Click here for the event agenda.

Coming up on Wednesday, March 21:
FSRN's 6th Annual Food Forum

Join students, faculty, community partners and foodie friends in the Agora from 10am until 4pm on Wednesday, March 21st to explore the ways FSRN and our Community Service Learning program has been working in our community and the region. Tour student poster presentations for snapshots of their work; attend presentations for more in-depth information, and visit community partner tables to learn more abou the people we work with to help strengthen the Thunder Bay region's food system, economy and social programs. As always, we're excited and proud to showcase our efforts and looking forward to sharing with you.

For more info,download the Agenda or contact FSRN Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette at lee-ann@foodsecurityresearch.ca.

January 23, 2012:
Abattoir Update

After a visit to the dual-purpose abattoir in Dryden and interviews with small free-standing abattoirs in southern Ontario last summer we realized we had a choice to make: a simple, clean facility that would rely more on manpower versus mechanization and involve less capital investment, or a more capital-intensive plant that could be operated with just a few staff.

The supply and demand for local poultry in Thunder Bay, while not insignificant, won't support the operation of a year-round, day-in and day-out facility. In the absence of anyone in the area owning chicken quota, a poultry plant will be serving a limited number of hobby farmers and mixed farms with "exempt grower" small flocks. This means that, while there's definitely a need for a plant (without one, anyone buying locally-raised poultry is buying uninspected - and therefore, illegal - meat) we can't see a plant making enough money to get ahead of an enormous initial investment; nor could a simple labour-focused facility generate enough income to be a viable investment for a single business owner.

Instead of working on a business plan for a sole proprietorship, then, we started looking at cooperative models for business; it seemed we might have enough community interest to develop a community facility.

Last fall we were weighing the pros and cons of both the mechanized and labour options when Ken Milenko, who's been working on his own abattoir project for nearly 8 years, approached us with an offer: lease his existing, unfinished facility; complete it and have it inspected ourselves. Success would mean starting out with a mechanized plant and a manageable capital investment.

Since then we've been working with local business owner John Trevisanutto to examine Ken's facility and develop a business model for its completion, certification and operation. Provided the investment involved looks to be manageable and the facility checks out as a feasible place to start, we plan to move forward with an agreement with Mr. Milenko and the formation of a co-op ownership structure. We'll seek funding and investment and see what we can do about finishing what looks to be a really well-planned and efficient production line, and... hopefully... have something we can offer the community in 2013.

Input from the community is always welcome. If you have questions, comments or an interest in supporting this project please contact Raili Roy at weaver@foodsecurityresearch.ca.

November 16, 2011:
Shake the Hand that Feeds You

Students from Dr. Scott Pound's English 3911 Food, Writing and Community course have been busy this semester learning new writing skills and applying them in the service of local food. Divided into groups in September, students have chosen food-related projects like jumpstarting a composting program on campus, helping to promote the Thunder Bay Country Market, developing a City-supported adopt-a-lot program and, as one group demonstrated yesterday, bringing more local producers to campus to raise awareness of locally-available foods. The "Shake the Hand that Feeds You" group hosted an expo in the Agora yesterday that gave visitors the opportunity to meet farmers and crafters, make and taste local apple cider, and talk with a student dedicated to the hundred-mile diet.

Special thanks to the media attending and reporting on this event:

• the Chronicle Journal
• Thunder Bay Television
• CBC radio

October 4 - 7, 2011:
FSRN at the Northern Ontario First Nations Environment Conference

During last month's Northern Ontario First Nations Environment Conference held at Fort William Historical Park FSRN presented in partnership with Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I.) First Nation on our two-year project, the KI Traditional Garden/Farm Program. Our shared initiative seeks to reclaim local food systems, revitalize traditions associated with agriculture and develop new food and agriculture enterprises. Dr. Connie Nelson and Joel Symonds shared experiences from our first gardening season involving a group of avid learners from K.I. First Nation, highlighting the techniques behind gardening in harsh climates, for example identifying good locations, soil testing and preparation, how to start from seed, transplanting, maintenance, feeding, harvesting, and preserving through the winter. They also assisted with the facilitation of a sharing circle on Food Sovereignty Assessment on First Nations.

Check out the coverage from Wawatay News at http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2011/10/13/environment-conference-highlights-best-practices_21936.

Download the Powerpoint Presentation here.

