company, combining his passion for natural health and wellness. In early 2020, he joined the RADIUS Startup Incubator to develop Community Garden Appā€”the first digital platform built specifically for community garden management.

That same Cortes Island picnic table continued to inspire new ideas. In 2019, it became the launchpad for Arlo Boozy Kombucha, a collaboration with Kara and Bucha Brew Ltd. From there, Chris co-founded Mr. Yuzu Beverages Inc., which introduced Billion Trillion Sake Fizz in 2022ā€”bringing a playful, creative twist to craft beverages.

Later that year, Chris dove into cold therapy with the launch of CooldĀ®, a brand focused on cold exposure experiences. By 2023, he added Dog Garden to the mixā€”fenced, off-leash spaces for dogs in urban area.

Across all his ventures, Chris remains grounded by the things that energize him most: cold plunges, kombucha, high-intensity fitness classes, long forest runs, and playful time with dogs. He completed the 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon and set his sights on the Vancouver Triathlon in 2024. Now, he's training for his first 50km ultra trail race in the forests of western Oregon in summer 2025.

 

_Founder Stories

dog garden

Pack Leader, Founder - Vancouver, BC (2023-current)

Dog Garden is a space where dogs run free. We build public dog parks for private landowners where dogs exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners. Fun park features include: Fire Hydrant, Stick Library, Dog House.

 

COOLD

Ice Breaker, Founder - Vancouver, BC (2022-current)

Coold is a cold water equipment rentals service in Vancouver and Lower Mainland. Coold sets up and creates cold water exposure experiences with ice-cold tanks in collaboration with seasoned cold-water facilitators + the local health, wellness and fitness communities.

 

billion trillion + Mr. Yuzu beverages Inc.

Astronomer, Co-Founder - Vancouver, BC (2022-current)

Billion Trillion is an organic ā€˜Sake Fizzā€™ naturally fermented to 6% ABV with no sugar added, gluten-free and with a new, cleaner alcohol base: sake. Billion Trillion comes in sleek 355ml tall cans and is made with real fruit ingredients ~ Welcome to the Good Time Galaxy!

 

ARLO BOOZY KOMBUCHA + DJ Beverages Inc.

Can Opener, Co-Founder - Vancouver, BC (2020-2024)

Arlo is an organic ā€˜Hard Kombuchaā€™ naturally fermented to 4% ABV. Arlo Boozy Kombucha comes in sleek 355ml tall cans and is made with tea + real fruit ingredients ~ Arlo is the life of the party!

Arlo is a delicious West Coast beverage ~ pairing the naturally occurring alcohol found in kombucha, with extraordinarily delightful flavours. The drinks are created to be enjoyed and shared with good people. Arlo is brewed by Bucha Brew Ltd. (est. 2016), based in Delta, BC, Canada. 

 

Community Garden Builders Inc.

Executive Gardener, Founder - Vancouver, BC (2015-current)

Community Garden Builders is a Vancouver-based social enterprise with a mission to transform vacant property into temporary community gardens and growing spaces. Our projects represent a unique partnership between landowners and community members, providing much needed garden space for the community as well as interim property management for landowners. Using mobile garden beds set atop shipping pallets, we create accessible urban spaces for local community members to grow their own food and flowers.

 

COMMUNITY GARDEN APP INC.  

Garden Tender, Founder - Vancouver, BC (2018-current)

The Community Garden App is the worldā€™s first custom software designed to assist Garden Managers running and operating community gardens. The software includes all the tools a Garden Manager needs to run a garden: sign-up gardeners, collect fees online and much more! Our software directly increases the capacity and efficiency of the local food system by making community gardens more accessible and efficiently managed.  

 

CANADIAN PINE POLLEN COMPANY

Pollinator, Co-Founder - Vancouver, BC (2016-2017)

The Canadian Pine Pollen Company harvests, processes and distributes pine pollen from pine forests of Western Canada and Asia. Working with the local pine pollen community in BC and China, the Vancouver-based company offers the highest quality pine pollen, managing the entire process from harvest to packaging. Pine pollen is an edible health food product harvested from wild pine trees. The golden pollen 'super food' is extracted from our proprietary processing method, leaving behind an edible golden pollen product that is a rich source of phyto-angrones (plant-based hormones).

 

SHIFTING GROWTH CHARITABLE ORG.

Executive Director, Co-Founder - Vancouver, BC (2011-2018)

Shifting Growth was a registered Charity with a mission to transform vacant property into temporary community gardens. This social enterprise built, maintained and managed food-growing gardens and growing space. Chris proudly served as Executive Director since co-founding the organization in 2011, guiding the organization from start-up grants to developing a self-sustaining revenue model with social impact.

