vfpc's blog
Food Secure Vancouver Study- Phase One report ready for your reading pleasure
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 04/13/2009 - 02:56
In 2008, the Vancouver Food Policy Council embarked upon a two-year Food Secure Vancouver Study to identify, review and analyze key factors that are required to support and enhance Vancouver's food security. We struck a committee to identify the key determinants of food security, denote benchmarks, and recommend strategic priorities and policies to be considered by the City of Vancouver to assist with achieving food security.
We commissioned a consulting team to produce a Food Secure Vancouver Baseline Report. We asked for an overview of current and projected food production, food demand, and the food distribution system supplying the City of Vancouver and its surrounding region. This report documents their findings and provides background information for further work.
Upcoming Food Events in Vancouver
Submitted by vfpc on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 02:46
Thanks to Samara Brock for passing on these great events!
Bike the Blossoms
Welcome to Spring everyone!
Registration is now open for a Bike the Blossoms event, a collaborative effort between several local area farmers, Slow Food Vancouver, Commercial drive restaurants, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and with the generous hosting of Kitsilano and Britannia community centers. This is a relaxing and beautiful bike ride through cherry tree lined routes, some of which may actually be in bloom, and has several farmers participating, showcasing their farms. There will be special food tasting available at several Community Drive restaurants, featuring local food. For event details and registration go to: www.slowfoodvancouver.com/index.php/BikeBlossoms/categoryjoin_us
The Great Farm Trek
Bike the Blossoms
Welcome to Spring everyone!
Registration is now open for a Bike the Blossoms event, a collaborative effort between several local area farmers, Slow Food Vancouver, Commercial drive restaurants, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and with the generous hosting of Kitsilano and Britannia community centers. This is a relaxing and beautiful bike ride through cherry tree lined routes, some of which may actually be in bloom, and has several farmers participating, showcasing their farms. There will be special food tasting available at several Community Drive restaurants, featuring local food. For event details and registration go to: www.slowfoodvancouver.com/index.php/BikeBlossoms/categoryjoin_us
The Great Farm Trek
Next VFPC meeting is this Wednesday
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 04/06/2009 - 03:39
Our next meeting is this Wednesday, April 8th at 6pm. We're back in the Strathcona Room at City Hall. As always, we have a packed agenda, and will try to close the meeting at 830 pm. See you there!
Food Policy In Vancouver- Yona Sipos discussion in L’Express du Pacifique, vol. XI, 26
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 14:21
The food crisis is still lurking, even in Vancouver. I sat down with Yona Sipos, member of the Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFCP) for an update on the group’s initiatives.
‘Bees’, ‘chicken’ and ‘Vancouver’, three words put together in the same sentence. Is that possible? For Yona Sipos, it’s straightforward: “Bees are legal under certain guidelines. Chickens are on the table for discussion in Vancouver”. Yona Sipos is one of twenty members of a special council that, since 2004, tackles important food initiatives in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland: the Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFPC).
‘Bees’, ‘chicken’ and ‘Vancouver’, three words put together in the same sentence. Is that possible? For Yona Sipos, it’s straightforward: “Bees are legal under certain guidelines. Chickens are on the table for discussion in Vancouver”. Yona Sipos is one of twenty members of a special council that, since 2004, tackles important food initiatives in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland: the Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFPC).
March VFPC Meeting Change
Submitted by vfpc on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 03:49
Folks,
We're not having our usual meeting in March. We're using our meeting time to hold our annual strategic planning session, which will be closed to the public. After the session, we'll post a list of actionable items.
See you in April!
VFPC call for new members!
Submitted by vfpc on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 03:40
The Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFPC) is seeking nominations for new members. Members are appointed by Vancouver City Council. However, we attempt to find candidates who are best qualified to meet our current needs and forward those names to City Council.
Our practice is to solicit applications from as broad a base as possible amongst individuals, groups and networks working on food security concerns.
To receive an application, please email carolechristopher(at) shaw.ca
VFPC's Janine de la Salle's Vancouver Sun piece
Submitted by vfpc on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 22:04
Over the 20th century, town planning turned its back on food, in B.C. and everywhere. In fact, today it is easy to see cities as the enemy of food and farming.
Urban development has eliminated agriculture in cities, paved over agricultural land across the province, largely eliminated the mom-and-pop food store from our communities, and located our food supply almost exclusively in large supermarkets that primarily stock foods produced on far away industrial farms and transported long distances by land, air, and water. Our experience of food in our communities is no longer a rich celebration of the senses, culture, family, and health.
Backyard Chicken Media Mania! Georgia Straight
Submitted by vfpc on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 04:46
http://www.straight.com/article-193997/vancouver-food-policy-council-con...
Will Vancouver allow residents to keep backyard chickens?
By Pieta Woolley
Victorians do it. New Yorkers do it. Seattleites do it. Will Vancouver be the next city to allow chickens to roost in its backyards?
Tomorrow (January 14), the Vancouver Food Policy Council will consider a motion to recommend changes to the city’s animal control bylaws that would make it legal for residents to keep chickens.
The motion will be introduced by Trish Kelly, the council’s cochair, a food activist, and the coeditor of the lesbian erotica collection With a Rough Tongue: Femmes Write Porn.