Coming up Saturday, November 29:
FSRN at the Ontario Environment NetworkFall Conference & AGM

In addition to having successfully defended her thesis this fall, FSRN Special Events Coordinator and Campus Community Garden Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette will be presenting her paper, "Community Gardens: Exploring motivations, benefits and gardener experience" at the OEN's Fall Conference & AGM being held November 18 - 20 at beautiful Camp Kawartha near Peterborough. Congratulations again Lee-Ann on another job well done, and we look forward to hearing about your adventure when you return!

October 17 - 20:
FSRN at FIESS in Montreal

Drs. Connie Nelson and Mirella Stroink presented their invited working paper on Food Security and Sovereignty at the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy (FIESS 2011) in Montreal October 17-20. This theme studies the emergence of social and solidarity economy enterprises producing and transforming food, and beyond that the contribution of the social and solidarity economy to food security and sovereignty. Watch for our final Newsletter of 2011 for a recap.

Download the working paper (English).
Drs. Nelson and Stroink present with Prezi! Check out the visuals here.

Thursday, October 13:
World Food Day 2011

World Food Day was well-planned and well-attended thanks to the efforts of FSRN Special Events Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette. In addition to an impressive roster of interactive displays, speakers and information, the 2011 World Food Day event included a Hunger Lunch that gave people the opportunity to understand how many people go without on a daily basis. Participants ate by lottery: pick the right card and you ate like someone born into the "high" food security bracket: seated on a chair with a plate full of beef on a bun. Pick one of the more common cards and your lunch consisted of enough bread to stop the only loudest rumbles, and your seat on the floor offered an interesting view of the higher food-security diners around you.

The event kicked off the night previous with a free screening of "Queen of the Sun," a documentary about colony collapse disorder, the name given to the phenomenon of disapppearing bee populations around the world. The discussion afterwards gave people the opportunity to talk with some of the beekeepers present about the problem and some of the ways we can all help.

Thanks to the Argus, TBTV and the Chronicle Journal for covering World Food Day!

• http://www.theargus.ca/articles/news/2011/10/food-for-thought
• http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2011/10/14/right-food
• http://www.tbnewswatch.com/video/22941/World-Food-Day

See the World Food Day event poster here.
Click here to download the Queen of the Sun film poster.

The FSRN Campus Community Garden is pleased to announce our 2011 Community Gardening Workshop Series. Workshops will be held throughout the growing season, every second Monday evening at 6:30pm, beginning Monday June 13th. We are inviting all community gardeners, backyard gardeners, aspiring gardeners and any other interested parties to attend. Workshops are all free of charge and will be held at the FSRN Campus Community Garden. Please bring a chair or blanket (for sitting on the grass) as seating is limited (i.e. we have only one picnic table!).

This is a great opportunity to meet fellow gardeners, learn some new gardening tricks and celebrate growing your own food! Whether you’re a budding gardener, a master gardener or somewhere in between, there will be lots of great information to learn and share.

Click here for more information and scheduling for the Workshops.

April 19, 2011:
People's Food Policy Released!

On April 19, 2011 the People’s Food Policy Project (PFPP), a national network of food-concerned citizens and organisations, released Resetting the Table: A People’s Food Policy for Canada, a report outlining a federal food sovereignty policy.

Resetting the Table calls for a federal food policy that ensures Canadians healthy, local food, supports producers, involves the public in decision-making and creates a children’s food policy. “Our food system is failing us,” said Amanda Sheedy, PFPP coordinator. “Close to two and a half million Canadians regularly don’t have enough to eat, thousands of family farms are disappearing, one in four Canadians is considered obese, and the environment is being pushed to the limit. The status quo is no longer an option.”

Click here to learn more.

April 15, 2011:
Student Presentations for Local Poultry Market Demand

On Friday April 15th FSRN and the students of Marketing Research II hosted a gathering community members and presented the results of the research projects they'd been working on since January.

Read about the Poultry Abattoir project here!

FSRN Community Campus Garden Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette, CBC's Lisa Laco, 18 Kindergarten Kids and a Few Hundred
Red Wiggler Worms for Vermicomposting

What do you get when you put a classful of kindergarten kids together with worms?
"Magic," says Lisa Laco of CBC Radio One's The Great Northwest.

