Greenest  City  Grant  Interim  Report  
 
Gord  McGee  
Food  Security  Facilitator    
Kitsilano  Neighbourhood  House  (KNH)  
 

February  25,  2011  

The  following  document  details  the  main  projects  of  the  Food  Security  Facilitator  since  late  
October,  at  KNH,  and  some  of  their  existing  and  projected  results.      

Food  Recovery  Project  

The  facilitator  conducted  research  on  food  recovery  on  the  Westside  from  November  2010  
through  to  January  2011.  The  work  focused  on  identifying  opportunities  to  raise  the  level  
of  food  recovered  and  increase  its  use  in  Westside  food  service  programs  for  vulnerable  
community  members.        

Interviews  were  undertaken  with  nine  food  service  agency  programs1  to  determine:    what  
sort  of  services  they  provide,  socio-­‐economic  characteristics  of  their  client  population,  #s  of  
clients,  cost  of  programs,  cost  of  donated  food,  present  food  donors,  kinds  of  food  required,  
when  food  is  best  delivered  and  to  whom,  amount  of  cold  storage  and  transportation  
capacity,  and  whether  they  presently  use  the  services  of  Quest,  Shared  Harvest,  the  Fruit  
Tree  Project,  or  Grow  a  Row  Share  a  Row.    

The  facilitator  also  met  with  6  local  businesses2  to  determine  the  kinds  of  goods  they  
presently,  or  can  potentially,  donate,  organizations  they  donate  to,  times  they  can  donate,  
whether  they  can  deliver  and  store,  and  the  kinds  of  criteria  they  use  to  determine  which  
businesses  to  support.    

                                                                                                                         
1  Service  agency  providers  interviewed  include:  South  Granville  Seniors  Centre,  Jewish  

Family  Services  Agency  (JFSA)  Food  Bank;  JFSA  Lunch  Programs,  KNH,  MPA,  St.  Mark’s  
Anglican  Church,  Kerrisdale  Community  Centre,  Westside  Family  Place,  Kitsilano  
Community  Centre  Shower  and  Breakfast  Program.  
2  Greens  Grocer,  Capers,  Cobbs,  Higher  Grounds,  Safeway,  Choices  (Would  like  to  interview  

Terra  Breads,  IGA,  New  Apple,  Young  Bros.  if  time  remains)  
  
Finally,  three  Food  Recovery  programs  were  interviewed:  the  Fruit  Tree  Project,  Quest,  and  
Shared  Harvest.  Each  organization  was  asked  about  the  details  of  their  program,  the  kinds  
of  food  accessible  to  Westside  service  agencies,  present  engagement  with  Westside  
organizations,  and  barriers  and  opportunities  to  reach  out  to  new  clients  on  the  Westside.    

Amongst  the  businesses  interviewed,  an  excellent  sign  is  that  many  already  donate  all  
possible  surplus  (Greens  Grocer,  Capers,  Choices,  Cobbs).  The  facilitator  identified  some  
new  opportunities  and  already    

From  initial  results,  a  number  of  observations  were  drawn  that  include:  

- A  recognition  of  new  opportunities  for  food  recovery.  For  example,  based  on  the  
research  work,  Higher  Grounds  now  freezes  all  of  their  end  of  day  baked  goods  and  
delivers  them  once  a  week  to  MPA’s  meal  programs.    
- Opportunities  to  continue  outreach  to  grocery  stores,  bakeries,  cafes  that  presently  do  
not  donate  their  food  surplus  (New  Apple  Grocer,  Young  Bros.  etc)  
- Some  businesses  deliver  food  to  the  DTES,  however,  many  food  service  organizations  
on  the  Westside  receive  little  if  any  donated  food  that  is  of  a  quality  they  can  use  for  
their  programs.  Work  is  underway  to  educate  local  businesses  about  the  vulnerable  
populations  within  the  Westside  and  outline  opportunities  to  directly  support  their  
immediate  neighbours.    
- A  number  of  service  providers  do  not  use  Quest,  Fruit  Tree  Project,  or  the  Shared  
Harvest  Site.    
Next  steps:    

Immediate  action  is  being  taken  to  capture  opportunities  to  develop  new  partnerships  
between  service  providers  and  local  business  and  food  recovery  programs.  The  facilitator  
is  compiling  the  results  of  the  research  into  a  useful,  user-­‐friendly  document  that  can  be  
accessed  online,  and  in  hard  copy  by  each  type  of  organization,  be  it  a  business,  a  food  
recovery  organization,  or  a  food  service  provider.  The  document  will  help  facilitate  
partnerships  by  enabling  donors,  collectors,  or  users  of  food  to  determine  potential  
partnership  organizations  that  interweave  well  with  their  own  food  exchange  needs.  The  
draft  document  is  already  in  use  by  Shared  Harvest  to  help  design  their  own  survey  system  
of  businesses  and  food  service  agencies,  and  to  enhance  their  system  to  meet  the  needs  of  
participants  in  the  food  recovery  system.  

