Just Food Newsletter - A Delicious Call to Action
Just Food
Newsletter – A Call to Action
Big opportunities are afoot right now for all of us in Ottawa who care about
building a just and sustainable food system.
Please take the time to read and act upon the following important calls to action
AND PASS ON THE INFORMATION THROUGH YOUR NETWORKS.
It’s a great time to be a just foodie!
1. Food for All: An Ottawa Community Response – Starting Monday Nov 9
2. People’s Food Policy Project – November 24
3. Support for Ottawa Farmers’ Market – Re. Landsdowne – Needed NOW
1. Food for All: An Ottawa Community Response
There are so many food programs in the City now aimed at addressing food issues
that it’s time to take the next step:
Hello supporters of Just Food: You are invited to join in Food for All, a project led by Just Food and University of Ottawa, and supported by the Ottawa Food Bank, Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres, Ottawa Public Health and Carleton University, which aims to develop, with broad community participation, municipal level food policies that build towards a just and sustainable food system here in Ottawa.
We will focus on:
· Food insecurity and health (incl. Community food programs, food banks, etc.)
· Physical access to food (incl.: food retail environments, food deserts, transportation, etc.)
· Food access in schools
· Food production in urban areas (incl. community gardening, NCC Greenbelt Farming, etc.)
· Food production in rural areas
...and other areas that you have an interest in related to the municipal level.
There are concrete ways that we are seeking community involvement:
Please attend one of the following sessions to find out how you and your community/organization can participate in Food for All:
English Sessions:
Monday, November 9, 2009
Pinecrest Queensway CHC
1365 Richmond Road, Ottawa
10:00am to 12:00pmRoom 304 ABC
Thursday, November 19, 2009
McNabb Community Centre
180 Percy St, Ottawa
2:00pm to 4:00pmCommunity Room
French Session:
Tuesday November 17, 2009
Richelieu-Vanier Centre
300 Des Pères Blancs Ave., Ottawa
2:30pm to 4:30pm
Salle d’Accueil Hall
Please contact Paul Slomp at paul@justfood.ca or 613 236 9300 ext 301 for more information about this project or look for more details about further workshop dates on www.justfood.ca
2. People’s Food Policy Project
An invite to all Just Foodies, with an extra push to also invite all of you who work on federal level issues – now’s the time we need everyone to come together and spell out what it is we want to see:
Just Food is participating in a very exciting national project called the People’s Food Policy Project which is building Canada’s first comprehensive food policy at the federal level.
Just Food Kitchen Table Meeting:
Just Food will be facilitating a kitchen table meeting to help feed policy ideas from Ottawans into the Peoples’ Food Policy Project.
You are invited because you care about our food system!
When: Tuesday November 24th 7pm to 9pm
Where: Downtown – exact location will be shared when you RSVP
RSVP: Contact Paul at paul@justfood.ca or 613 236 9300 ext. 301
This kitchen table is part of the first phase of the project, which is gathering initial policy ideas before December 1st.
For more information on the process, and the principles of food sovereignty that this policy project is based on, please visit
Pamphlets on the principles of food sovereignty are available for download as conversation starters in your organizations, communities.
There is also a template for submitting proposals directly – if you or your organization would like some assistance in filling one of these in, please call us!
What if I can’t make the meeting but want to be involved?
Please contact Paul (613-236-9300 x301) or Moe (613-236-9300 x311) at Just Food. We are both animators for the Ottawa region on this project, and we will get you connected.
Building policy from the ground up!
In the first phase of the project, policy ideas will be collected (November – 2009) and summarized (December 2009 – March 2010). In phase two (April – November 2010), the draft policy platform will be the base for discussions in communities and with diverse stakeholders in the food system, to ensure that it addresses the needs of the peoples of Canada. These deliberations will feed into the final version of the People’s Food Policy, to be launched in November 2010 at the Food Secure Canada conference, which will be held in Montreal, Quebec.
3. Support for Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Landsdowne Needed Now
The Ottawa Farmers’ Market has many concerns about the Landsdowne Partnership Plan, and their Board is asking all those who support them to contact their local Councillor and let them know you support the Ottawa Farmers’ Markets requests (listed below.)
This is critical to do before November 12.
Ottawa Farmers’ Market has done an incredible job of revitalizing the value of farmers’ markets through its continued dedication to producer-based, producer-led models of farmers’ markets. Many new farmers and established farmers have been able to cut their teeth at this market, and build their farm stability. Just Food encourages everyone in the City to support the OFM requests.
When are decisions being made at Council?
From the City of Ottawa website: Public comments and feedback that were received by October 11 will be incorporated into the report to Committee of the Whole on November 12 and 13. Committee of the Whole will also be hearing public delegations on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. Residents who would like to make a verbal presentation on November 12 or 13 can contact Tania Mercure by phone at 613-580-2424, ext. 21801 or by e-mail at tania.mercure@ottawa.ca
Ottawa Farmers’ Market Requests:
We are asking that people support the Board and vendors of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market in their full bid for a permanent location in Landsdowne Park which is being decided within the current development proposal.
· That the Ottawa Farmers’ Market (OFM) be located at Lansdowne Park permanently.
· That the OFM be centred in the Aberdeen Pavillion and the parking lot north of it.
· That the OFM agree to a long-term lease for full management of the portion of Lansdowne Park based on conditions similar to those for the Byward Market.
· That the OFM take on all costs of running and maintaining the above mentioned portion of Lansdowne Park with an agreed upon formula for returning part of the profits to the City of Ottawa.
· That the OFM occupation of this space be phased in as the number of producers and customers at the Market grows. The City could continue to rent the space as long as it is not needed by the OFM.
· If the Lansdowne Live development plan is approved by the City that the OFM lease be directly with the City for a period of time equal to the other leases on Lansdowne Park.
From the Ottawa Farmers’ Market:
· The best location for the highly successful and popular Ottawa Farmers’ Market is Lansdowne Park. Their tremendous growth in the first four years shows that sufficient space is needed in a permanent location to provide for present and future demand. Analysis of the options indicates that the Aberdeen Pavillion and the parking lot north of it would provide an appropriate permanent location that is easily accessible from all parts of Ottawa, including bus and walk in traffic.
· Support for the Ottawa Farmers’ Market from the citizens of Ottawa, community groups, the media and politicians has been strong from the beginning and continues to grow.
· The City will have a jewel in Ottawa Farmers’ Market without the complications of running a farmers’ market and the expense of running the Aberdeen Pavillion. It will receive income from the lease arrangement.
· The Ottawa Farmers’ Market Association would administer the Market in the best interests of customers and producers in the Ottawa area.
· The heritage status of the Aberdeen Pavilion would be protected and used in a manner that is close to the structures historic roots. The Horticulture Building’s heritage status would be properly protected.
· Businesses in the area would benefit from the shopping oriented crowd visiting the Market
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Although all members and community partners of Just Food want to ensure Ottawa becomes food secure, we have many diverse perspectives on how to get there. Just
