ADVOCACY

  • November 26
    HOLIDAY MEALS AND LESSONS FROM THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Dignified Food Access, Downtown Eastside Kitchen Tables, News, Resources // November 26, 2018

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    Last year, chefs in the Downtown Eastside reported many challenges associated with their annual holiday meals. We heard stories of food waste and efforts to put on dignified experiences being hampered by the many ‘parachute’ groups that drop into the community and serve meals–often fast food–on the street.

    DTES Kitchen Tables’
    Holiday Meal List

    Neighbourhood Food Network member DTES Kitchen Tables Project sees the distribution of the holiday meal list as an opportunity not only to inform community members on where to find holiday meals but also for people serving meals to make more informed decision on when and where to do so.

    Here, we share the updated meal list for the 2018/19 holiday season in the Downtown Eastside. Please share with anyone you know who might be organizing a “one-time” meal or distributing food in the Downtown Eastside in the coming months.

    DTES Holiday Meal List 2018Download

    We are also sharing Vancouver Coastal Health’s DTES Food Standards to help guide those who wish to create a more nutritious and dignified holiday meal experience.

    Note: Updated on December 5, 2018. 
    Thank you to those who sent in feedback and corrections for the Holiday Meal List. Dounia Saeme of DTES Kitchen Tables has updated this list to reflect changes and additions. 

  • PHOTOS: WILD SALMON CARAVAN 2018

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Food Justice, Gordon Neighbourhood House, Grandview Woodland Food Connection, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Strathcona Community Centre // October 5, 2018

    Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks participated in this year’s Wild Salmon Caravan parade on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

    This is an annual event organized by the Working Group for Indigenous Food Sovereignty in partnership with over 100 local organizations from Vancouver through Chase, B.C. It is also the kick off event for Sustenance Festival, a local community-based food, art, and culture festival.

    Photo by Gary Haggquist, Wild Salmon Caravan

    The Wild Salmon Caravan festivities began in downtown Vancouver, or what is known as Xwenelmexw on unceded Coast Salish territories.

    The Wild Salmon Caravan Parade

    Hundreds of people gathered in the streets to celebrate the beauty and resilience of wild salmon as an Indigenous food source, and a significant cultural and ecological keystone species.

    Chants of “Wild Salmon Forever!” were accompanied by colourful costumes, mermaid tails, mythical sea creatures, parade floats, bike floats, banners, and artful decor with an homage to wild salmon.

    Photo by Murray Bush, Wild Salmon Caravan

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  • WILD SALMON CARAVAN PARADE KICKS OFF

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Events, Food Justice, Indigenous Food Sovereignty // September 17, 2018

    The fourth annual Wild Salmon Caravan Parade is happening in Vancouver this weekend. You’re invited to join in the celebration!


    Wild Salmon Caravan is an annual celebration that celebrates wild salmon and follows  their journey as they migrate from the Salish Sea to the Adams River in Chase, BC.

    The Wild Salmon Caravan parade and ceremony begins in downtown Vancouver. This celebrations will be led by Indigenous Matriarchs and traditional hand drummers and singers from diverse cultural groups. The parade will feature artistic floats, elaborate regalia, costumes, and banners. A full program of performances and speakers will follow with an exhibit of salmon leather making. (more…)

  • MARCH 10 & 20: POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY CONSULTATIONS

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, Events, News, Poverty Reduction // February 26, 2018

    The cause of local food insecurity is deeply intertwined with the roots of poverty. As individuals and families in Vancouver are increasingly unable to afford the rising cost of living, they are forced to make hard decisions about their food choices. While empowering people with skills and knowledge is important, we must also address the many root causes that contribute to food insecurity.

    Community pressure has pushed the government to commit to a poverty reduction strategy. Now we need community action to ensure that it’s a strong plan with legislated targets and timelines. You can be a part of this effort to make BC’s government take action against poverty.

    The BC government is currently asking British Columbian residents about what should be included in a Poverty Reduction Strategy. It’s now more important than ever that the provincial government hear our collective voice loud and clear highlighting the pillars of a strong, comprehensive poverty reduction plan.

    Use the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition’s easy email form to send a message to the government consultations.