Furthermore,  based  on  the  research  results,  the  facilitator  is  organizing  a  workshop  for  the  
second  week  of  March  that  brings  together  food  service  providers  to  determine  how  to  
better  access  food  surplus  within  the  community,  to  identify  solutions  to  identified  barriers  
  
to  the  use  of  food  surplus  (lack  of  transportation  and  cold-­‐storage  capacity).  The  providers  
will  also  receive  training  from  the  creator  of  the  Shared  Harvest  website,  and  presentations  
on  the  services  of  Quest  and  the  Fruit  Tree  project.  The  workshop  may  also  potentially  
include  existing  and  potential  business  food  surplus  providers  on  the  Westside,  with  
opportunities  for  food  service  programs  and  businesses  to  network  and  build  new  
connections.  Concerns  with  liability  and  permitting,  identified  as  a  barrier  by  some  service  
agencies,  will  also  be  addressed  in  presentations.  

Efforts  are  being  made  to  create  media  publicity  to  coincide  with  upcoming  food  security  
events  on  the  Westside  that  will  raise    awareness  in  the  community  of  the  food  challenges  
faced  by  a  significant  number  of  vulnerable  individuals  in  our  community,  highlight  the  
efforts  of  businesses,  food  recovery  orgs,  and  food  service  providers  to  help  vulnerable  
populations  in  our  community.  The  publicity  will  provide  information  and  resources  to  the  
community  for  ways  to  support  the  food  security  and  food  recovery  efforts,  be  it  through  
such  efforts  as  participating  in  the  Grow  a  Row  Share  a  Row  program,  volunteering  with  
the  Fruit  Tree  Project  or  MPA  kitchen,  or  donating  food  from  their  own  business.    

The  results  of  this  work  will  also  be  communicated  through  a  series  of  potluck  events  that  
celebrate  Westside  Food  Cultures,  and  the  amazing  food  security  efforts  made  by  Westside  
organizations  and  businesses  to  support  vulnerable  community  members.    

Related  Testimonials:    

“  Food  security  is  an  important  issue  in  Vancouver.    For  seniors  especially,  who  live  on  fixed  
incomes,  the  high  cost  of  living  in  the  city  as  well  as  how  much  that  cost  of  living  has  increased  
in  recent  years,  has  caused  challenges  in  terms  of  being  able  to  afford  nutritious  food.    While  
there  are  volunteers  who  put  a  lot  of  work  towards  food  security,  the  amount  of  work  is  large  
and  demanding  on  their  time.      

Having  a  Food  Security  Facilitator  has  been  very  beneficial  in  providing  a  person  who  is  
available  on  a  regular  basis  to  help  coordinate  food  security  initiatives,  distribute  
information,  and  provide  administrative  support.    Gord  has  become  the  person  who  we  at  the  
South  Granville  Seniors  Centre  go  to  with  any  questions  or  concerns  related  to  food  security,  
as  he  has  an  in-­depth  knowledge  of  what  is  happening  within  the  city  and  can  connect  us  with  
the  information  we  need.      

Also,  we  are  a  small  organization  with  relatively  few  staff  hours  available  compared  to  the  
services  we  provide,  and  Gord  is  supporting  us  to  connect  with  food  recovery  organizations  so  
that  we  can  create  a  project  to  connect  low-­income  seniors  with  healthy  meals.”  
  
-­‐Alanna  Larsen  
Program  &  Volunteer  Coordinator  
South  Granville  Seniors  Centre  
 

Westside  Winter  Response  Initiative  Meeting  in  December  2010  

The  facilitator  conducted  outreach  through  phone-­‐calls  and  meetings  to  gather  Westside  
organizations  that  provide  food  and  shelter  services  during  the  winter  for  vulnerable  
Westside  populations.  Representatives  at  our  main  meeting  came  from  Westside  social  
service  agencies  (Kits  Community  Centre,  Kits  Neighbourhood  House,  MPA),  health  
organizations  (Vancouver  Coastal  Health)  and  faith  based  organizations  (St  Mark’s  Church  
and  Anglicans  of  West  Point  Grey  Neighbourhood  Ministries).  A  number  of  other  
organizations  participated  in  the  dispersal  of  information  and  further  dialogue  and  
reporting  on  results  of  the  meeting  (Jewish  Family  Services  Agency,  South  Granville  Seniors  
Centre,  Kerrisdale  Community  Centre,  Dunbar  Community  Centre,  Westside  Family  Place,  
etc).    

Together,  the  group  generated  a  list  of  Westside  community  food  and  shelter  assets  for  
vulnerable  populations  in  the  winter.  The  group  identified  gaps  in  community  winter  
food/shelter  assets  and  continues  to  pursue  solutions  to  resolve  those  gaps.    

