Local Food represents an economic development opportunity that municipalities may want to support. But where to start? Hear from jurisdictions that have developed good local food programs in keeping with the municipal role. Learn about resources that exist to guide your efforts and help evaluate your programs.

1. Engaging Municipalities & Other
Key Stakeholders to Work
Together on Local Food Policies
Moving from Talk to Action

2. Land
Environmental
Degradation
Soil
Erosion/Loss
Overproduction
Financial Viability
Loss of Agricultural
Land
Food System
Assessment,
Planning,
Action &
Policy
Production
Skill Loss
Pesticides & Fertilizers
Climate
Globalization
Greenhouse
Gas Emissions
Fossil Fuels
& Peak Oil
Food Disruption
Vulnerability
Food Supply
Chain vs. Web
Packaging
Processing
Distribution
Pollution
Infrastructure
Safety
Consumer-Producer
barriers (conflicting
regulations)
Business
Costs
Energy-dense
foods
Buying
Selling
Rising Food
Prices
Manufacturing Claims/Menu
Labels
Hunger
Food Banks
Food
Deserts
Acces
s
Consumption
Waste
Poverty
Social
Isolation
Food Insecurity
Nutrition
Disease
Skill Loss
Education
Overconsumption
Excess Packaging
Infrastructure
Recovery
Transportation
& Storage
Land value/speculation
Development
Complexity of the
Food System
Note: Based on work by Jennifer
Parker (UofT) for the City of
Hamilton in 2013

3. 
Outline
- Haliburton County & Harvest Haliburton
- Share Process for Official Plan Reviews
- Key to Success
- Helpful Resources

4. How many have visited
Haliburton County?

5. www.HarvestHaliburton.com
Grass roots
Volunteers
Support creation sustainable food
system for Haliburton County

7. Community Food Assessment
(CFA)
“A CFA is a powerful way to tell the story of
what is happening with food in a community,
and to mobilize efforts to improve the food
system. Through such assessments, diverse
stakeholders work together to research local
food system, share findings, and implement
changes based on their findings &
recommendations.”
Community Food System Assessment Washington
State University Extension Service

8. Prior to CFA work need to focus on
diverse stakeholders work together
Educate Key Stakeholders & Decision Makers
Collaborative Process
Build Partnerships
Engage Community Members
Cultivate Trust
Establish a CFA Steering Committee
• pride & ownership

9. January 2014
Recruiting CFA Steering Committee

10.  Municipal Policy
Planning
 Food Production &
Consumption
 Food Access
Spring 2014
Assessment Priorities

11. • Hired Consultant with Land Use
Planning expertise
• Reviewed local OPs
• Reviewed other municipalities’
OPs with similar features i.e. rural,
lack prime agricultural lands, seasonal
tourism major economic base
Municipal Food Policy Working Group
Fall 2014 - Winter 2015

12. • Environmental Scan
• Interviews with Key
Stakeholders
• Set Priorities and made
recommendations for policy
adoption as it relates to the
Official Plan
Municipal Food Policy Working Group
Fall 2014 - Winter 2015

13. Food and the Official Plan Report
Now What?

14. Highlight Successes
• Involved with two OP reviews
+ supportive language change
• Representation from all municipalities
actively participating with decision making
• Retained 80% CFA committee members
• Request to assist with by-law amendments
for Backyard Hens

15. Key for Success
Collaborative Process
 All decisions were made in a
collaborative fashion
“ Working together collaboratively
changes us from isolated units into
one voice; it breaks down barriers
and made us more effective”

16. Key for Success
Engaging Stakeholders, Building
Partnerships & Trust
“It strengthened those of us who care
about food security and sustainability to
work closely with one another -
especially working with Municipal
Councilors and staff - we have the
chance to influence municipal planning
in a really important way.”

17. “… community gardens leads have
expressed excitement in knowing that the
municipal planning group is working toward
supportive statements in county official
plans which will greatly support the work that
they are doing and aid in strengthening
community gardens across the county.”
Feedback on Collaboration
and Partnership

18. Tips for Success
• Initiator/Connector/Leader
• Identify and Engage Key Stakeholders
• Collaborate with a Common Vision
• Plan for Action and Measurable Outcomes
• Listen to your Community – identify needs
• Never stop building relationships
• Celebrate successes

19. CFA Tool Kits
Facilitator’s Guidebook 2011 Community-Based Food Assessment and Planning
http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/3108/3108-9029/3108-9029_pdf.pdf
What’s Cooking in Your Food System?
A GUIDE TO COMMUNITYFOOD ASSESSMENT
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/s_Cooking_Part_A.pdf
Community Food Assessment Guide
http://www.phsa.ca/Documents/communityfoodassessmentguide.pdf
Review of Best Practices and Model Programs to Improve Food System Resources
That Promote Public Health and Environmental Sustainability
https://marinfoodsystem.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/appendix-2-review-of-best-
practices-and-models.pdf

20. Official Plan Tool Kits
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Website
http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1759.aspx
Building Complete and Sustainable Communities:
Healthy Policies for Official Plans – Hastings and
Prince Edward County Health Unit
http://www.pecounty.on.ca/pdf/HealthyPoliciesforOfficialPlans_Final_we
b_1.pdf

21. Connecting Food with Municipal
Decisions

22. https://www.amo.on.ca/AMO-
PDFs/Reports/2013/2013BestPracticesinLocalFoodAGuide
forMunicipalitie.aspx

23. Supportive Agencies &
Organizations
• Local Health Unit
• OMAFRA
• Ontario Healthy
Communities Coalition
• Sustain Ontario- Municipal/Regional Food
Policy Group

24. Questions?
Rosie Kadwell,
Chair of Harvest Haliburton
Registered Dietitian
HKPR District Health Unit
www.harvesthaliburton.com
rkadwell@hkpr.on.ca
1 866- 888-4577 press 3
X 3238