On March 22nd our Campus Garden Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette and Garden assistant Dustin Moore joined Mrs. Valcourt's kindergarten class at Claude Garten school to teach about vermicomposting. Lisa came out to see what she could learn.

The resulting show aired on CBC on Friday morning, April 1st.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at CBC Radio One for coming out to support local food and green initiatives!

Special thanks to CBC Radio for your help getting the word out, to the Chronicle Journal for the impressive Saturday coverage of this and other local food events, and Thunder Bay Television for the Newshour follow-up!

Want to meet our farmers for yourself? Check out the video here.

February 18 & 19:
Crop-Planning Workshop for Veggie Growers
Frederic Theriault, whose methods have been endorsed nationally by the Canadian Organic Growers Association, returned to Thunder Bay last weekend to present a second, more in-depth workshop designed to help vegetable farmers to increase their yields and streamline their workloads. A group of 36 aspiring and existing growers - including groups from the Dryden Area, Upsala and K.I. First Nation - attended the two-day workshop and learned the step-by-step process developed by Theriault and his partners at Ferme Cooperative Tourne-Sol in Quebec for developing and implementing a crop plan, analyzing results and planning for successive years. Click here for the original registration page and more information on the Workshop.

Saturday, February 12:
Research Week Kicks Off at Intercity Mall
On Saturday Feb. 12th we joined other great campus-based organizations as part of the Lakehead University Research Week kickoff activities. Visitors to the FSRN table got an overview of FSRN initiatives, information on the upcoming film premiere and the Food Forum and participated in the "Which of These Things" local food game to learn a little more about what's available from our local producers. Visitors were also encouraged to take the Local Food Quiz and test their knowledge for a chance to win a gift certificate from our friends at the Thunder Bay Country Market. Congratulations to Ms. A. Gilliatt, whose ballot was drawn, and thanks to everyone who participated!

Click here to test your Local Food knowledge! (sorry, free draw is now closed)

October 18th, 2010:
True North Community Co-operative Getting Press

Thunder Bay’s True North Community Co-operative makes the front-page of the Chronicle Journal. Read the article here: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories_local.php?id=303093

October 14th, 2010:
World Food Day 2010!

This October 14th saw Lakehead University’s World Food Day celebration in the Agora. Many students, staff, faculty and anyone who came through the Agora were able to stop by the many booths and learn what hunger and food security are all about. High school students from Superior CVI also joined the celebration, visiting the tables and taking part in the free “Hunger Awareness Lunch”.

Municipal candidates for the upcoming election participated in roundtable discussions where they were asked about their views on food-related issues in Thunder Bay. In addition to the talks with candidates there were also smaller, more informal “kitchen table talks” where anyone was welcome to pull up a chair and discuss food issues.

To end the day of raising awareness of food security and hunger, there was a screening of Fresh, http://www.freshthemovie.com/ .

To learn more about World Food Day, visit http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/ .

You can also sign the 1 Billion Hungry petition at http://www.1billionhungry.org/ .

Thanks to all who were involved and all who came by the Agora and participated for making this such a wonderful event!

Everyone's invited this coming weekend as Roots to Harvest puts on demos and discussions around planting fall garlic bulbs.  Join Heidi and Jody at the R2H Youth Garden on the corner of Algoma and Cornwall on Saturday, October 2 from 1 - 3pm to learn for yourself how best to treat your favourite pungent goodie for best enjoyment come harvest time next year.

Sunday, October 3rd join the gang and a group of Katimavik kids as we enrich our soil with a load of manure from partner LCR Estates.  Don't worry - it's not fresh, so it's not a stinky job, and if you're interested in learning first-hand about soil amendments this is a great place to start.  Come on out and lend a hand!

Now you can use Facebook to keep up-to-date with FSRN events and announcements. 

Join our Group!

Coming up on Saturday, May 29:
FSRN Celebrates Campus Garden Opening with a Garden Party

Join FSRN and friends as we officially launch the growing season with a garden party and barbecue at the LU Campus Garden, this Saturday May 29th from 11am till 2pm.

Organizers are planning lots of great kids' activities, music, draws and silent auctions. If you're musical, bring your instrument!  A barbecue is planned, so come hungry.

One of the highlights of the day will be a tomato information booth.  Learn about growing, harvesting and making use of those juicy gems and be sure to head on over to the greenhouse between 1 pm and 2:30 to pick up your heirloom tomato plants for only $3 each.

