The Collaborative Education Lab (Co-LAB) at the Institute for Equity and Advancement at Columbia College recently provided funding for an event focused on food justice in Vancouver. This funding falls under the Community Development Accelerator category, aligned with the college's commitment to community engagement and social progress. Co-LAB projects in this category that involve newcomer students are made possible thanks to the support of the TD Bank Group.
The event, titled "Vancouver Food Justice City Dialogue," took place on February 9, 2024. It featured presentations from eleven experts, both with lived experience and professional backgrounds, who addressed critical topics such as Indigenous food systems, preservation of cultural food assets, urban agriculture support, community food security enhancement, and strategies for reducing food waste.
Organized by the Vancouver Food Justice Coalition, the dialogue aimed to amplify community voices and catalyze political change. Against the backdrop of multiple crises in food systems, including issues of food insecurity, climate impacts, and urban development pressures, the informative event highlighted the need for community-led engagement and action.
The event attracted participation from the Attorney General of BC, Niki Sharma, local municipal politicians, and the wider community. Attendees described the event as a platform for powerful storytelling, with speakers sharing compelling narratives that humanized the complexities of the food system. The dialogue emphasized the significance of local knowledge and lived experiences in shaping policies and initiatives aimed at fostering food justice.
To learn more about the insights shared during the dialogue and access speaker recordings, please visit the blog post on the Vancouver Food Justice Coalition's website: Vancouver Food Justice City Dialogue Event Recap.
