Gratitude Report 2021-22: Rooted in community: A decade of building health, belonging and social justice

Land acknowledgement

Community Food Centres Canada operates and partners with food organizations from coast to coast to coast, which are the lands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis who have been and continue to be in a reciprocal relationship with the lands, waters, and all beings. This relationship has been embedded in gratitude and respect since time immemorial. The national office of CFCC is in Toronto on the territory of the Wendat, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas of the Credit. It is now also home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

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Looking back and moving forward

For the last decade, Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) has been making good food for all a rallying cry across this country. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we offer a flavour of some of the inspiring community leaders, partner organizations, donors, staff, and programs that are the building blocks of the good food movement. A movement where dignity and belonging is as important as what’s on the table.

None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you! We hope you are proud of what we’ve created together. Happy anniversary to all of us.

Continue scrolling >>

A seat at the table

The chance to connect with others over healthy food is a lifeline for Susan, a regular at The Local Community Food Centre in Stratford, Ontario, who struggled with health issues and isolation during the pandemic. “I feel so welcome here,” she says. “I truly feel part of this place.”

Read about what The Local CFC means to Susan | Continue scrolling >>

Click or tap the picture to read the full story.

Early adopter

From the beginning, Nancy Wildgoose understood that charitable food handouts will never be enough to end food insecurity and poverty. That's why she championed CFCC's community-building model and The Table became one of the first Community Food Centres in Ontario.

Read about how The Table embraced the CFC model | Continue scrolling >>

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Growing connection

CFCC’s Good Food Principles inform programming - from gardening to food skills - at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, one of the 350 Good Food Organizations that are part of our cross-country movement.

Read about how our Good Food Principles are shaping programming | Continue scrolling >>

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A spirit of innovation

From the start, CFCC has championed new approaches to health promotion. As FoodFit, the first CFCC health and wellbeing program evolves, forging connection remains at its heart. “Wherever they’re at, people deserve to feel autonomy and competence—to feel in their hearts, they’ve got this,” says Syma Habib, FoodFit Special Project Manager.

Read about how FoodFit is reimagining health and wellness | Continue scrolling >>

Click or tap the picture to read the full story.

Urgency for change

In civic engagement programs at Community Food Centres and Good Food Organizations across the country, community members learn that their voices matter. “I always say, ‘If you eat, then this is your battle.’ Food is connected to everything,” says Amanda-Lynn Nickerson at The North Grove CFC in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Read about how Amanda-Lynn became engaged in her community through The North Grove CFC |
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From strength to strength

Indigenous-led Community Food Centres are building hope and reclaiming culture by focusing on a deep knowledge of the land and rich food traditions. "Food brings people and people bring ideas and ideas bring strength to our communities," says Rebecca Sylvestre, Manager of Turnor Lake & Birch Narrows CFC.

Read about how Turnor Lake & Birch Narrows CFC is bringing people together |
Continue scrolling >>

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Vision accomplished

“The welcoming, dignified space sends an important message to low-income community members: they are entitled to a safe place, healthy food, a great network, and neighbourhood assets,” explains Dawn Christie, Manager of the Mount Paul Community Food Centre. “They have a place at the table.”

Read about the impact of welcoming spaces at Mount Paul CFC | Continue scrolling >>

Click or tap the picture to read the full story.

Driving ambition

Through the Good Food Access Fund, launched in response to the pandemic, CFCC supported new voices and leaders, building a stronger movement, and a vision for a more equitable society.

Read about how joining the GFO community made CANAVUA stronger | Continue scrolling >>

Click or tap the picture to read the full story.

Reflecting on our first decade

Over the last ten years, CFCC has created a movement of caring, committed people and partners from coast to coast to coast. And we’re just getting started. With a new CFCC home base and the launch of the Poverty Action Unit, we'll continue to work at building a country where everyone can thrive.

Read our CEO Nick Saul's message here | Continue scrolling >>

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Mapping the movement

We’ve worked with our partners to build fifteen vibrant Community Food Centres across the country. We’ve shared knowledge and resources among 350 Good Food Organizations in twelve provinces and territories—including the fifty-four-member Indigenous Knowledge Sharing Circle. Together, we’ve grown a movement that champions good food for all.

Click here to see the growth of our national movement

Click or tap the picture to read the full story.

