Mount Hope-Mary Allen Neighbourhood Transition Group Making our community more resilient
African Community Wellness Initiative Promoting holistic wellness in the local African communities.
Waterloo Food Issues Group (WatFIG) A community of students and faculty researching food issues
Region of Waterloo Public Health building a healthy food system so people will eat healthier
WRFoodNews May 25, 2010
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. Join discussions of the topics below and many more on our Discussion Forum.
1. Public Event TONIGHT: Food "Waste" or Resource?
Food waste and packaging represents a large portion of the "waste" in our landfills. This can change if more people compost and more companies reduce food packaging. Join Region of Waterloo Waste Management Coordinator Deanna Dakin and local organic farmer Wolfgang Pfenning in a discussion of this challenge for our community. TONIGHT: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 7-9pm, KPL Grand River Branch, 175 Indian Road, Kitchener. As some interesting background, read this recent article from NOW Magazine about sewage sludge and compost.
2. Preston Neighbourhood Market gets licensing exemption from City
The City of Cambridge has granted an exemption from their zoning and licensing by-laws to allow for the operation of a Neighbourhood Market in Preston. This is the third year of operation for the market, but a key difference is that the application this year did not come from the Region of Waterloo's Public Health department, but rather from St. Clement's Catholic church, which is leading the initiative this year. This is a significant step forward for the ability of private operators to run temporary market stands in municipalities in the Region of Waterloo, and is likely influenced by the passage in June 2009 of a policy in the Regional Official Plan (ROP) which requires municipalities to permit temporary farmers' markets "wherever appropriate" (policy 3.F.2 of the ROP). See Cambridge Times article on Preston Market.
3. Public Input Invited on Provincial Policy Statement on Land Use
The provincial government is asking for public input on the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), which guides Ontario's planning laws and addresses matters such as the protection and preservation of water and agricultural resources, rare species, sustainability issues, etc. Comments on any aspect of the PPS are welcome until August 31, 2010. Background information on the PPS and how to register your comments are available on the Environmental Rregistry.
4. Hunger Awareness Day is June 1
Food Banks Canada has released a one-minute video calling attention to hunger in Canada. The video invites the public to submit their ideas to end hunger in Canada. Download campaign materials to promote Hunger Awareness Day in your workplace or neighbourhood at http://www.hungerawarenessday.ca/campaign_materials.
5. Upcoming Food Events
Full details on upcoming food-related events in Waterloo Region can be viewed under Upcoming Eventson the Roundtable's website. To share news of your event, email details to the Roundtable's Site Administrator, who will post it to the website. Some upcoming highlights include:
Food "Waste" or Resource? - TONIGHT, Tuesday, May 25, 7-9pm, KPL Grand River Branch
Forest Gardening Workshop - Saturday, May 29, 9:30am-4:30pm, Emmanual United Church, Waterloo
Creating Great Compost - Saturday, June 12, 1-3pm, Little City Farm, Kitchener
Genetically Modified Food - Tuesday, June 22, 7-9pm, KPL Main Branch, Kitchener.
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