Email elizabeth@foodsecurityresearch.ca for more information. Everyone is welcome.

Successful and Fun "Greenhouse-Raisin'"
-a note from Heidi Zettel, Roots to Harvest

The Youthscapes Greenhouse raising went off without a hitch over at the Cornwall and Algoma St. garden on April 25, 2010.  Around 20 young'uns and old'uns came out to show their support and work hard.  We were able to get the greenhouse up in 4 hours flat!

Many thanks to all our volunteers, Roots to Harvest, and the Food Security Research Network for all their continued support of the project.

Look for Thunder Bay-grown watermelon and squash in August!

Coming up on May 18th:
FSRN sponsors FoReST Lab's free showing of DIRT! THE MOVIE

Join other gardeners and agricultural growers to view "DIRT! The Movie," brought to you by Lakehead University's FoReST Laboratory, our local OMAFRA-accredited soil testers. Graham Saunders, author of "Gardening with Short Growing Seasons," will also be a part of this event to answer your gardening questions. He will have books on-hand for sale.

DATE: May 18, 2010
TIME: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
LOCATION: Lakehead University, ATAC 1001
Read more and view movie trailer

If you bring a garden soil sample during the movie night, we'll cut $5 off the regular soil testing price. Get your soil tested for only $30 + tax.
Download soil sampling instructions and form

Starting in April the people of Upsala will be enjoying a number of workshops at Upsala Public School dedicated to growing your own fruits and vegetables.  Plans include workshops on techniques for growing veggies, soil testing and amendments, seed collecting, greenhousing and cellaring your produce for the winter.

These workshops are free but organizers have requested that participants register in advance to ensure adequate supplies will be on-hand.  Please click here to download the full schedule and registration form.

Wednesdays at 8pm EST beginning April 7th:
Prof. Harpelle's Television Series to Premiere on TFO

Lakehead University professor Dr. Ron Harpelle and his filmmaking partner Kelly Saxberg have completed their biggest project ever. Starting next Wednesday at 8:00 pm the French language version of Citizens of the World, (Citoyens du Monde) will air on TFO. Citizens of the World is a six-part documentary series, filmed in over a dozen countries and focused on Canada’s role in supporting research for development. This timely series looks at six broad themes, Water, Women, Politics, Health, Information and Communication Technologies and the Emerging Economies of China, India and Brazil... (click here to read the full article)

October 2009: 
FSRN Recognized in the Thunder Bay District Agricultural Economic Impact Study 

The recently released Thunder Bay District Agricultural Economic Impact Study has demonstrated that the Food Security Research Network is making a difference in developing a local food system.  The report states that

"The Food Security Research Network (FSRN) is acknowledged as an important catalyst for promoting agriculture and food security in the region – which has indirectly helped to support the growth of farm operations and other agri-related initiatives (e.g. small scale farming, community gardens) that have a specific focus on promoting local food production and consumption. There is also growing interest in organic farming in the area and direct marketing activities such as farm retail outlets and farmers’ markets.

"Although only recently established, FSRN has become a very important institution for the local agriculture sector. As described by agri-sector stakeholders, FSRN has attracted the interest of and successfully engaged younger people in agri-related activities with a strong emphasis on promoting production activities for the local market. FSRN is credited with fostering optimism for growth in the local agri-sector and local food production activities."  (p. 106 Thunder Bay District Agricultural Economic Impact Study (TBAEIS) October 2009)

The People’s Food Policy Project reflects growing concerns about the health and sustainability of our food system, and an ever more visible movement to create the elements of a different system based in a robust local food economy. You can see it in farmers’ markets, community kitchens, community gardens, and community programs working to ensure everyone has food.  It’s out there in Eat Local campaigns and food policy councils and food charter initiatives in cities and towns across the country.  It can also be seen in struggles to protect heritage seeds, endangered lands and waterways and species from salmon to caribou. 
Now is the moment to pull all these elements together to create a culture, an environment and a policy context for a just and sustainable food system. 

Who should attend? 

• Leaders and professionals working on food security - people dedicated to the eradication of hunger, environmental degradation and the exploitation of lands and peoples.
• Public Health, community health,land use planners, government representatives and staff at local, provincial/territorial and federal levels, health advocates, farm and trade union members, Aboriginal organizations, and researchers. 