City of Vancouver's Urban Agriculture Design Guidelines for the Private Realm
Submitted by vfpc on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 04:38
Tags: Agriculture, City, Community, Council, Design, Food, Guidelines, Policy, Private Realm, Report, Urban, Vancouver, VFPC
The City of Vancouver has produced a set of urban agriculture guidelines for residential buildings four storeys or more.
Created through a collaborative process with the community, developers and the Vancouver Food Policy Council, these guidelines are a valuable tool for planning and designing urban agriculture into new residential developments in Vancouver.
On January 20th, these guidelines were presented to the mayor and council. The report is available on line
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20090120/documents/p2.pdf
Cool stuff!
More Chicken stories- 24 Hours reports
Submitted by vfpc on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 04:08
Tags: Backyard Chicken, Chicken, City, Community, Council, Food, Local Food, Policy, Report, Residents, Urban Farmer, Vancouver, VFPC
24 HOURS: Chickens on your block?
By MATT KIELTYKA, 24 HOURS
Backyard hens are making their way up city council's pecking order.
Following their meeting Wednesday night, the Vancouver Food Policy Council will pitch council to change city bylaws to allow residents to raise chickens at home for food.
"There is a lot of interest around this issue," said Trish Kelly of the food policy council.
"It goes with the trend of eating local food and having things like community gardens."
Coun. Andrea Reimer sees it as a great way for people to access local food.
"Obviously it's not for everybody, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't want as much food produced within city limits as possible," she said.
"I've casually spoken with most of the councillors and they're broadly supportive of the concept."
Chickens in The News- Backyard Chickens a hot topic!
Submitted by vfpc on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 04:06
Tags: Backyard Chicken, Chicken, City, Community, Council, Food, Local Food, Policy, Report, Residents, Urban Farmer, Vancouver, VFPC
http://andreareimer.typepad.com/in_the_news/2009/01/courier-playing-chic...
January 21, 2009
COURIER: Playing Chicken
Jeff Nield
Vancouver Courier
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
From curbside on a brisk autumn morning on a quiet Mount Pleasant block just west of Main Street, a neatly kept house gives no hint that illegal activity is taking place out back. But, in a city rife with well concealed grow-ops, local residents know that looks can be deceiving. Mary, the retired owner of the property, is as non-threatening as her house, and on first impression she wouldn't fit anyone's stereotype of a lawbreaker.
Go Toronto!- Toronto's local food procurement policy
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 00:53
Tags: Big Smoke, City, Council, Daycares, Environment, Farmers, Greenbelt, Local Food, Ontario, Petition, Policy, Postcards, Seniors Homes, Shelters, Toronto
We may have to come up with a new nickname for the Big Smoke, as Toronto makes tangible policy changes to address carbon emmissions related to the food system.
It's a good thing that creating a just and sustainable food system is not a contest, because Toronto would be one up on Vancouver with this recent policy shift...
In case you missed it, on October 30th, Toronto City Council unanimously adopted a local food procurement policy and implementation plan. Council adopted Toronto Environmental Alliance’s suggested amendment and agreed to develop a plan to achieve an aggressive 50% local food purchasing target as soon as possible! This means it is now the policy of Toronto to progressively increase the percentage of local food it buys for its daycares, shelters and seniors’ homes.
Upcoming Community Event: Growing Food in the City
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 00:25
This new course offered in Victoria & Burnaby teaches essential Permaculture and organic gardening techniques in a practical, hands-on way. No prior education or experience required.
Courses start:
BURNABY: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
VICTORIA: Monday, February 23, 2009
Free info sessions:
BURNABY - Monday, January 12, 2009 - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Burnaby Central School, 4938 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C.
VICTORIA - Monday, January 12, 1009, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., Glendale Gardens (Horticulture Center of the Pacific), 505 Quayle Road, Victoria, B.C.
For more information Visit http://www.gaiacollege.ca/public/programs/food/index.php
Upcoming Event: Community Kitchen Leadership Workshop in Vancouver
Submitted by vfpc on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 00:21
Community Kitchen Leadership Workshop in Vancouver
Date: Thursday, Jan 29th
Time: 9:30-2:30 pm
Cost: $25.00 for community members & $45 for agency representatives
Location: Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave., Vancouver
During this one-day workshop you will have the opportunity to find out more about community kitchens, different ways a group can work and how you can lead or start a community kitchen.
To register or for more information: Contact Lynn Leong, lynnl@foodbank.bc.ca, 604-876-0659 ext 105
The next Food Policy Council meeting is Wednesday January 14th
Submitted by vfpc on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 05:51
Tags: Community, Council, Food, Food Security, Local Food, Meeting, Policy, Regional Coordinator, Vancouver
The next Food Policy Council meeting will be
Wednesday January 14th 6-8:30 pm
Strathcona Room at City Hall
We have a packed agenda, as usual, and guests are welcome.
Claire Gram, Regional Coordinator of Vancouver Coastal Health's Healthy Communities & Community Food Security program will be presenting about what VCH is up to.
By making sure that all people, at all times, have access to adequate amounts of safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate foods, produced in an environmentally sustainable way and provided in a manner that promotes dignity*, Vancouver Coastal Health is working towards a healthier tomorrow for communities, families and individuals.
Vancouver Coastal Health is working in partnership with communities across the region to address food security issues. Currently, there are 8 local Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI) committees in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
