Local Food Plans:
Lessons from Other Communities
plus dialogue on the regional food system strategy in metro vancouver
part of the gaining ground conference: eco-logical. the power of green cities to shape the future
Concerns about food— its impacts on our health; its inaccessibility to many low income people; its vulnerability to climate change, soil erosion, water shortages and rising fuel prices; demand for local food; its role in creating new jobs; and the need for farmers to be able to make a decent living—have vaulted food strategies up the public policy priority list. Find out how Toronto, Portland and California are planning to transform local food production, distribution and land use.
In the second half of the afternoon, help shape Metro Vancouver’s Regional Food System Strategy. Over the past two years, representatives from all levels of government, the agriculture and food industry, community organizations and the public have provided valuable input on how to make our food system more sustainable, resilient and healthy. At this session, after a brief presentation on the draft Regional Food System Strategy for Metro Vancouver, participants will break into discussion groups and be asked for their feedback. The presentation on lessons learned from other communities from the previous session should provide food for thought for these discussions. Results will be used to refine the Strategy and clarify key areas for collaboration.
sibella kraus, president/director, sage (sustainable aGRICULTURE EDUCATION), BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
Sibella Kraus is president and director of SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture Education), whose primary mission is to revitalize urban edge agriculture. Sibella also directs Agriculture in Metropolitan Regions, at the UC Berkeley Global Metropolitan Studies Center, which engages faculty, students and practitioners in issues affecting the urban-rural interface.
Prior to forming SAGE, Sibella created the acclaimed San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market, as founder and director of the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) and its predecessor organization, the San Francisco Public Market Collaborative. In the 1980s, she developed an organic and specialty produce department for a San Francisco produce wholesaler. In the early 80’s, Sibella was a cook at Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse Restaurant. Throughout her career, Sibella has also worked as a print and television journalist covering regional food and agriculture for the San Francisco Chronicle and NBC-TV.
Dr. david mckeown, medical officer of health for the city of toronto
Dr. McKeown championed Cultivating Food Connections: Toward a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto, described by the Globe and Mail as “the most ambitious attempt yet by any Canadian city to reform a local food system.” The report proposes a new vision for Toronto’s food, one that unites health and city building. The report has 29 initiatives that promise to create a culture of “food systems thinking” within municipal government, linked to the many players who comprise the urban food supply chain. Dr. McKeown leads Toronto Public Health, Canada’s largest local public health agency, which provides public health programs and services for 2.6 million residents. He is a physician specialist who has worked in the public health field for 25 years.
judy shiprack, multomah county commissioner, portland, oregon
Commissioner Shiprack brings her dedication for community vitality and social equity to her leadership of the Multnomah Food Initiative. On May 1st 2010 she hosted 250 leaders from across the food system for a summit focused on creating a sustainable and equitable local food system. The key outcome of the Multnomah Food Initiative will be a community-owned action plan for a local food system. This plan is being developed through an extensive partnership with local government, business, farmers and non-profits. Commissioner Shiprack developed her passion for gardening and local food while tending the gardens of UC Santa Cruz. She is a former high school teacher, lawyer and deputy district attorney. She received the Oregon State Bar Association President’s Public Service Award, and was also recognized for her legislative voting record by the Women’s Rights Coalition and the Oregon Environmental Council. Following her legislative service, she created a not-for-profit affordable housing development corporation and for the next 10 years worked to create low income housing opportunities.
moderator: peter ladner, fellow, sfu centre for dialogue
Peter Ladner is a Fellow of the SFU Centre for Dialogue, writing a book on Planning Cities as if Food Matters. He is a former Vancouver City Councillor, Metro Vancouver director, and publisher of Business in Vancouver newspaper.
Join us for Gaining Ground 2010
EcoLogical: The Power of Green Cities to Shape the Future
October 4-7, 2010
At the downtown campuses of BCIT and SFU, Vancouver, BC
For 2010, the Gaining Ground urban sustainability conference chooses ecological work over ecological worry, and delivers an exceptional three-day conference themed around three crucial subjects: policy and industry buy-in; green economy; and complete community design and human health and well-being.
For more information about Gaining Ground and to register, please visit our website or email info@gaininggroundsummit.com
tuesday, october 5
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
580 West Hastings Street
(enter from Seymour Street)
Vancouver, BC (map)
wednesday, october 6
(repeat session of tuesday)
Compass Point Inn Hotel
9855 King George Highway
Surrey, BC (map)
Location is 100 metres from the King George Skytrain station.
Program (for both days)
2-4pm Local Food Plans: Lessons from Other Communities
4-4:30pm Refreshment Break
4:30-6:30pm Dialogue on the Regional Food System Strategy in Metro Vancouver
registration
These events are free, however pre-registration is required. Please ensure you are registering for the correct session.
Tuesday, October 5
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
2-4pm Local Food Plans: Lessons from Other Communities
This session is now FULL. Sign up for our Surrey session below!
4:30-6:30pm Dialogue on the Regional Food System Strategy in Metro Vancouver
This session is now FULL. Sign up for our Surrey session below!
Wednesday, October 6
Compass Point Inn Hotel
9855 King George Highway, Surrey
2-4pm Local Food Plans: Lessons from Other Communities
Space is still available!
Register here
4:30-6:30pm Dialogue on the Regional Food System Strategy in Metro Vancouver
Space is still available!
Register here
Contact us
Phone: 778.782.7893
Email: ugsid@sfu.ca
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