Advisor on Tap:
Amanda Sheedy
National Coordinator, People’s Food Policy Project
http://www.peoplesfoodpolicy.ca/
The People's Food Policy Project is a pan-Canadian network of citizens and organizations that is creating Canada’s first comprehensive food sovereignty policy.

We hope you will join in the fireside chat on April 30th!
CHNET-Works! hosts weekly Fireside Chats for professionals/leaders in health and stakeholder sectors
A project of: University of Ottawa - RRASP/PHIRN,
Réseau de recherche  sur l’amélioration de la santé des populations/Population Health Improvement Research Network
http://www.chnet-works.ca/

Coming up on Sunday, April 25th from 11am - 3pm:
Roots to Harvest's Greenhouse Raisin' Party

R2H's own Heidi Zettel and her greenhouse partner in crime, Lisa Lester, invite anyone interested to come on out to the Roots to Harvest garden at Cornwall and Algoma on Sunday April 25, 2010 from 11am-3pm for a good old-fashioned greenhouse roof raisin'.  The day's tasks include getting the sides and top back on the frame and doing a garden tidying to pick up trash around the site.  Snacks and refreshments will be provided for all volunteers.  This is a great opportunity for newbie gardeners to learn a little about greenhouse construction from a couple of old hands.

A note from Heidi:
     Everyone's invited, bring your kids, friends, grandpappies etc... BUT, I'd like to have a good idea of who all is going to be there so if you're interested please RSVP me at hzettel@lakeheadu.ca.
     Also, if you can't make it, but have a cordless drill or a step ladder that you are willing to lend to us, that would be amazingly helpful!  Just e-mail me back and I can come pick it up!
     A little background on the greenhouse:  We have been fully funded with the amazing help of YouthScapes Thunder Bay.  Youthscapes is a United Way project that ran in 5 cities across Canada and gave youth the opportunity to apply for funding based on original grant proposals.  Greenhouse for a Greener World is just one of many amazing youth projects being done across the city.  We couldn't exist without their support, and the support from people like you in our community!!

Hope to see you there.

Join the FSRN on March 4th during the Food Forum for
FREE MOVIES!

Great food-related films will be shown throughout the day.  In addition to local filmmakers Saxberg and Harpelle's Perogy Nation you can enjoy Taking Root, The Real Dirt on Farmer John and Food Inc. during the day.  Don't miss the evening screening of FRESH!  Click here for showtimes and locations.

Ivanka is back and helping us explore our Canadian heritage through the magic of "multiperogyism", the mysterious force that developed a perogy-like food in almost every culture represented in our heritage.  See this great new film as part of the Food Forum activities!  Learn more here.

Coming up on April 6, 2010:
FSRN and Thunder Bay Soil & Crop Improvment Association's
Crop Planning Workshop

Presenter Frédéric Thériault, co-manager of recognized CSA Ferme Coopérative Tourne-Sol in Les Cèdres, QC, will describe and explain the step-by-step approach to crop planning that he has developed with Daniel Brisebois in their book "Crop Planning for Vegetable Growers."

Join the FSRN for group exercises designed to give you hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the concepts presented.  You'll finish your day with a good understanding of the importance of a crop plan; reference material, formulas and schedules that will allow you to prepare your own crop plan; and useful analysis techniques to help you improve farm profitability and fine-tune your crop mix.

Thinking about joining FSRN, profs, students, community partners and other interested people at the Food Forum to learn more about CSL in action, food-related matters and new advances?  Check out our program for information about the speakers' schedule, poster presentations, film screenings, displays and more.

Click here to download the 2010 Food Forum program in PDF.  Printed versions will be available at the event.

Also on March 4th, at 8:00pm:
FSRN Sponsors Screening of the Film FRESH

Join FSRN and friends in UC 2011 to enjoy FRESH, a film that celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet. “FRESH is more than a movie, it’s a gateway to action. Our aim is to help grow FRESH food, ideas, and become active participants in an exciting, vibrant, and fast-growing movement.” Produced and directed by Ana Sofia Joanes.  Click here to visit the FRESH website.

January 25, 2010:
Hunting & Angling Survey Project Reaches First Report Stage

The project involving NOSA and Lakehead University, intended to identify motivations for hunting and angling in northwestern Ontario, was recently taken to the stage of a first report by Fish and Wildlife students. 

