1. Engaging with Revelstoke’s Local Government
Melissa Hemphill, Food Security Coordinator
Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society

2. Our Focus
Implementation of recommendations from the Revelstoke Food Security Strategy
The Team at Community Connections:
Food Security Coordinator
Director of Community Outreach
Community Food Outreach Coordinator

3. The work is guided by a Food Security Advisory Committee with representatives from:
Interior Health
City Council
City Community Economic Development
City Environmental Coordinator
School District 19
Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Society

4. Our Funding Community Initiative Program (yearly)
Community Food Action Initiative (in year 2 of 3)

5. Making powerful friends municipal - provincial - federal

6. Municipal - City Council
Invited City Councilors to help create a Revelstoke Food Charter in 2013,
Then invited them to be on the Food Security Strategy Steering Committee in 2014,
And continue to engage with one of the same councilors through the Food Security Advisory Committee
Bi-yearly presentations to Council on food security work.

7. Municipal - City Staff
Director of Economic Development (City staff) took the momentum from the Revelstoke Food Charter to find funding (REFBC) to create the Revelstoke Food Security Strategy in 2014
Same person found funding (IH-CFAI) in 2016 for the implementation of the strategy (contracted to Com. Con.)
Their successor now sits on the Food Security Advisory Committee along with the City Environmental Coordinator

8. Municipal - Committees
Food Security Coordinator sits on the City Healthcare Advisory Committee
And on the Community Futures Board of Directors
Colleagues sit on the Poverty Reduction Working Group and the City Social Development Committee

9. Provincial Arranged meeting through the MLA’s office
Met with previous MLA, Norm Macdonald in 2015
Powerpoint presentation on the work of the Food Security Coordinator and the Local Food Initiative
Invited to community events
Will do the same with the new MLA, Doug Clovechok in coming months

10. Federal Met with our Member of Parliament, Wayne Stetski in 2017
Powerpoint presentation on the work of the Food Security Coordinator and the Local Food Initiative
Toured the community gardens and Community Connections’ new Food Recovery Program
Invite him to community events and share his petitions
He shares our work in his newsletter and website and in parliament!

12. Key
Lessons
Learned

13. Invite the people of power to the table
Meet them face-to-face
Don’t be modest - showcase your successes!
Be strategic in your involvement - join their committees that align with your work
Make their appointment to your committee official ie. through a letter to city hall requesting council representation
Stay tuned-in to government work and speak up about food issues - don’t wait for someone else to
Choose big impact, fool-proof projects that showcase your skills and ability to create change

14. What is next?
Work with City staff on the new Official Community Plan, putting food security language everywhere possible
Find the next big collaborative project that benefits a wide- range of citizens
Engage with the regional district on land use issues
Get food security work on the city books and off the backs of social service organizations

15. My big take-home message: CREATE RELATIONSHIPS!