food security

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor, holding a seedling, says Tree Appreciation Day on Nov. 6 will offer attendees Indigenous plant knowledge and a chance to get their hands dirty. (Black Press Media file photo)

Central Saanich’s Tree Appreciation Day digs into Indigenous knowledge

Nov. 6 event includes planting of native shrubs, edible fruit trees by community members

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor, holding a seedling, says Tree Appreciation Day on Nov. 6 will offer attendees Indigenous plant knowledge and a chance to get their hands dirty. (Black Press Media file photo)
The last grocery store in Gold River closed in 2016. John McKinley File Photo

Hungry Gold River hopes it’s close to its 1st grocery store in 5 years

Town pursuing a c0-op, last grocery store closed in 2016

The last grocery store in Gold River closed in 2016. John McKinley File Photo
A traditional salmon barbecue on Newcastle Island near Nanaimo. Black Press File Photo

Indigenous Food Sovereignty helps with wellness, and sense of identity

Goal is to ‘reclaim decision making power’ — Indigenous Health Dietitian

A traditional salmon barbecue on Newcastle Island near Nanaimo. Black Press File Photo
Volunteers tend to fruit trees and surrounding plants in the Vic West community orchard. The City of Victoria is offering new start-up grants to eligible community organizations for the establishment of neighbourhood gardens. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Victoria offers start-up cash for new community gardens

Funding available to help underserved neighbourhoods create local food source

  • Sep 25, 2021
Volunteers tend to fruit trees and surrounding plants in the Vic West community orchard. The City of Victoria is offering new start-up grants to eligible community organizations for the establishment of neighbourhood gardens. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Langford’s first Little Free Pantry saw a total turnover of product in its first week. (Courtesy of Kevin Clark)

Little Free Pantry in Langford provides discrete support for people in need

Anonymous streetside food bank sees complete turnover of donated, taken goods in first week

Langford’s first Little Free Pantry saw a total turnover of product in its first week. (Courtesy of Kevin Clark)
Lois Ainey, parish administrator for St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, is part of a team delivering food to individuals who are homeless, food insecure or both twice a week to locations around Sidney, including here at Iroquois Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney church making edible connections with homeless population

St. Andrew’s Anglican launches Friends of St. Andrew food program

Lois Ainey, parish administrator for St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, is part of a team delivering food to individuals who are homeless, food insecure or both twice a week to locations around Sidney, including here at Iroquois Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Clarice Dillman (left) and Kim Cummins are excited about their new community kitchen on Cedar Hill Road. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Renovations provide cozy new space for Saanich community kitchen

New Cedar Hill Road location opens to provide healthy food options for those in need

Clarice Dillman (left) and Kim Cummins are excited about their new community kitchen on Cedar Hill Road. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps locals and travellers find fresh produce markets near them. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps Greater Victoria residents find nearby sites

Market operators encourage residents to shop local as social restrictions ease

The B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps locals and travellers find fresh produce markets near them. (Black Press Media file photo)
Nathan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, right, looks on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, addresses members of his cabinet and members of the ICPC Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, in Ottawa on Friday, March 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

National strategy calls on Canada to address Inuit food security crisis

Strategy specifically looks at support for families and children, food security programs and interventions

Nathan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, right, looks on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, addresses members of his cabinet and members of the ICPC Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, in Ottawa on Friday, March 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
A report on food security in Sooke reveals that nearly 15 per cent of people in Sooke have trouble getting food on the table. (The Canadian Press)

Food security a growing challenge in Sooke

‘This isn’t going to get any better if we don’t do anything about it’

A report on food security in Sooke reveals that nearly 15 per cent of people in Sooke have trouble getting food on the table. (The Canadian Press)
Every day, boxes of unsalable food gets donated from grocery stores, reducing the amount of food that goes to the landfill. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror.