Results from the written surveys of NOSA members, who in many cases also voluntarily participated in an oral interview, highlighted three key motivations for hunting and angling. These were: recreational time, bonding time with friends and family, and the nutritional benefits associated with consuming wild game and fish. NOSA members were found to have hunted and angled an average of 55 and 47 days of the year, respectively. Food obtained from these activities was shared with an average of 9 other people. 

Results from the oral interviews generally reflected those of the written survey. Most of the respondents indicated that recreational time with friends and family, as well as securing a supply of tasty, nutritionally beneficial meat, was an important motivator for taking part in hunting and angling. A common theme was that being able to be a part of, and not apart from nature, was another important reason to get out hunting or fishing. “I just enjoy being able to get into the outdoors,” was a sentiment echoed by many of the participants.

When questioned as to their thoughts on conservation, a second common theme emerged. “Treating the environment with respect, so that my children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy the same opportunities that I do today, is very important to me” typified the responses of many.

Coming up on January 26th:
Thunder Bay Agriculture Research Station's Annual Report on Field Trials

To be held at the Founder's Museum.
Visit the TBARS website for more information.

Coming up on Monday, January 18th:
Slow Food Superior AGM
Slow Food Superior will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Monday, January 18th, 7:30 p.m. at Superior High School (the new high school on High Street). Members will be there to direct you to the right room, but for those of you who may know the space, it's upstairs in room 2063. The AGM is your chance to find out how you can become more involved if you wish, and connect with other people who are interested and involved in food issues. The meeting is open to the general public, so please feel free to bring some friends along with you.

The past year has seen some great Slow Food events that were well attended, such as the annual Pig Roast Dinner, partnering with the Food Action Network to host and/or present workshops on preparing or storing good, clean and fair food, a youth "Ratatouille" day and many more.  For some updates on what Slow Food International has been doing, please checkout http://www.slowfood.com/. There are some great resources, videos, articles and updates there. We will be updating our local website (http://www.slowfoodsuperior.ca/) shortly.

It is another Terre Madre year, which means Slow Food will be looking to send some Thunder Bay representatives to Torino, Italy again. This is an incredible, 5 day event  that happens once every two years. It brings thousands of people from around the globe together to discuss issues around promoting and supporting good clean and fair food. In the past Slow Food has been able to send Thunder Bay delegates to be a part of this international conversation and hope to do the same this year. This will be discussed more during the AGM. 

Where:  the Faculty Lounge at Lakehead University
When:  November 23, 2009 from 4:00 to 5:30pm.

Why:

• To thank everyone for all the ways each of us contributes to building a sustainable and resilient local food system. 
• To have fun and become acquainted with network participants that you may not have met
• To engage in a “Table Talk” about how we maintain food security, what we see as the barriers to food security and what policies we need to further enhance food security.

We are hoping that this opportunity for coming together can provide a wonderful setting for developing local input for the national People’s Food Policy Project.

Background: 
The Food Security Research Network is a key participant in the national People’s Food Policy Research Project funded by Heifer International. The Project aims to hold ‘table talks’ across the nation to determine what federal policies may facilitate principles of food sovereignty and provide the framework for a just and sustainable food system in Canada. We launched our first Table Talk at the World Food Day on October 16, 2009. It was a resounding success with 18 participants.

Dr. Mirella Stroink has been appointed as the Chair of the national committee for developing food policy based on the ‘table talk’ data from rural and remote communities.

Lee-Ann Chevrette is a ‘Community Food Animator’ and will be the key organizer of our break-out focus group sessions for November 23, 2009.

Please RSVP Marietta Buzzie by email at mbuzzie@lakeheadu.ca or by phone at 343-8810 by November 19th if you are able to join everyone on November 23, 2009. 

Thanks in advance for taking this time to meet others who are passionate about building a sustainable and resilient food system and contributing to shaping future national food policies with particular relevance to the North.

Join Dr. Scott Pound of the FSRN and guest authors on Friday, October 30th from 2 till 4 pm in RB 3026.

Click to view poster.

Coming up on October 19th:
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Support Network

Are you interested in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
Have you ever thought about starting your own CSA?

The Food Security Research Network (FSRN), in partnership with local farmers, is developing a CSA Support Network for Northwestern Ontario.

The overall goal of the project is to create a network of farmers, growers and consumers who are interested in creating, building and supporting Community Supported Agriculture.