One  gap  identified  by  the  group  was  a  need  for  information  regarding  specific  numbers  of  
the  homeless  on  the  Westside  and  what  the  homeless  are  asking  for  with  regard  to  winter  
shelter  and  food.  In  response  to  this  identified  need,  Catherine  Leach  connected  with  UBC  
Geography  Department  and  the  Anglicans  of  West  Point  Grey  Neighbourhood  Ministries  to  
establish  a  grass-­‐roots  study  of  the  homeless  issue  on  the  Westside.  Once  past  ethical  
review,  students  will  research  where  the  homeless  are  located  on  the  Westside,  who  they  
are,  what  services  they  access  and  what  services  they  would  like  to  be  able  to  access  in  the  
winter.  The  students  will  take  a  grass  roots  approach,  meeting  with  local  faith  based  
organizations  and  non  profits  to  learn  what  they  can  about  their  interaction  with  homeless  
populations  as  well  as  opportunities  to  speak  with  the  homeless.  A  final  report  will  be  
prepared.  

Information  regarding  the  release  of  homeless  numbers  on  the  Westside  was  later  made  
known  after  efforts  by  Spring  Gillard.  Vancouver  Coastal  Health  answered  a  number  of  
questions  following  the  meeting  and  provided  updated  resources  for  members  of  the  group  
regarding  VCH  transportation  programs  for  vulnerable  populations  to  grocery  stores  
  
during  the  winter,  outreach  programs,  and  training  programs  for  service  agency  staff  
working  with  clients  with  mental  health  challenges.    

Testimonial:  

“  I  would  like  to  see  the  continuation  of  the  Greenest  City  Grants  program  continue  for  next  
year.  We  have  found  it  very  valuable  to  network  with  the  various  groups  in  Kitsilano,  learning  
about  their  organizations  and  what  we  can  do  to  help  each  other.  I  believe  that  this  helps  
create  strong  communities  within  the  city.”  
   
Penny  Rogers,  
Co-­‐ordinator,  Kits  Showers  Program  for  the  Homeless  
Contact  person  for  St.  Mark's  Extreme  Weather  Shelter,  a  part  of  the  Winter  Response  
Initiative  

Westside  Food  Security  Collaborative  

Since  July  the  Food  Security  Facilitator  has  undertaken  all  administrative  duties  for  the  
Westside  Food  Security  Collaborative  (WFSC),  managing  its  list-­‐serve,  generating  monthly  
meeting  agendas,  taking  and  publishing  minutes,  and  facilitating.  The  facilitator  initiated  
working  tables  to  help  solidify  the  terms  of  reference  and  guiding  protocols  for  the  WFSC,  
still  in  a  nascent  stage  of  governance.  To  date,  a  new  protocol  has  been  developed  that  lays  
out  the  criteria  to  decide  what  projects  to  endorse,  support,  or  develop  within  the  WFSC.  
The  Facilitator  has  reviewed  and  made  recommendations  on  the  2009-­‐2010  WFSC  goals  
and  taken  responsibility  to  help  bring  some  of  those  revised  goals  to  completion,  including:  
development  of  an  event  to  celebrate  WSFC  efforts  among  its  members  and  the  general  
public  and  raise  awareness  of  food  security  issues  and  solutions  on  the  Westside.    

The  facilitator  has  also  undertaken  considerable  research  to  support  the  Fruit  and  Veggie  
Deal  (FAVD),  a  volunteer  driven  good  food  box  program,  as  a  part  of  the  goals  of  the  WFSC,  
and  expand  it  to  reach  out  to  vulnerable  isolated  seniors  and  disabled  on  the  Westside.  A  
funding  application  to  the  United  Way  was  unsuccessful,  however,  attempts  continue  to  
support  the  FAVD  and  increase  the  effectiveness  of  its  efforts.    

Testimonials:    
  
“As  co-­chair  of  WSFSC,  Gord’s  work  has  been  invaluable  in  ensuring  the  collaborative  
streamlines  its  processes  and  moves  forward  with  its  goals  and  objectives.  Gord  has  helped  
us  re-­focus  back  to  our  raison  d’etre.”  
 
Lisa  Ross  
Director  of  Basic  Resources  
Jewish  Family  Service  Agency  
 
Conclusion  

The  work  of  the  Greenest  City  Grant  Food  Security  Facilitator  at  Kitsilano  Neighbourhood  
House  has  a  number  of  successful  outcomes  to  date  with  the    organizing  of  the  Kitsilano  
Growers  Market,  Winter  Response  Initiative,  food  recovery  research,    and  administrative  
and  governance  support  of  the  WFSC.  The  facilitator  now  looks  forward  to    completion  of    
larger  goals  through  organization  and  facilitation  of  upcoming  food  recovery  workshops  in  
March,  organization  and  facilitation  of  celebratory,  awareness  raising  events  of  food  security  efforts  
on  the  Westside,  and  media  and  partnership  presentations  that    promote  food  security  efforts  on  
the  Westside  and  inspire  public  participation.      

 
If  you  have  any  further  questions  on  the  work  of  the  Food  Security  Facilitator  at  KNH  
please  do  not  hestitate  to  contact  me.    
 
Sincerely,  
 
Gord  McGee  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gord@kitshouse.org                                                  2325  West  7th  Ave.Vancouver  BC  V6K1Y4  
www.kitshouse.org,                                                    Phone:  604-­‐736-­‐3588              cell,  778-­‐686-­‐5702  
Fax:  604-­‐736-­‐3640