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Gratitude Report 2021-22: Rooted in community: A decade of building health, belonging and social justice

2021-22 Gratitude Report

Rooted in community:

A decade of building health, belonging and social justice

Land acknowledgment

Community Food Centres Canada operates and partners with food organizations from coast to coast to coast, which are the lands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis who have been and continue to be in a reciprocal relationship with the lands, waters, and all beings. This relationship has been embedded in gratitude and respect since time immemorial. The national office of CFCC is in Toronto on the territory of the Wendat, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas of the Credit. It is now also home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

Looking back
and moving forward

For the last decade, Community Food Centres Canada has been making good food for all a rallying cry across this country. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we offer a flavour of some of the inspiring community leaders, partner organizations, donors, staff and programs that are the building blocks of the good food movement. A movement where dignity and belonging is as important as what’s on the table.

None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you! We hope you are proud of what we’ve created together. Happy anniversary to all of us.

A seat at the table

The chance to connect with others over healthy food is a lifeline for Susan, a regular at The Local CFC in Stratford, Ontario, who struggled with health issues and isolation during the pandemic. “I feel so welcome here,” she says. “I truly feel part of this place.”

Early adopter

From the beginning, Nancy Wildgoose understood that charitable food handouts will never be enough to end food insecurity and poverty. That’s why she championed CFCC’s community-building model and The Table became one of the first CFCs in Ontario.

Growing connection

CFCC’s Good Food Principles inform programming – from gardening to food skills – at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, one of the 350 Good Food Organizations that are part of our cross-country good food movement.

A spirit of innovation

From the start, CFCC has championed new approaches to health promotion. As FoodFit, the first CFCC health and wellbeing program evolves, forging connection remains at its heart. “Wherever they’re at, people deserve to feel autonomy and competence—to feel in their hearts, they’ve got this,” says Syma Habib, FoodFit Special Project Manager.

Urgency for change

In civic engagement programs at CFCs and GFOs across the country, community members learn that their voices matter. “I always say, ‘If you eat, then this is your battle.’ Food is connected to everything,” says Amanda-Lynn Nickerson at the North Grove CFC in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

From strength to strength

Indigenous-led CFCs take a strength-based approach to building hope and reclaiming culture, focusing on a deep knowledge of the land and rich food traditions. “Food brings people and people bring ideas and ideas bring strength to our communities,” says Rebecca Sylvestre, Manager of Turnor Lake & Birch Narrows CFC.

Vision accomplished

“The welcoming, dignified space sends an important message to low-income community members: they are entitled to a safe place, healthy food, a great network and neighbourhood assets,” Dawn Christie, Manager of the Mount Paul CFC explains. “They have a place at the table.”

Driving ambition

Through our Good Food Access Fund, launched in response to the pandemic, CFCC supported new voices and leaders, building a stronger movement and a vision for a more equitable society.

Reflecting on our first decade

Over the last decade, CFCC has built a movement of caring, committed people and partners from coast to coast to coast. And we’re just getting started. A new CFCC home base and a newly minted Poverty Action Unit are just two of our exciting next steps towards ending poverty and eliminating food insecurity.

Mapping the movement

We’ve worked with our partners to build 15 vibrant Community Food Centres across the country. We’ve shared knowledge and resources among 350 Good Food Organizations in 12 provinces and territories—including the 54-member Indigenous Knowledge Sharing Circle. Together, we’ve grown a movement that champions good food for all.

Mapping the movement

Over the last 10 years, our good food movement has put down roots in cities, towns and Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast.

We’ve worked with our partners to build 15 vibrant Community Food Centres across the country. We’ve shared knowledge and resources with more than 350 Good Food Organizations in 12 provinces and territories—including the 54-member Indigenous Knowledge Sharing Circle. Together, we’ve grown a movement that champions good food for all.

Community Food Centres Canada © 2022
Charitable # 83391 4484 RR0001

Community Food Centres Canada
80 Ward St., Suite 100, Toronto ON M6H 4A6
(416) 531-8826 | cfccanada.ca | info@cfccanada.ca

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Photo credits

Banner | © Qajuqturvik CFC Your Impact | © The Local CFC | © The Table CFC | © Pardeep Singh – South Vancouver Neighbourhood House | © Harmony CFC | © North Grove CFC | © Gilad Cohen | © Mount Paul CFC | © CANAVUA | © Melissa Benner | © Carrefour CFC