Alberta Regional Food Systems Forum 2017
Cultivating Connections
February 3 - 5, 2017
Edmonton, Alberta
On Feb 3-5 2017 Alberta Food Matters and FLEdGE – Food Locally Embedded, Globally Engaged – hosted a very successful Cultivating Connections 2017 Forum about Alberta Regional Food Systems. The purpose of this Forum was: 1) to bring together individuals and representatives from public, private and non-profit sectors in Alberta to share information about innovative initiatives; 2) to identify opportunities; and 3) to collaborate in building socially just, economically viable and ecologically sound and sustainable local/regional food systems in the province. The Forum provided a venue for those interested in forming partnerships, coalitions and action-oriented working groups toward this end. It was a gathering to talk about our Alberta regional food system. By taking part in this Forum 2017 participants would:
• Gain a deeper understanding of the interconnections between the present food system, the environment, health, community and issues of access/affordability.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the economic, social and environmental benefits of supporting and strengthening local/regional food systems in Alberta from field to table to waste.
• Examine existing assets and gaps in the local/regional food systems in Alberta.
• Examine existing government (municipal, regional, provincial) policies and programs relevant to the development of sustainable ecologically sound localized food systems, and compare with other jurisdictions and best practices.
• Join with other participants in knowledge and experience sharing, collaborative evidence based problem solving and identification of opportunities to build sustainable ecologically sound localized food systems.
Three Hundred and forty-two people took advantage of the Forum in some way. Two hundred and thirty people attended the entire Forum from Friday to Sunday. The Forum brought together delegates from across Alberta, who talked, shared and explored the future for Alberta’s vibrant food system. The participants discussed pressing food-related issues, charted the direction for the future and celebrated Alberta’s lively food culture. What a wonderful mix of people we had: chefs, farmers, researchers, teachers, educators, health practitioners, decision makers, economists, waste warriors, students and lots members of the public!
Friday, February 3, 2017
Edmonton City Hall
Let’s Talk Food: A Panel Discussion among Edmonton-area Mayors
Kevin Jones, Lisa Holmes, Billy Morin, Tom Flynn, Don Iveson
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Northlands Expo Centre
Keynote: Keep Calm, Dig In, Be a Solutionary
Wayne Roberts
Ramping Up Food Production: Access to Capital-How to Attract It
Dana Penrice (moderator), Rick Dehod, Seth Leon, Sylvia Cheverie, Tam Andersen, Victor Benitez (removed by request)
Ramping Up Food Production: Access to Land - How to Acquire Space
Kathryn Lennon (moderator), Kristi Peters Snider, Erin Isaac, Jessica Letizia, Heather Shewchuk, Travis Kennedy, Marian Weber
No video
Ramping Up Food Production: Access to Training & Labour - How to Find Knowledge & Skills
Christine Anderson (moderator), Dustin Bajer, Alison Blay-Palmer, Jennifer Burns-Robinson, Dr. Kenneth Fry, Ian Griebel, Dustin Morton, Melisa Zapisocky,
No video
Ramping Up Food Production: Access to Processing
Brent Swallow (moderator), Brenda Barritt, Ken Gossen, Charlie Hansen, Bryanna Kumpula,
No video
Jessie Radies (moderator), Eric Doef, Travis Kennedy, Jerry Kitt, Poul Mark
The Role of Local Food Enterprises and Consumer Choice in Shaping Regional Food Systems: Scaling Up and Scaling Out
Bill Reynolds (moderator), Daniel Chappell, Peter van Stolk, Janelle Herbert, Craig Mackenzie
No video
Susan Roberts, (moderator), Stephanie Bach, Debra Davidson, Kristine Kowalchuk, Michael Moore, Denise O’Reilly
The Role of Local Food Enterprises and Consumer Choice in Shaping Regional Food Systems: How Our Personal Food Purchasing Behavior is Shaping Regional Food Systems
Mary Beckie (moderator), Meghan Dear, Ellen Goddard, Pearce Shewchuk
No video
All In! All the Time! Citizen Engagement and Social Justice: How Do We Do It Well at the Community Level?
Sacha Deelstra (moderator), Joanna Campiou, Krista Milford, Kate Stenson, Ashley Thompson
No video
In! All the Time! Citizen Engagement and Social Justice: Just Do It!
Elizabeth McLennan (moderator), Dianne Brown, Scott Hall, Jyoti Lamba, Renee MacKillop
No video
All In! All the Time! Citizen Engagement and Social Justice: Let’s Own It!
Susan Roberts (moderator), Diana Bronson, Crystal Lameman, Michael Moore
All In! All the Time! Citizen Engagement and Social Justice: Everyone Is In!
Ronda Reach (moderator), Calvin Avery, Kelly Mills, Sandra Ngo, Alison Van Dyke
No video
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Northlands Expo Centre
Waste as a Resource: Where Waste is Hiding? Exposing the Waste in our Food System
Debra Davidson (moderator), Christina Seidel, Aurea Siemens, Rob Ironside
No video
Waste as a Resource: Realizing Waste’s Potential - Innovations in Organic Waste Processing
Stephanie Bach (moderator), Mark Grunert, Joey Hundert, Marc Legault, Dan Rollingson, Mike Dorion
No video
Marsha Shack (moderator), Marjorie Bencz, Sandra Ngo, Lourdes Juan, Leanne Moreira
Michael Moore (moderator), Sheryl McCumsey, Ken Fry, Luke Wonneck, Takota Coen
Harnessing Big Food Buying Power: Getting More Local Food on More Plates
Elizabeth McLennan (moderator), Diana Bronson, Jessie Radies, Bobbi Beeson, Lilas Bielopotocky, Renee MacKillop, Simon Smotkiwicz
Harnessing Big Food Buying Power: How to Sell to Institutions, Corporations and Community Organizations
Bill Reynolds (moderator), Kimmarie Allen, Marjorie Bencz, Dianne Brown, Steve Logan
No video
Leanne Hedberg (moderator), Corbin Bourree, Janelle Herbert
Policy Plenary: The Way Forward: Food Policy Entrepreneurship
Wayne Roberts (moderator), Jason Cathcart, Caitlin Dorward, Krista Milford, Kristi Peters-Snider
Summary and Wrap Up
Wayne Roberts & Annand Ollivierre (moderators)
No video