Some of the priorities of this initiative include:
• Providing support to existing and aspiring CSA farms
• Building support and networking opportunities for CSA programs
• Sharing information and strengthening the knowledge base needed for managing successful CSA farms
• Highlighting the direct benefits of CSA to local producers and consumers
• Increasing public awareness of the CSA concept/model
• Mobilizing collective action by farmers and consumers and motivating the general public to become involved
• Creating supportive grower communities and partnerships
• Exploring issues surrounding sustainable food systems and the real cost of food production

FSRN’s CSA initiative will invite input from local farmers/growers and community members/consumers on how to proceed with the development of the CSA Support Network.

We are planning a meeting for Monday October 19th, at 6:30 pm at the South Gillies Community Hall.

Everyone is welcome! We hope to see you there!

For more information on this exciting initiative, on CSA in general, and if you are planning to attend, please contact Lee-Ann Chevrette at lee-ann@foodsecurityresearch.ca or by phone at 807-285-2772.

The winning numbers of the Community Partner Assessment Survey Draw have been announced.

If you filled out our Community Partner Assessment Survey you were entered into a draw for one of 5 $25 Gift Certificates from the Thunder Bay Country Market. 
The winning numbers drawn were:  09, 31, 57, 14 and 24.  Please check your ticket.  Winners please see Marietta Buzzie in RC 3004 to collect your prizes.

Participate in the NOSA Hunting and Angling Survey!

In partnership with the Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen's Alliance, the students of Forestry 4251 Fish and Wildlife Practice are conducting a survey to better understand why the people of Northwestern Ontario hunt. We are interested in the amount of time people spend hunting and angling, and whether or not these activities make a significant impact on people’s diet.

By completing this survey, you are giving us your consent to use the information that you have provided in our study. Please open the PDF document, print it, COMPLETE and mail it to:

Brian McClaren
Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment
955 Oliver Road
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1

Coming up November 18th and 19th:
The First Annual Food Symposium with Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Join the FSRN, NAN and a group of community experts for an intense two-day conference on the subject of food security and how it affects our First Nations people and northern society in general.  Forum discussions, panel discussions and breakout sessions will cover topics like Aboriginal Strategies in Agriculture, Learning to Heal through Gardening, Boreal Forest Gardening, Solar Greenhouses and more. 

Location:  Best Western Nor'Wester Hotel
Dates:  Wednesday, November 18th 7:30am - 4:15pm; Thursday, November 19th 7:30am - 3:30pm

Please visit us again soon for the full conference agenda including schedule, speakers and panel members.  For further information and to register, please contact us at info@foodsecurityresearch.ca.

Coming up on November 18 and 19:
Quest for New Farm Value - a 2-day Workshop

The Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture, in partnership with the FSRN, is hosting a 2-day workshop.  Quest for New Farm Value will take place November 18-19 at Pioneer Village Founder's Museum on Highway 61.  This two day workshop will be targeted to those who are interested in creating new or expanded farming enterprises.  For more information contact Linda Turk at (807) 577-4787 or visit http://www.tbfarminfo.org/. 

Coming up on September 23, 2009:
"Fresh" the Movie

Join the FSRN in Room 2001 of the ATAC building on campus for a screening of Ana Sofia Joanes´ new film "Fresh," celebrating the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision of our food and our planet’s future. FRESH addresses an ethos that has been sweeping the nation and is a call to action America has been waiting for.

Wednesday, September 23
ATAC 2001
7pm

Visit http://www.freshthemovie.com/ for trailers and more, or contact Dr. Scott Pound for more information.

Have FUN while you learn! 4-H Clubs are great places for youth to learn and grow.
Join 4-H Thunder Bay for training from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and an OPEN HOUSE from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

For more information:
Stacey Freemantle - 4-H volunteer (807) 474-3979
Tracey Hyatt, Northern Coordinator (807) 486-3479

or visit 4-H Thunder Bay's page at 4-H Ontario online.

News at June 29, 2009:  Dr. Gary Genosko latest Lakehead biographee in Canadian Who's Who

Dr. Gary Genosko, Canada Research Chair in Technoculture, is Lakehead University's latest biographee in Canadian Who's Who. He is counted among the existing 15 entries, (including three Emeriti Professors), on influential members of Lakehead University, appearing in the latest edition. There are a further 23 persons whose biographies note that they were educated at Lakehead.

Congratulations from the FSRN!