Food Insecurity in Canada: Readings and Resources

Food Insecurity in Canada

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Koc, M., Sumner, J., & Winson, A. (2020). Critical Perspectives in Food Studies. London, Oxford University Press Academic Canada. 

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/critical-perspectives-in-food-studies/9780199019618-item.html?ikwid=critical+perspectives+in+food+studies&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=1#algoliaQueryId=a78ab675fe40e5b6ffce0b87f2d72213

Critical Perspectives in Food Studies highlights the shifting interpretations, perspectives, challenges, governance issues, and future vision that shape the study of food and food issues in Canada and around the world. Chapter 15 highlights the origins and consequences of and responses to food insecurity in Canada.

Household Food Insecurity in Canada – PROOF. The University of Toronto. 

https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/

Proof highlights household food insecurity in Canada and the various issues around food access and availability. Proof also expands upon the policy action needed to tackle the root cause of food insecurity and explains how the poverty reduction strategy introduced in Newfoundland and Labrador cut the prevalence of food insecurity in half.

Food Security Initiatives in Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2019). The Food Policy for Canada. Government of Canada. 

https://agriculture.canada.ca/sites/default/files/legacy/pack/pdf/fpc_20190614-en.pdf

The federal government created the Food Policy for Canada. The policy described the work being done across the country and many government departments to build a healthier and more sustainable food system. The policy also supports local farmers, producers and food businesses.

Chebucto. (n.d.). Chebucto Family Centre: A Service of the Home of the Guardian Angel. Chebuctofamilycentre.ca.  

http://chebuctofamilycentre.ca/

The Chebucto Family Center is a local family center in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The center offers various community-based programs and services, including community and wellness programs, prenatal and parenting programs, children and youth programs, and volunteer doula programs.

Food Banks Canada. (2021).

https://foodbankscanada.ca/

Food Banks Canada is a national charitable organization that supports a network of provincial associations, affiliated food banks and food agencies that work at the community level to relieve hunger. Food Bank Canada provides partners with food donations, grants, programs, and benefits.

Second Harvest - Food Rescue Charity In Canada 

https://www.secondharvest.ca/

Second Harvest works to rescue food before it ends up in landfills. They work with thousands of food businesses across the supply chain and reduce the amount of edible food waste through redistribution, research, education, innovation and collaboration.

Community Food Centers Canada 

https://cfccanada.ca/en/Home  

Community Food Centers Canada works to build community centers and programs in low-income communities where the prevalence of food insecurity is high. Programs are aimed to combat poverty, food insecurity and poor health. Core programs include healthy food access, food skills, education and engagement, FoodFit, and Market Greens.

Breakfast Club of Canada 

https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/

Breakfast Club Canada works with schools and hundreds of community organizations across Canada to provide food, funding, equipment, support, training and delivery services.

The Salvation Army in Canada. 

https://salvationarmy.ca/what-we-do/food-services/

Salvation Army provides food through food services, community meals, food banks and school meals. Salvation Army also provides additional community programming and support, such as shelter support, social services, and emergency disaster services.  

La Tablée des Chefs. 

https://www.tableedeschefs.org/en/

La Tablée des Chefs works to feed and educate youth about nutrition and culinary skills. La Tablée des Chefs offers a variety of programs, including the food recovery program, the food preparation project, the kitchen brigades program, the cook up your future culinary training program, and the culinary summer camp.

School Nutrition Programs in Canada:

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The Coalition for Healthy School Food.

https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca/national-organizations  

The National Coalition for Healthy School Food is an organization that is seeking federal investment for a Universal Healthy Food Program. In addition, the various food organizations located across the country that partner with school feedings programs are listed.

Student Nutrition Program. Government of Ontario. 

https://www.ontario.ca/page/student-nutrition-program

The Student Nutrition Program in Ontario provides nutritious foods through breakfast, lunch and snack programs. The program is available to all children and youth at each program sit across Ontario.

Ontario School Nutrition Programs.

https://studentnutritionontario.ca/

Student Nutrition Ontario collaborates with local community partners to fund student nutrition programs across Ontario.

First Nations Nutrition Program - First Nations Hunger. Canadian Feed the Children 

https://canadianfeedthechildren.ca/ways-to-help/fundraising-campaigns/first-nations-nutrition/

Canadian Feed the Children works with local partners to fund school breakfast, lunch and snack programs in First Nation communities across Canada.

Kids Eat Smart Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador 

https://www.kidseatsmart.ca/

Kids Eat Smart is a charity that supports school-aged children in Newfoundland and Labrador through nutrition programs. Volunteers and community centers run school programs. All kids in the province are eligible to sign up for free.

PEI School Food Program 

https://www.peischoolfood.org/

PEI School Food provides healthy food to school-aged children through food programs. PEI School Food also develops and delivers food literacy curriculums.

Nourish | non-profit organization | Healthy Eating for Children 

https://www.nourishns.ca/

Nourish is a non-profit initiative in Nova Scotia that works to empower children and youth with the knowledge and skills to make an informed decisions about food. Nourish has also implemented a School Nutrition Program across the province and provides free meals to students. Nourish also provides other nutrition programs such as Nourish Your Roots and Grow Eat Learn.

Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba.  

https://childnutritioncouncil.com/

The Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba is a charitable organization that supports meal and snack programs in the province by providing funding and food donations to schools. The organization also helps decision-makers develop food and health policies in the province.

Saskatchewan Nutrition Program. Canadian Child & Youth Nutrition Program Network 

http://feedtomorrow.ca/home/members/saskatchewan

There is no school nutrition program implemented in Saskatchewan. However, the Canadian Child & Youth Nutrition Program Network (CCYNP) works with REACH in Regina to provide funding and support to 16 different organizations and school breakfast, lunch, snack, and supper programs.

School Nutrition Program. Government of Alberta 

https://www.alberta.ca/school-nutrition-program.aspx

The Government of Alberta has implemented a provincial school nutrition program that provides participating students with a daily meal that follows the Alberta nutrition guidelines for children and youth.

Meal Programs. Government of British Columbia 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-safe-schools/good-news/meal-programs

The Government of British Columbia has implemented a provincial school nutrition program. The different school districts and schools participating in the program are listed.

School Food & Breakfast Program. Yukon Food for Learning Association 

http://www.yukonfoodforlearning.ca/about.shtml

The Yukon Food for Learning Association (YFFLA) supports child nutrition programs in Yukon and raises funds for schools across the territory.

Healthy Foods for Learning. Government of Northwest Territories 

https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/services/education-renewal/healthy-foods-learning

The Government of Northwest Territories provides annual funding through the department of education, culture and employment to schools to fund healthy snack and meal programs.

Meal Programs. Food First Foundation.

https://foodfirst.ca/our-programs/

The FoodFIRST Foundation supports nutrition education programs implemented in schools across the Northwest Territories by funding select schools.

Land Reform in Canada

Lands and Claims. Assembly of First Nations 

https://www.afn.ca/policy-sectors/lands-claims/

The Assembly of First Nations is a national organization representing First Nations people across Canada. Their website contains information about the different land claims in Canada and the claim process.

Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Canada. Paris, OECD Publishing.  

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/fc2b28b3-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/fc2b28b3-en#:~:text=Indeed%2C%20while%20representing%204.9%25%20of,the%20total%20landmass%20of%20Canada.

The book Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Canada provides valuable information on land reform within Canada and the importance of land tenure, empowerment of Indigenous people, and various opportunities to build the capacity of Indigenous groups. Chapter 3 talks about the importance of land for indigenous economic development.