Course:LFS350/Projects/W2017/Table Matters

Project Summary

Purpose

This project is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with many diverse community stakeholders on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver through Table Matters network.

Students will create a food asset map for the North Shore community

Goals and Project Scope

To provide a tool to community members and agencies for locating community food assets that is current, easy to use and easy to update.
To increase awareness of the whole food system and issues related to food access.
To make it easier for the North Shore community to view and assess community food assets to create a coordinated North Shore Food Action Plan.
To make it easier for North Shore community members and local governments to view community food assets to inform a coordinated approach to community planning, land use planning, and food-related policy development.

Areas of Focus

Community food security
Community food asset mapping

Skills

Developing on-line and in-person interview questions

Location

North Vancouver and surrounding area

Special Considerations

This project requires students to travel to and explore North Vancouver and the surrounding area

Organization Information

Name

North Shore Table Matters Network

Mission + Vision

Vision

The North Shore will be a place where: 

All people are able to access food, in a dignified manner that is nutritious, safe and personally acceptable 
Food is considered a valuable resource at every stage of the food system continuum 
The food system does not damage the environment and environmental stewardship is valued.  
Food and food cultures are celebrated.

Mission

To bring the North Shore Community Food Charter to life through food policy and community development projects that build a sustainable food system and increase accessibility of healthy food for everyone living on the North Shore.

Guiding Principles + Values

Food unites us all. As such the Table Matters Network is an inclusive group that welcomes everyone. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to working proactively and creatively with others in a positive environment to advance our goals.

Primary Contact

Name: Jenn Meilleur
Email: jenn@tablematters.ca
Phone: 604-562-8769
Website: www.tablematters.ca
Best Way to Contact: email

Project Description

Overall this project is intended to gather information about community food assets across the North Shore as well as on Bowen Island and Lions Bay. This information is being used to create a North Shore Food Asset Google map. We hope that many different groups will use this map. Some of these groups are:

community members dealing with food insecurity and the service providers supporting them;
municipalities making land-use and development decisions;
businesses looking for business opportunities on the North Shore;
organizations and individuals involved with building / strengthening the Food System on the North Shore.

Goals and Project Scope

To provide a tool to community members and agencies for locating community food assets that is current, easy to use and easy to update.
To increase awareness of the whole food system and issues related to food access.
To make it easier for the North Shore community to view and assess community food assets to create a coordinated North Shore Food Action Plan.
To make it easier for North Shore community members and local governments to view community food assets to inform a coordinated approach to community planning, land use planning, and food-related policy development.

Students will be involved in gathering information on approximately 50 food assets. The key student deliverables include:

Ensuring the accuracy of current data. This part of the project will involve researching information online and contacting community partners, organizations and businesses, to ensure that the information in the excel document is correct and formatted consistently.
Updating an Excel document of a food asset category with information on available food assets on the North Shore. This part of the project will involve researching information online and contacting community partners, organizations and businesses, to add new information to the Excel document and then ensure that the information in the excel document is correct and formatted consistently. A discussion script, including an introduction to the tool and guiding questions, will be provided to UBC students for them to use when contacting anyone in our community. Students will also be provided with instructions on how to add data and update the excel document.
Write a summary of feedback received from community partners and organizations and/or community members. Provide recommendations for next steps for the project, based on both the overall map and specific food asset category assigned. (Feedback and recommendations will hopefully be used to assist Table Matters and future LFS 350 students to improve the mapping tool).

Skills Preferred

Comfortable working with Google Maps
Public consultation
Data collection in public setting
Attention to detail

Skills to Be Developed

Food food system analysis
Food asset assessment skills
Observational and analytical skills
Interviewing and communication skills

Project Location

Location will vary based on the food assets and neighbourhoods you are involved with. Some work can be done over the phone or computer, whereas other work will involve visiting locations on the North Shore.

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

To be determined, based on student availability.

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

I hope students will learn about...the complexity of collecting and sharing accurate information about community food assets on the North Shore / with our communities.
I think students will come to appreciate...the opportunities for improvement when whole food systems are viewed at a community and neighbourhood level.
Students will develop a...greater understanding of food systems and food assets.

Organizational Outcomes

Your collaboration with Table Matters will...

Help us to meet our four project goals;
Help us to create an accurate list of current food assets that we can add to the Google Map;
Help us learn more about our community’s strengths and areas for improvement in terms of food systems.