Keeping food out of Vancouver Island landfills just might save the planet

Food waste is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and it doesn’t have to be

Every day, boxes of unsalable food gets donated from grocery stores, reducing the amount of food that goes to the landfill. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror.
A Victoria parks staffer turns compost made from organics collected in the parks. Piles of this steaming, nutrient-rich stuff will be handed out between April 12-18. (Zoë Ducklow/News Staff)

Victoria shovels free home-made compost out to gardeners

Ideal for prepping food gardens, the compost, mulch and wood chips will be at city parks for pick up

A Victoria parks staffer turns compost made from organics collected in the parks. Piles of this steaming, nutrient-rich stuff will be handed out between April 12-18. (Zoë Ducklow/News Staff)
Bill C-283 would establish a National Food Waste Awareness Day. File photo

Anti-Food Waste bill introduced by North Island-Powell River MP

Bill would establish awareness day, ask Minister of Agriculture to work towards ending food waste

Bill C-283 would establish a National Food Waste Awareness Day. File photo
Jason Austin donates 20 tonnes of produce from his Gatton House Farm to local food banks every year. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Philanthropic Island farmer donates all his farm’s produce to food banks

Central Saanich’s Jason Austin plants seeds for food security

Jason Austin donates 20 tonnes of produce from his Gatton House Farm to local food banks every year. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Good Food Boxes are packed in Gold River for people of that community. Greenways is working on expanding the program to other communities including Campbell River. Photo supplied by Greenways Land Trust

Good Food Box program coming to Campbell River

Greenways’ program will provide food to six communities in Strathcona area

Good Food Boxes are packed in Gold River for people of that community. Greenways is working on expanding the program to other communities including Campbell River. Photo supplied by Greenways Land Trust
John Edmondson, left, from Bread of Life, Colin Minions and Capt. Michael Ramsay from the Salvation Army demonstrate Port Alberni’s first community food pantry, located on Tebo Avenue outside Jericho Road Church, Jan. 22, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Free food pantry opens in Port Alberni

Volunteers will monitor the pantry to make sure it stays stocked

John Edmondson, left, from Bread of Life, Colin Minions and Capt. Michael Ramsay from the Salvation Army demonstrate Port Alberni’s first community food pantry, located on Tebo Avenue outside Jericho Road Church, Jan. 22, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The Neighbourhood Market at Saanich Baptist Church is one of 10 that provide fresh produce to people in need across Greater Victoria. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Daily free food markets offer fresh produce to Greater Victorians in need

Ten Neighbourhood Markets operate across the region

The Neighbourhood Market at Saanich Baptist Church is one of 10 that provide fresh produce to people in need across Greater Victoria. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
A customer shops at a meat counter in a grocery store in Montreal, on Thursday, April 30, 2020. A new report from Statistics Canada suggests Canadians who dealt with food insecurity at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to perceive their mental health as poor and report anxiety symptoms than those who did not. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Food insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic linked to poor mental health: StatCan

‘Food insecurity in itself can be a stressful experience’

A customer shops at a meat counter in a grocery store in Montreal, on Thursday, April 30, 2020. A new report from Statistics Canada suggests Canadians who dealt with food insecurity at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to perceive their mental health as poor and report anxiety symptoms than those who did not. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
A volunteer assists with Greenways Land Trust’s fruit tree project 2020 in August in Campbell River. As part of Strathcona Good Food Box program, Greenways Land Trust will also look at incorporating produce from their fruit tree project in the boxes. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror.

Conservation organization launches ‘food boxes’ for northern Vancouver Island communities

With Strathcona Good Food Box program, Greenways Land Trust aims to increase accessibility to fresh produce in remote communities

A volunteer assists with Greenways Land Trust’s fruit tree project 2020 in August in Campbell River. As part of Strathcona Good Food Box program, Greenways Land Trust will also look at incorporating produce from their fruit tree project in the boxes. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror.
The cover photo of an emergency food and nutrition strategy prepared for the City of Nanaimo’s health and housing task force. (Maddy Koch photo/City of Nanaimo)

City of Nanaimo will consider the creation of a food policy council

Working group says new arm’s-length body could help with food security in the region

The cover photo of an emergency food and nutrition strategy prepared for the City of Nanaimo’s health and housing task force. (Maddy Koch photo/City of Nanaimo)