Cowichan Green Community Society, (CGC) works to address food insecurity and environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region. As the Food Security HUB for Cowichan, CGC works with local food providers, governments, and other community partners on collaborative projects including the Cowichan Food Charter and Food Security Plan, the KinPark Youth Urban Farm, and the local Farm and Food Map. They have also worked extensively with local governments, supporting the development of policy for backyard chickens, GE Free purchasing policy, and a Cowichan Food Policy.
In their role as an Island Health Food Hub, CGC also hosts the Emergency Food Task Force that was established in March 2020, as a result of Covid, a monthly meetup where all are welcome to join and engage in collaborative action to shape the Cowichan Region's food future. Their current initiatives include the reFRESH Food Recovery that has reclaimed and redistributed over 1 Million pounds of food since 2018, the reFRESH Marketplace, a low-cost grocery store, the Farm and Food Hub, a 3 ½ acre community farm, as well as Meals on Wheels, community meals for the temporary housing shelters and a youth homeless meal program. More recently, CGC partnered with the City of Duncan to operate the Cob Pizza Oven in Centennial Park offering free pizzas to vulnerable youth.
Hub Lead: Cowichan Green Community
Since becoming executive director of Cowichan Green Community in 2007, Judy and her team have helped to build community values around sustainable, local food in the Cowichan Valley region by working with food producers and providers, local governments, and local tourism organizations to develop sustainable and profitable food policies for the entire region. Her work, along with the work of community partners, has helped to establish the Cowichan Valley as a leader in local food movements, not just on the Island, but throughout B.C.
Within the Hub Collective, Judy continues to provide leadership in regional food policy, food-focused tourism, mapping initiatives, and developing meaningful relationships with local governments.
judy@cowichangreencommunity.orgAmanda is a Registered Dietitian with Island Health’s Indigenous Health Team. Her office is located on unceded Lək̓ʷəŋən territory in Victoria and she works with Indigenous communities throughout the South Island.
Her work centers around supporting community driven food initiatives and advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous voices, values and perspectives on matters that impact the health of the land, waters, and peoples on Vancouver Island. She supports the work of the food hubs by participating in food roundtables and creating space for meaningful collaboration with local Indigenous communities.
Originally from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan, Amanda is of Metis, French and Irish ancestry. She received her Dietetics degree from the University of Alberta and acknowledges that many of her learnings have been shared with her while working alongside communities. She is one of two, full-time dietitians with the Island Health Indigenous Health Team.
Aboriginal Health Dietitian: South Island
amanda.henry@islandhealth.ca
250-370-8258
Janet is a Public Health Dietitian with Island Health. Janet works with and supports child, youth & family oriented community programs and schools throughout the Cowichan Valley. Janet supports the work of the Cowichan Green Community in helping citizens improve their nutrition, food security and wellness. Janet works from the Duncan Health Unit, and gratefully acknowledges the traditional and unceded territories of the Quw’utsun, Lake Cowichan, Lyackson, Malahat, Penelakut and Stz’uminus Peoples.
Island Health: Cowichan Valley Regional District
janet.krenz@islandhealth.ca
250-709-3050 ext 45509
© Island Food Hubs