1. Sponsored and supported by:
Presented by Krystle tenBrink & Michalina Hunter
December 5th, 2017

2. Who is the Squamish Food policy council
WE are comprised of community members across a wide spectrum of food related industries/sectors (i.e. individuals, nonprofits, and for profit). We function as a bridge between citizens and civic officials, coming together to advance municipal food policy and initiatives that benefit all Squamish citizens. The SFPC meets regularly to discuss and make recommendations to affect changes to current policies, facilitate new policy development related to the food system, hear presentations by community groups and experts engaged in food issues, educate residents, stimulate dialogue, initiate projects and partnerships, and have a good time while doing it.
With the VISION that our food system will be economically viable and ecologically sustainable; our community will grow, harvest, process, preserve, and distribute food to all of its members while eliminating waste. A thriving local food culture that celebrates eating locally and eating together will support us in living healthier, happier, and richer lives connected to the land, to growers, and to each other.
20+ organizations
40+ individuals
20+ other local government food policy council we work with across BC

3. “The relationship between agriculture and human health in British Columbia (BC) is complex and multifaceted. The availability of healthy food is an important determinant of health, but only one of many connections between agriculture and health. Agriculture influences food choices and healthy eating patterns, and impacts a variety of social, environmental and economic determinants of health. In other words, agriculture’s relationship to the environment and its role as an economic driver have implications for human health”.
Source:
Agriculture’s Connection to Health: A summary of the evidence relevant to British Columbia
Provincial Health Services Authority, April 2016

4. Accomplishments to date
Brought over $50,000 in funding to advance municipal food systems
Squamish Food Charter
Establishment of the Food Policy Council
Co-host three public engagement sessions to provide input to the OCP and establish the Food Policy Council’s direction
Contributed to the OCP’s Food System Section
Capacity building with the BC Food Systems Network and other Food Policy Councils
Agriculture Land Use Inventory
Squamish - Lillooet Food Asset Map
Young Agrarians U-Map
Co-host with the Ministry of Agriculture for Agri-food Business Planning Program (Jan 23/24)
Present and participate with the Provincial Food Policy Movement
Participation with the National Food Policy Movement

5. Moving Forward
Focusing on sustaining funding for the Food Policy Council
Focusing on initiatives that lead to seismic change
Focusing on both Municipal and Regional Government initiatives (Squamish to Lillooet)
Agriculture Land Use Inventory (update from Sarah McJannet) - Field work and draft report August through November 2017.
Agriculture Plan (A community based approach not an Ag. Area Plan)
We feel that this is the perfect opportunity to move forward on a 2018 Ag. Plan. WHY?
The previous OCP and newly completed OCP support Ag. Planning
We asked in January for the DOS to support and allocate funding towards both an ALUI & Ag. Plan - both were supported to move forward.
ALUI in draft is lining us up for an Agriculture Plan
Investment Agriculture Foundation will fund up to $45,000 per area (both ALUI and Ag Plan combined). We have spend $2,500 in total
Who will take lead on initiating the Ag. Plan, funding, and execution? Our suggestion is that DOS takes lead on the initiating of the project and SLRD rolls out the project (as they have the experience from Area B & C)

6. New development piece
Many new developments are including community gardens into their plans, we want to emphasise that there are many other valuable food assets that this community has identified through the OCP process (e.g. edible landscaping, community kitchens, farm co-ops, food forests, including intangible social assets like a food policy council, etc.)
We met with DOS planners to discuss how we can integrate food assets into new development’s community space (parks) requirement. Planners indicated learning more about what other communities do and how these assets are managed (e.g. through community group, a strata, or local government)
We are currently exploring what other communities require of their developers (eg a fee per square footage for new developments that can go into a funding pot to go towards these assets, potentially on a larger scale for greater impact (e.g. a community farm/co-op))
It was recommended that we plan food assets not as a per new development, but as a neighbourhood food asset for greater impact

7. Our Asks Support and commitment for Agriculture Plan
Financial support for the Food Policy Council