Nanaimo Food Charter

For anyone interested there will be a Forum on the 29th that should move us on our way to developing a Food Charter for the City of Nanaimo. Sponsored by Food Link Nanaimo, I was on their board the first few years after their inception, their press release is below the links to various Food Charters. Interestingly the revised Official Community Plan has a section 3.4 on Food Security. Hope to see you there on Saturday.

Vancouver http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/policy/charter.htm

Manitoba Food Security http://food.cimnet.ca/cim/43C1_3T7T4T97.dhtm

Toronto Food Security http://www.toronto.ca/food_hunger/


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 18, 2008
Grow Nanaimo!
Creating a local food strategy together

Nanaimo, BC – Food Link Nanaimo is set to host a Fall Food Forum to beginthe dialogue on how our community can work together to create a local foodcharter and long-term food strategy. The event will take place onSaturday, November 29th from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at Christ Community Churchon 2221 Bowen Rd. The event will be preceded by a screening of newlyreleased film, Island on the Edge, by local film maker Nick Versteeg, onFriday November 28, at 7pm, also at the church.

Elder Ellen White Kwulasulwut, Nanaimo Nation, will perform the OpeningBlessing, followed by Community singing led by Sylvia Wende. The event isfacilitated by Kxx Citton. The morning guest speaker is Richard Balfour,New City Institute (Vancouver), followed by the Plenary on MunicipalEngagement and Food Security that will include panellists Deborah Jensen,City of Nanaimo, Chris Midgley Sustainability Coordinator RegionalDistrict of Nanaimo, and Fred Pattje, City Councillor.

According to Sandra Christensen, Chair of Food Link, "In the morning, thegoal is to establish an overview for the work that needs to be done,beginning with some important concepts around relationship-building andcore values. As the participants move into more dialogue, by theafternoon they will be breaking into smaller groups so that all theparticipants will have their voices heard and recorded. "

The afternoon guest speaker is Jarrod Gunn-McQuillan, from VIHA, giving anIntroduction to the Food Charter Process. Afternoon workshops include:"Local food system and policy" - Sandra Mark of Edible Strategies;"Growing more food locally" - Jessica Snider of Nanaimo Community GardensSociety; "Working with Aboriginal community" - Tanis Daggert of BCHLA; and"School food & garden programs" - Anna Dodds of Foodshare Nanaimo.

Food Link has identified several anticipated outcomes that include:
-developing a stronger relationship between the City / RDN andthe community, by engaging in dialogue and visualizing how the communitycan unify its food action goals,
-facilitating relationship building and inspiring dialogue,
-creating a shared vision for our community,
-documenting many voices and perspectives on the issue of foodsustainability,
-laying the ground work to develop a community process forcreating a food charter and longterm food strategy for Nanaimo.

Please consider attending yourself, or sending a representative from yourorganization, school or business.

Registration and more information contact: info@foodlinknanaimo.com

This is a free event. Free childcare available. Local food vendorMermaid's Mug on-site. Food offering table. Sponsored by BCHC – BCHealthy Communities.