Food Security

Food Security

A sustainable community food system improves the health of the community, environment and individuals over time. Many programs within Island Health provide leadership and support for food security. 

Food security means that everyone has equitable access to food that is affordable, culturally preferable, nutritious and safe; everyone has the agency to participate in, and influence food systems; and that food systems are resilient, ecologically sustainable, socially just, and honour
Indigenous food sovereignty. Food insecurity exists when factors outside an individual’s control negatively impact their access to enough foods that promote wellbeing. Economic, social, environmental, and geographical factors influence this access. Food insecurity is most acutely felt by those who experience the negative impacts of structural inequities, such as discrimination and on-going colonial practices (BC Centre for Disease Control. (2022). Defining food security and food insecurity: Vancouver, B.C.: BC Centre for Disease Control, Population Public Health).
 

Food Security Hubs

Food Security Hubs are a partnership between Island Health and community agencies that are leading food security efforts within their regions. These organizations collaborate with communities to address food security through a wide range of projects, programs and advocacy. Island Health recognizes the importance of developing community partnerships for the purposes of building community food security on Vancouver Island. The Vancouver Island Food Charter holds a vision of a just and sustainable food system in the Island region, which is rooted in healthy communities, where no one is hungry and everyone has access to nutritious and culturally acceptable food.

Island Health provides funding to these agencies to enhance their capacity to:

  • Provide leadership and support
  • Develop communication networks
  • Facilitate dialogue with neighbouring communities and municipal /regional governments, and;
  • Collaborate with Island Health and other Hubs across the Health Region. 

To learn more about the Food Security Hubs, see below and visit their websites:

Kwakiutl Health Centre

The Mount Waddington Community Foods Initiative is led by the Kwakiutl Band Council.  The Kwakiutl Health Centre has operated a fully equipped health facility in Tsaxis (the Kwakiutl Band’s Fort Rupert Reserve) since 2005.  The Centre’s vision sees health and wellness as a balance between personal, family, and community health, where relationship to the land is a focal point for a strong connection to culture, food, and relationship. The Kwakiutl Health Centre has supported the traditional Kwakiutl food ways and gardens for many years, and currently employs 2-4 staff a year to support food sovereignty and food security.

Greenways Land Trust

Greenways Land Trust has developed the Strathcona Food Network, a grassroots network aiming to foster a Healthy Food System throughout the communities of the Strathcona Regional District.  Greenways Land Trust partners with the United Way BC funded Strathcona Community Food Hub.

Greenways has supports networking between rural and remote communities to share local solutions to barriers to food access, supports the operations of community gardens in Campbell River, provides input to public consultations on food security policy development and runs a fruit tree gleaning project.

LUSH Valley Food Action Society

LUSH Valley Food Action Society works hard to support the Comox Valley community in gaining food-systems skills and knowledge to increase food security, self-sufficiency and local food production across the region. LUSH Valley’s vision is a region where healthy local food is at the heart of community wellbeing.

LUSH Valley's goal is to provide all members of the Comox Valley with the food access and skills required to feel healthy, empowered and connected to food systems and the community. LUSH Valley’s Key Focus Areas are local food access, food systems education, fresh food distribution, policy and advocacy.

Alberni Valley Food Security Society

The Alberni Valley Food Security Society is a a food focused action group that strives to strengthen the food system in the Alberni Valley.  They run the Dry Creek Community Garden, a fruit tree gleaning project, and spearhead other initiatives to increase backyard food production in the Alberni Valley.

East West Coast

Eat West Coast is a regional food security initiative of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust.  This program aims to help local communities and organizations develop effective, community-based responses to food-access challenges and increase the understanding of healthy, affordable food choices.

Nanaimo Foodshare Society

Nanaimo Foodshare Society works to increase resilience in Nanaimo’s local food system.  Nanaimo Foodshare works to increase food security by empowering community with better access, resources, skills, and knowledge.  Foodshare is a member of the NOW Network (Nanaimo-Oceanside Community Health Network) and the Nanaimo Food Security Community of Practice.

Cowichan Green Community

Cowichan Green Community CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to feed their community.  CGC is a hub for social innovation, community engagement and community building.

The Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRFAIR) supports the Capital Region through information sharing, networking, collaboration and policy development around healthy food systems in the region. CRFAIR is the backbone organization of the Good Food Network, a regional network of food system actors working collaboratively and aligning efforts towards the Good Food 2025 strategy. The Good Food Network has developed shared-impact goals and a Collective Impact Map with the aim of mobilizing efforts across three impact areas: (1) Local Food Economy, (2) Food Literacy and (3) Food Equity and Access.

Additional Resources

Island Health Indigenous Health and Food Security

Island Health's Indigenous Health Dietitians are actively involved with supporting food security in Indigenous communities.

Looking for information about food safety? Please visit our Food Safety page or contact Health Protection Environmental Services.

Additional Resources
Island Food Security Hub Collective - Food Charter