Recent Food Security Workshop A Success

The PEI Food Security network recently held a workshop entitled “Sowing the Seeds: Food Security in Prince Edward Island”. Over 75 people came together to spend a day learning about food security from a variety of perspectives. Food security is a term that describes a situation in which all citizens have access to healthy and affordable food that has been produced in an environmentally sustainable way and has given food producers a livable income.

The morning was dedicated to exploring the concept of food security though a panel discussion with a farmer, a fisher, a dietitican, and a low income advocate. The panel gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the crisis in agriculture and fisheries, as well as the challenges citizens face in accessing healthy, affordable food. Workshop participants were invited to participate in the discussion and brought out many more perspectives .

“The goal of the day was to have everyone see themselves in the issue of food security, and the number of participants who spoke to particular concerns or challenges that they see in PEI and around the world tells us that this is work that is very much relevant and needed right now.”, notes PEI Food Security Network Coordinating Committee member, Michelle MacCallum.

The afternoon session saw participants take on food security challenges and case studies where they were challenged to find the factors that contribute to food insecurity and talk about what needs to be done. The groups had lively and deep discussions around the local food movement, understanding the evolution of our food system, building community based food systems, eating healthy without a livable income, as well as a farming and fishing case study.

“We have our next events planned for March 23 at the Murphy Community Centre and March 31 at the Murchison Centre where we will be looking at the future of farming in PEI. “There are recommendations being put forth right now that if adopted, will have a huge impact on farming in PEI. We as a food security network want to study the recommendations and see how they line up with our very real need for livable income for producers and environmentally sustainable food production. “ MacCallum states, “Citizens need to know what kinds of changes are being proposed and how they will impact Islanders and our future”.

If you are interested in the PEI Food Security Network or would more information on upcoming events, please contact Michelle at 368-5040.

An Extended Invitation

Katherine Pigott, who is active in food security work in the Waterloo region, will be in Charlottetown tomorrow, the day of our food security workshop.

She has agreed to be a keynote speaker and give a presentation on Food Security activities in Waterloo region the evening of the 24th. (See her bio below.) Other than that, the evening will provide an opportunity to network and have discussions leading up to the next days meeting. There will be snacks offered that evening as well. We will be staying in the same venue, the Murchison Centre, and will get started at about 7pm and finish at 9:30pm.

Workshop participants and anyone else interested is welcome to attend!

Katherine Pigott has worked at Region of Waterloo Public Health since March 2000. A key part of her role has been the implementation of a comprehensive local food systems planning approach in Waterloo Region as Manager of the Healthy Communities and Policy Team. Katherine has over twenty years experience in community based program development, planning, and systems change that has spanned economic development, health promotion, crime prevention, and environmental planning. Katherine is an avid cyclist, distance runner and gardener and lives in downtown Kitchener. She serves of the Steering Committee of Food Secure Canada and on the Executive of Health Promotion Ontario.

Agenda for Tuesday’s Event

Sowing the Seeds: Food Security in PEI

Tuesday, February 24th, 10am-4pm
Murchison Centre (15-17 St. Pius X Avenue, Charlottetown – off St. Peter’s Road)

Coffee break and lunch will be provided using mostly local, organic food provided by Chefs Jeff Stewart and Stephen Hunter.

9:45 – 10:00	Registration
10:00 – 10:15	Welcome
10:15 – 11:15	Panel Presentation – Various perspectives on Food Security Gerard Steele, Fisheries Steven MacKinnon, Agriculture Jennifer Taylor, Health promotion and food skills Ann Wheatley, Livable income/access to healthy food
1:15 – 12:00	Group Discussion
12:00 – 1:00	Mostly local, mostly organic Lunch
1:00 – 1:30	The Journey of Food challenge
1:30 – 2:30	Small Group work – Case Studies Local Food Challenge – can you eat local seven nights a week? Family Budgeting Challenge – can you eat healthy if you don’t have a livable income? Fisheries Case Study – exploring the challenges that lobster fishers face in PEI Farming Case Study – A family farm in peril: what can be done, what should be done? Evolution of the food system – how did eating become so complicated? Creating a community-based food system – Visioning exercise using multiple mediums It happened in Brazil – a case study of a region who reclaimed the food system and have had much success
2:30 – 2:45	Break
2:45 – 3:45	Reporting from Small Groups
3:45 – 4:00	Evaluation & wrap up

If you need any more information, please call Michelle or Sara at Women’s Network PEI 368-5040 or email us at michelle@wnpei.org