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What you can do to strengthen our regional food supply: There are a number of ways the Comox Valley can increase our food security by producing, processing and distributing more food locally. Click here to read a document to find out more.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority Food Security web pages have definitions, descriptions of initiatives, and helpful links to other sites.
http://www.viha.ca/mho/food/Food+Security.htm
Every Lawn a Garden
Their objective is to help persons increase their capacity for gardening so that everyone can reach the stage of growing some of their own food supply and to work with communities to support and encourage local food systems and increase food security.
BC Healthy Communities supports communities and community groups that are working on Healthy Community-related initiatives in a number of ways:
• Providing information on resources, tools and other Healthy Community initiatives
• Making referrals to relevant resource materials and organizations
• Facilitating/co-facilitating community meetings that engage diverse sectors
• Developing educational materials and resources
• Publishing the BCHC Healthy Communities newsletter
• Working in partnership to develop/maintain databases and resource inventories
http://www.bchealthycommunities.ca
Find locally grown farm fresh produce at
http://www.localfarmlink.com
“Making Food Matter” is a regional e-newsletter produced and distributed by the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CR-FAIR) and the CRD Roundtable on the Environment – Healthy Communities Subcommittee. You can view the latest issue at http://www.communitycouncil.ca/crfair_nl/crfair_nl_issue3_index.html or have it emailed to you.
The BC Food Systems Network
The Network was formed in September, 1999, to link people all over the province involved in community-level action related to food. In keeping with the holistic perspective of the local food security and food policy organizations, the Network emphasizes the way in which food issues cross cultures, sectors, and age groups. Through an email network and annual meetings, we share insights, initiatives, strategies and critical analysis of events in the food system and our own work. www.fooddemocracy.org
Vancouver Food Policy Council
In 2004 Vancouver City Council adopted a motion to promote and create a just and sustainable food system through the creation of the Vancouver Food Policy Council. City food system issues and the work of the Council can be viewed at www.vancouver.ca/foodpolicy
Foodlink is a non-profit organization in the Waterloo area that creates partnerships with food producers, processors, retailers and consumers to promote the sale and consumption of locally grown and produced food. In building a “food localism” movement, Foodlink is expanding and creating new markets for local farms and farm-based businesses while also building a demand for local food products. The Local Harvest Newsletter is an electronic publication featuring seasonal food, local farms and agricultural issues. Back issues are available for download on their website at www.foodlink.ca
Seed Map: Food, Farmers and Climate Chaos
The Seed Map is a teaching and advocacy tool designed to show the state of global agro-biodiversity. It identifies threats to the world’s seed and biodiversity systems, and highlights regions where people are fighting to protect biodiversity – and winning!
To order your copy, visit www.usc-canada.org or call 1-800-565-6827 ext.228 (or 613-234-6827 in Ottawa).
The Children’s Health & Nutrition Initiative was launched on January 17, 2007 to build a broad-based coalition of diverse stakeholders that are passionate about Canada becoming a world leader in making safe and healthy food available to all children and reshaping social, cultural, economic and environmental influences to optimally support child health.
www.childrensfood.ca/chni.htm
Health Canada’s Food and Nutrition pages can be viewed at
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/index_e.html
The Community Food Security Coalition
The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a non-profit North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability. http://www.foodsecurity.org
The Association for the Study of Food & Society (ASFS) is a multi-disciplinary international organization dedicated to exploring the complex relationships between food, culture and society. http://food-culture.org
Local Food Security agencies and programs
ABORIGINAL HEAD START
Early child education program
Contact: Jan Prowse 250-334-2477
COMOX VALLEY TRANSITION SOCIETY & LILLI HOUSE
Phone 250-897-0511 for information
FOOD BANK - COMOX VALLEY
Distribution of food and clothing on Thursdays only from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Emergency food and clothing may be available during office hours, Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Contact: 338-0615
2201 Robert Liang Drive, Courtenay, BC
FOOD BANK - CUMBERLAND
Distribution of food and some clothing on Thursdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Contact: 336-2506 (Mary) or 338-8233 (Sheila)
1st & Penrith (United Church)
Cumberland, BC
FOOD BANK – DENMAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Contact: Norah Wright 335-2324
FOOD BANK – HORNBY ISLAND EDUCATION SOCIETY
Also operates Hope Kitchen
Contact: Sheila McDonnell 335-2885
FOURSQUARE GOSPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH, COURTENAY
Free Dinners - once a month; call ahead for dates and to reserve.
Contact: 334-2727
1640 Burgess Rd. (off Cumberland Rd., Courtenay
Meals on Wheels:
Provides nutritious, hot meals to clients unable to cook for themselves. Self referrals accepted. Courtenay/Comox clients call: 338-5453, Cumberland/Royston clients call 336-8531
SONSHINE LUNCH CLUB
Contact: 334-2329
St. George’s United Church
Fitzgerald & 6th, Courtenay
Downtown soup kitchen Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
ST. GEORGE’S PANTRY
Contact: 334-4961
Provides non-perishable foods, personal hygiene and sanitary supplies as available once per month
SALVATION ARMY FAMILY SERVICES
Contact: 334-4961
Emergency food and referrals Monday – Thursday 10 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 3 pm. Tuesday Brown Bag lunch
ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY
Contact: 334-0070
Emergency resources including food vouchers, hampers to families with children under 16.
WACHIAY FRIENDSHIP CENTRE
1625B McPhee Avenue Courtenay
250-338-7793
Program information available at wachaiayexec@telus.net
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