[WRFoodNews] April 14-09 Waterloo Region Food System update

[xmarc at region.waterloo.on.ca]

Please find below the latest update on Waterloo Region's food system as
described on the website of the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable at
www.wrfoodsystem.ca.

1. Roundtable celebrates year of meeting its obejctives
At its meeting April 1, the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable received
a report highlighting its achievements for the past year.  In addition to
celebrating its recent public event (on How Much We Should Pay for Food)
and submission to Regional Council on the Official Plan, the Roundtable
noted that it met most of its objectives for the year, and that 83% of
members were satisfied with its achievements.  The presentation made to the
meeting can be viewed at http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/index.php?p=42.

2. City of Waterloo says no to urban chickens
Waterloo City Council voted on April 6 to reject a proposed By-Law
permitting urban chickens.  To read details and add your comments on the
issue, go to
http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/index.php?p=forum/view_thread&thread_id=10195.

3. Ontario to invest in Local Food for Schools, Hospitals
The Ontario government announced plans this week to invest $24 million over
three years into getting more Ontario food into schools and hospitals.  A
link to the full news release, as well as an article from the Globe & Mail
and a letter from a website member to McGuinty asking that the government
go even further, has been posted at
http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/index.php?p=forum/view_thread&thread_id=10193.

4. Growing Concerns about Obesity epidemic
Three related stories emerged last week about our society's growing problem
of obesity.  A new American government study found obesity numbers continue
to rise, and the Ontario Medical Association called on governments to start
issuing calorie labelling on all fast food and cafeteria menus.  Finally, a
Toronto Board of Education Taskforce recommended new rules requiring
11-14-year-old students to stay on school property during lunch breaks to
prevent them from buying fast foods.  Details on all three stories are at
http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/index.php?p=forum/view_thread&thread_id=10197&post_id=10201
.

5. Upcoming Food Events
Full details on upcoming food-related events in Waterloo Region can be
viewed under "Upcoming Events" on the Roundtable's website (
http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/index.php?p=9).  To share news of your event,
email details to xmarc at region.waterloo.on.ca, and I will post it to the
website.  Some upcoming highlights include:

Radical Business workshop - April 14, 6-9pm, KPL Main Branch, Kitchener -
tips for eco-entrepreneurs
Pollination Symposium - April 18, 9am-4pm, Guelph - speakers on the
importance of pollinators to the food system and their current decline
Ontario's Test Kitchens - April 19-20, Toronto - speakers, panels, and the
grand opening of the STOP Community Centre's Green Barn
Diversity Gardens Opening Day - April 22, 10am-4pm, St Agatha - exchange
two hours of volunteer gardening time for heritage seeds to take home with
you
Earth Day Gala dinner - April 23, 6pm, Walper Terrace, Kitchener - hosted
by Foodlink Waterloo Region and Waterloo Chefs' Association

Marc Xuereb
staff support to the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable
c/o Region of Waterloo Public Health
99 Regina St S, 3rd Floor
Waterloo, ON N2J 4V3
tel: 519.883.2004 x.5872
email: xmarc at region.waterloo.on.ca