Course:LFS350/Projects/W2020/PHABC-Policy

Overview

Project Name

Community Gardens Overview - Policies and Practice

Organization Name

Public Health Association of BC (PHABC); Can You Dig It!

Keywords

Urban agriculture, food policy, municipal policy, community garden, community development, policy evaluation, urban food systems

Related Course Concepts

Food security, Asset based community development, Food Policy and Practice

Organization Information

Organization Name

Public Health Association of BC (PHABC)

Mission and Vision of Organization

Vision

A fair and healthy British Columbia for all.

Mission

PHABC promotes health, wellbeing and equity for all British Columbians through leadership in public health.

Guiding Principles + Values

Approach

As a member-driven organization, we fulfill our mission through advocacy, collaboration and engagement activities, education, and research throughout the spectrum of public health practice and systems including prevention, promotion, protection and policy.

Identified priorities

Eliminating poverty; reducing health/socioeconomic inequities; addressing climate change and healthy environments; contributing to a sustainable, equitable economy; and preventing violence.

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Aaren Topley
• Email: sr.consultant@phabc.org
• Phone: 250-885-7752
• Address: Victoria
• Website: phabc.org; https://www.cydi.ca/

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email, Phone
• Best day(s) to contact:Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, I will be in town roughly one week per month for an in-person meeting. I will also be available by email or phone during the week.
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Each municipality has its own policies and practice in the governance of community gardens. This project sets to provide a clear overview of the current community garden policies and practices in different municipalities across BC.

Main Project Activities

Review current policies and practice for Community Gardens in Surrey and Kamloops (we already have compiled policy and practice for each but they need to formatted and synthesized) Ensure current findings are accurate by liaising with staff of the respective Municipalities.

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

Two reports: 1) City of Surrey and 2) City of Kamloops

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Well organized, independent and attentive to detail
• Ability to collect, analyze and process large data
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

• Understanding of food municipal policies
• Understanding of how municipal policies occur

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• Not at this time

Is a criminal record check required?

• No

Project Location

• Self-directed

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Self-directed

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• TBD

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should familiarize themselves with these websites prior to the first partner meeting:

• Kamloops Food Policy Council
• Local Food in Surrey
• Agriculture and Food Policy Advisory Committee (Surrey)
• Siegner, A., Sowerwine, J. & Acey, C. (2018). Does urban agriculture improve food security? Examining the nexus of food access and distribution of urban produced foods in the United States: A systematic review. Sustainability, 10(9). DOI: 10.3390/su10092988

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:

• Report template (will be emailed to students)
• Previous LFS350 student reports (Aaren will send by email)

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

I hope students will learn about...

• municipal politics and policies

I think students will come to appreciate...

• how to explore and advance food policies

Through this project, students will develop...

• an understanding of municipal food policies

Organizational Outcomes

Intended Project Outcome

• Students will contribute to a better understanding of when and how community garden occur in the City of Surrey and the City of Kamloops

Medium-term Outcomes

• By providing a better understanding of the current political and food policy environment of the City of Surrey and Kamloops, students will reduce barriers to informed civil society planning and advocacy around community gardening issues.

How does the student project contribute to your organization's mission and long-term vision?

• This project provides PHABC and Can You Dig with tools to work with the Cities of Surrey and Kamloops to promote health, wellbeing and equity for all British Columbians through community garden initiatives.