Food for All is a community and university partnership led by Just Food and the University of Ottawa and has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This 2 year project is aiming to create the space and supporting structures necessary to allow the Ottawa community to pull together an Ottawa food action plan and community food assessment toolkit.
Food for All was born out of the perfect conditions in Ottawa for the development of a community driven food action plan: there is a NEED, we have KNOWLEDGE and EXPERTISE, and there is an ENTHUSIASM around food and what is possible.
Community need
People throughout Ottawa are feeling the crunch of a food system that needs attention. Examples of this need range from food producers in rural areas finding it difficult to make ends meet to increasing numbers of people in Ottawa turning to the food bank to meet their food needs.
Community and University knowledge and expertise
For years, workers at community agencies, community developers, service providers, community councils and organizations have been working to address food issues in their communities and through this work have developed considerable knowledge, experience and expertise in this area. Academic researchers have also developed important research evidence on the importance of action around community food issues.
Community enthusiasm
As the media is paying more attention to the benefits of buying food locally, and people in Ottawa are becoming more aware of the issues surrounding their food, enthusiasm for addressing some of the systemic food issues is starting to grow.
Food for All, as a project, is a response to all three of these factors. The timing is right for Ottawa to address the existing need for a food action plan in this city, by harnessing the enthusiasm, the knowledge and expertise that exists in addressing food issues.
Thanks to all of our volunteers and supporters – this initiative is only as strong as our community! Everyone is welcome to be a part of the Food for All project. Contact us to find out more!