    They have put together a guide sharing the key messages and policies to highlight in the consultations.

    For inspiration, check out our submission here.

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  • NEWS: VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOOD FOOD NETWORKS SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROGER INMAN AWARD

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, Events, Food Justice, Migrant Justice, News, Poverty Reduction // February 8, 2018

    Nominees for the Roger Inman award: VNFN members with Raise the Rates and Sanctuary Health

    Last night, the Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks attended the CCEC Credit Union AGM as a shortlisted nominee for the Roger Inman Memorial Award, which is given annually in recognition of a project that has made a significant contribution to the economic development of the community. (more…)

  • A LETTER TO THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT & POVERTY REDUCTION

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, News, Poverty Reduction // December 22, 2017

    Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks wrote a letter to Honourable Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to address the work being done to lift those living in poverty through important systems-level change.

    This includes increasing income assistance rates and disability benefits, affordable housing (specifically supportive and social housing) affordable childcare, living wages, affordable education, and reducing marginalization.

    Read our letter to Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

    If you would like to contact Shane Simpson about this issue, you can reach his office at 250-356-7750 and sd.minister@gov.bc.ca.

     

  • RAISE THE RATES: WELFARE FOOD CHALLENGE 2017

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, Poverty Reduction // October 24, 2017

    Raise the Rates’ annual Welfare Food Challenge is starting in November 2017.

    Members of Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks will be participating in the Challenge to highlight the inadequacy of welfare rates in BC.

    The Challenge is for one week, eating only what can be purchased with $19, the amount of money a welfare recipient receives.

    Even with the $100/month raise implemented by the new BC government, this amount is not enough. A single person on welfare receives only $710/month, which provides only $19/week for food.

    With the rising cost of rent, lack of rent control, exorbitant cost of living in the city, this is only $1 more per week than the Challenge in 2016. Raise the Rates is working to raise public awareness of the extreme poverty of people on welfare; and how there needs to be more action and commitment to see rates raised so people on welfare can live with dignity.

    The Challenge will start on Wednesday, November 1st and run for a full 7 days. Participants will be expected to live on only the food they can purchase with $19 dollars.  This calculation is based on the expectation that welfare recipients will have to pay rent and damage deposit, bus tickets and cell phone (necessary to look for work and contact the welfare office) and personal hygiene. Out of $710 there is still very little money left for food.

    If you would like to participate, you can sign up online. For more information about the Welfare Food Challenge, please visit welfarefoodchallenge.org or contact Kell Gerlingt at raise.the.rates17[at]gmail.com or 778.871.0141.

     

    Follow our Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Network participants on their blogs, linked here. 

     

  • WILD SALMON CARAVAN – VANCOUVER PARADE

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, Events, Indigenous Food Sovereignty // October 12, 2017

    In case you missed it, check out the spectacular photos of the Wild Salmon Caravan parade from Saturday, October 7, 2017.

    Drumming, regalia, costumes, floats, signs, banners and more all express our love for, celebration of, and deep concern to protect Wild Salmon. Led by Salish Matriarchs, the parade started at the Native Friendship Centre and walked up Commercial Drive to Trout lake where a salmon ceremony was held at the lake then followed by an amazing salmon feast, speakers, and performances.

    This initiative was supported by our Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks, including Grandview Woodlands Food Connection, Cedar Cottage Food Network, and Little Mountain-Riley Park Food Network.

    All photos by Murray Rankin. Read the full blog post on the Grandview Woodlands Food Connection blog.

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  • FOOD + MIGRANT JUSTICE IN RENFREW COLLINGWOOD

    AUTHOR: // CATEGORY: Advocacy, Events, Food Justice, Migrant Justice, Neighbourhood Food Networks, Renfew Collingwood Food Security Institute // September 17, 2017

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    Our local Neighbourhood Food Networks are doing amazing work all across the city!

    This month, check out the work that our local Neighbourhood Food Network Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute is doing around themes of migrant + food justice and celebration.

    For more updates on the Renfrew-Collingwood Food Security Institute, follow them on Facebook & WordPress

     

    Movie Night: Migrant Dreams

    Join our local Neighbourhood Food Network Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute for a film screening of MIGRANT DREAMS, a powerful documentary on Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

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