 

_EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Certificate in Project Management (2017)

This program is designed for experienced professionals aiming to build their knowledge and skills in project management to more effectively plan, collaborate and execute projects. The curriculum is compatible with the project management industry standard set by the Project Management Institute (PMI)Ā® and the PMBOKĀ® Guide Body of Knowledge. The Business Analysis specialization provides a foundation of business analysis tools and is aligned with the IIBA body of knowledge (BABOKĀ®). 

 

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Certificate for Community Economic Development Professionals (2015)

This Certificate program provides the latest tools and approaches for practitioners to contribute and build a sustainable, local economy. With a deeper understanding of the role of economic development in sustainable community development, this program focused on sustainable methods and solutions that can be implemented by neighborhoods and communities with limited resources.

 

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Certificate in Carbon Finance (2011)

The Centre for Environmentā€™s Certificate in Carbon Finance provides a thorough grounding in a field which aims to help society meet its need to reduce greenhouses gases (GHGs) as rapidly as possible. Carbon Finance explores the financial implications of living in a carbon-contained world. This program focuses on applying innovative market instruments and solutions toward achieving solutions to mitigate climate change and GHG emissions.

 

CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (CAGBC)

Accredited Professional, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (2007)

LEED AP ID+C specializes in design, construction and improvement of commercial interiors and tenant spaces that offer a healthy, sustainable and productive work environment. LEED is a green building rating standard that aims to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and utilize resources more efficiently.

 

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, ON

Diploma in Environmental Assessment (2006)              

This Diploma focuses on the Environmental Assessment (EA) process at both the Federal and Provincial levels. The EA process provides a mechanism for reviewing major projects to assess their environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts. The assessment process is needed to ensure the issues and concerns of the public, indigenous populations, interested stakeholders and government agencies are considered.

 

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, ON

Bachelor Environmental Studies, Honours (2006)              

This Bachelor program within The Department of Environment and Resource Studies (ERS) focuses on the sustainability and ethics of solving environmental problems, ranging from water and food to energy and biodiversity, utilizing techniques and ideas from many disciplines to seek integrative solutions that cross the boundaries between the natural and social sciences.

 

 _EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

BRINKMAN GROUP OF COMPANIES 

Project Manager, Forest Carbon Division - New Westminster, BC (2009-2011)

Forest carbon projects & new business development. Coordinated, scouted and researched potential ecosystem services and forest carbon projects throughout BC and Canada. Developed thorough understanding of Provincial and international carbon markets and climate change policies.

 

PACIFIC TECHNOLOGY VENTURES

Research Lead - Vancouver, BC (2010-2011) 

Researched business plans for entrepreneurs and led a team of researchers in drafting business proposals, plans and packages for venture capitalists. PTV has been working to commercialize high-growth business concepts since 1985. Gained valuable early stage business planning, specifically building investor-ready business plans.

 

BRINKMAN & ASSOCIATES REFORESTATION LTD.

Field Supervisor/Foreman - Throughout remote BC (2008-2011)

Responsible for the management of multiple reforestation field crews each with over a dozen crew members. Chris performed work in remote locations for long and consecutive lengths of time, adhering to strict standard-operational procedures and workplace safety regulations. Gained skills in logistics, complex team dynamics, production-based management and project management. 

 

JOYCE MURRAY, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Contract Work (Events, Communications) - Vancouver, BC (2009-2011)

Contract work, assisted with event co-ordination and re-election campaign.

 

TREE CANADA

Community Coordinator - Vancouver, BC (2010-2011)

Managed community tree planting ceremonies & events throughout the Lower Mainland. As a representative of Tree Canada, Chris acted as the liaison between corporate clients and local community members. Coordinated full-day events with hundreds of participants, including speeches, giveaways and volunteer management.

 

GREEN SHIFT

Client Manager/Sales - Toronto, ON (2008)

Facilitated the ā€˜greeningā€™ of companies through products and services. Worked with clients throughout Canada coordinating orders of environmentally sustainable products. Managed sales of products, conducted internal environmental audits and assessments for clients with the goal to reduce their carbon footprint.

 

WORK WORTH DOING (THE NOW HOUSE PROJECT)

Sustainability Coordinator - Toronto, ON  (2007)

The NOW House was Canadaā€™s first residential retrofit of a war-time house into a zero emission household - creating a model for home owners to identify individual energy efficient projects/technologies which could be allied to their homes. As the Sustainability Coordinator, Chris researched, compiled and visualized potential ā€˜greenā€™ technologies/retrofit.

 

_NON-PROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE

 

_ADDITIONAL TRAINING

 
 

_HIGHLIGHTS/NOMINATIONS/PRESENTATIONS