Food Link Nanaimo

Food Charters are the link between food policy decision-making and community action.

For the most part, food charters are usually only 1 or 2 pages in length, acting as "guiding principles" on the issue

of food sustainability and food security for that area. However, it is the process of creating those principles as a community -- that is considered to be the greatest value. Gathering together, collaborating, strengthening relationships: this is what builds community.

After speaking with others who participated in a food charter process, the consensus has been that a food charter

is not enough; there needs to be action initiatives developed parallel to the charter, so that progress and achieve-ment of those principles can be assessed in the future. The participants engaged in the process must be representative and inclusive - from grass roots to government, from individual to corporation. And it is strongly believed that the principles and action initiatives should be adopted by the local government.

Where do we start?

As the Nanaimo community gathers to collaborate on creating a Food Charter, it is important to gather and share information to inform this process. Food Link's role will be to facilitate the process, engage the community, and document what is learned. The first step we took was to find out about other food charters.

Gabriola Island – the Gabriola Agricultural Association is also in the process of developing a food charter; you can contact them at: localfoodgabe@gmail.com

Victoria & Capital Region - supporting organizations Life Cycles reports on the planning process:

http://www.lifecyclesproject.ca/initiatives/food_planning/

(see announcement in section 14, below, and attached document)

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

Kaslo - their charter is part of the Kaslo Food Security Project (KFSP):

http://www.nklcss.org/food.php

Kamloops and Merritt - first in BC to include food policy in social plan (2000) - this link is an overview of the

Kamloops Food Action Plan:

http://www.fooddemocracy.org/docs/FoodActionPlan_sept06.pdf

Another community that is taking a noteworthy approach to develop a food charter is:

Powell River - with guidance from Percy Schmeiser !

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1998&dept_id=221583&newsid=15133908&PAG=461&rfi=9

One other food charter developed outside of BC, which I think is relevant, is the "ground-breaking" (pun intended)

http://food.cimnet.ca/cim/43C1_3T7T4T97.dhtm

What other resources do we have beyond our community?

BC Food Systems, a grass roots network, has developed some guidelines around developing public policy on food which will be useful in the process of creating a food charter.

http://www.fooddemocracy.org/policy.php

Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) has defined community food security and implemented a Community

Food Action Initiative which includes goals to:

VIHA & Ministry of Health partnered to provide funding for Community Food Action Initiatives (CFAI) in local communities: http://www.viha.ca/mho/food/Food+Security.htm

"A Seat at the Table: Resource guide for local governments to promote food security communities" (June 2008)

http://www.crd.bc.ca/rte/documents/rtefoodsecureJune2008.pdf

If you know of other resources on developing a food charter and local food strategies,

please share them with our community. To add your information to this website,

please contact: sandra.g.christensen@gmail.com

Food Security News Resources - Local News & Reports

*Also see Project Reports located on this website (published by Food Link Nanaimo)

Islands Good Food Initiative (Edible Strategies) "Contending with the Local Food Access Puzzle":

http://www.ediblestrategies.com/fsd/FinalReport_BCMSF.pdf

Deconstructing Dinner (Jon Steinman)

"The Birth of a Farmer's Market" http://globalpublicmedia.com/deconstructing_dinner_the_birth_of_a_farmers_market

"Bios" by Jon Steinman - archive of his weekly articles:

http://thetyee.ca/Bios/Jon_Steinman/

"Community Farms" http://www.synergymag.ca/article.php?id=627

"A Simple Plan - Interview with Dirk Becker" http://www.synergymag.ca/article.php?id=389