Check out this important survey and your opportunity to comment, critique, recommend, and advocate for a more just, sustainable and visionary food system in our city. Vancouver is a leader in sustainable food systems, but the truth is that food systems and food security in our city is woefully under-resourced. This has become all the more apparent in light of COVID which has left many community members in even greater stress over food access and food security. Much of the work in supporting community members has also fallen on grossly under-resourced grassroots food networks such as ours and many other community organizations doing their best to get food to community members who are struggling.
Of course increasing income and other affordability supports will significantly ease food insecurity, but there is much more that can also be done at the municipal level to build a more resilient, just and sustainable food system through local community development, skill building, green economy, knowledge exchange and sharing, social connection, sustainable land use practice, innovative food programming and much more to support comprehensive and radical food systems change locally and within our region.
YOUR TURN
Do you have ideas for Vancouver Park Board’s Local Food Action Plan? The Park’s Board want your input on how Vancouver Park Board parks, facilities, programs, and community connections can contribute to a just and sustainable local food system. Visit the Shape Your City page to give your feedback.
Local food systems strengthen communities and build connections between people, healthy food, and the land. Vancouver Park Board food assets and services are part of a broader local food system and they include community or learning gardens, urban orchards, native berry shrubs, food and gardening programs, community kitchens, food access programs, markets, concessions, partnerships, funding, and food-related events.
Vancouver Park Board is updating its Local Food Action Plan in order to guide how it contributes to equitable, welcoming, and interconnected food rich-parks, community spaces, programs, and more. Emphasis will be given to:
- Assessing current food assets and services
- Allocating resources and reducing barriers to currently underserved communities
- Addressing what was learned during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Building community resilience and mitigating the effects of climate change
- Decolonizing food assets and service provision and supporting Indigenous food systems
Grandview Woodland Food Connection 