Sunday, June 19, 2011

Mayor Nenshi: "I support the Urban Chicken Pilot Project"

Read more! Mayor Nenshi, at the time a candidate for Mayor, attended the CFPC Food & Sustainability Mayor's Forum on World Food Day, Saturday, 16OCT10.

With less than 24 hours before the 2010 Calgary Civic Election, Mayor Nenshi stated that he supported an Urban Chicken Pilot Project. Now, this does not, by any stretch, suggest that he supports Urban Chickens, but he does support knowledge based data gathering on the issue.

Jump forward to June 2011 and the City of Calgary (#yyccc on twitter) Legal Department is still pursuing the prosecution of an Urban Chicken owner, Paul Hughes (me). The legal department is now directly contravening multiple imagineCalgary targets, including 6 specific food targets. The hole the City of Calgary Legal Department (and as an extension, Calgary City Council) is digging gets deeper and deeper.

Add to the mix the concept of urban, periurban and rural agrarian/agricultural urbanism transects (thx Ald. Gian Carra), Article 25 of the UNHRD, Sections 1 & 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom and The City of Calgary Council's own CSPS034 Fair Calgary Policy, and the YYCCC Legal Department is essentially stepping into an ambush, except there are signs everywhere indicating that it is an ambush... which means they are precariously disconnected from their own policy, legislation, governance targets and society.

Solution?

1. Drop the charges against Hughes (me),
2. Resurrect the Urban Chicken Pilot Project that was so skillfully constructed by Bylaw Director Bill Bruce and his staff,
3. Pursue the facts of Urban Chickens and Urban Agriculture,
4. Immediately implement imagineCalgary Food Targets
5. Adopt Urban Ag Zoning Codes
6. Support the Calgary Community Farm Initiiative
7. Amend the draconian Community Gardening policy
8. Support the efforts of citizens working on the Land Inventory Food Assessment
9. Catalogue all municipal land and create the conditions for citizens to easily access these areas for local food production
10. Allow the 80% of Brownfields that were formerly gas stations to be used for temporary Food Retailing, ie Farmers' Markets
11. Plant that garden at Old City Hall

We shall see how progressive our elected officials are.



@ International Hotel
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Next CFPC meeting is Monday, 27June11 @7pm... Location TBA

Read more!
Next CFPC meeting is Monday, 27June11 @7pm... Location TBA. Membership is free. Any1 can attend & any1 can vote.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

SlowFood Calgary presents Local 101/201 and Small Farm Summit

Read more!

SlowFood Calgary presents Local 101/201 & Small Farm Summit

Our friends over at SlowFood Calgary are hosting this event. Please visit the links and support local food in Alberta.

Local 101, 201…A Festival of Films and a Celebration of the Local Environment, Local Food and the Farmers who Produce it




Local 101: Ingredients for a Sustainable Culture
April 29th and 30th- The Uptown, 612- 8th Ave. S.W.

Local 201: Alberta Small Farms Summit
May 1st- The University of Calgary, ICT Building -CLICK FOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS MAP

TICKETS:
Friday Evening: $20, $10 for students ( ID must be presented) and low income
Saturday Day Pass: $50 for Slow Food Members, $60 for non-yet-members, $30 for students and low-income.
*25% Calgary Dollars accepted
All sessions are FREE for CHILDREN 12 & under

Tickets available at Sunnyside Natural Market, 338, 10th St. N.W. and Forage/Infuse Catering, 3508, 19th St. S.W.

OR REGISTER HERE

NOTE: Tickets will also be available at the door for Friday ($25), Saturday afternoon ($45) and Saturday evening ($25)

*DOOR PRIZES*
Raw Bar at Hotel Arts – $100 Gift Certificate
Janice Beaton Fine Cheese – $100 Gift Certificate
FARM – $125 Gift Certificate
River CafĂ© – 2 x $125 Gift Certificate
Boxwood – 5 x $20 Gift Certificate

LOCAL 101: Friday Schedule April 29th @ The Uptown

6:00PM- Doors open
6:30 PM-Welcoming Remarks- Kris Vester, President, Slow Food Calgary
6:35 PM- Local 101 History- Wade Sirois, Founder of Local 101/201, local food chef
6:45 PM- Opening Keynote: Thomas F. Pawlick, (Author, ‘The War on the Countryside’ and ‘The End of Food’)
7:00 PM- Film: DIRT (running time 80. mins)

LOCAL 101: Saturday Schedule April 30th @ The Uptown

9:00 AM- Community Walk- Interested participants meeting at Higher Ground on Kensington Rd., walking through Sunnyside and checking out alternative energy systems, community garden, pesticide free park, other interesting sites, continuing on through downtown and looking at “green” architectural elements in some downtown commercial buildings, ending at the Uptown with time to stop for lunch before things get rolling for the afternoon. (No charge)

12:00 PM- Doors open.
12:30 PM- Talk: Water- Speaker, Julia Ko, Water Matters
12:45 PM- Film: ‘Burning Water’ (Running time, 43 mins.)
1:30 PM- 15 min. break
1:45 PM- Talk: Pollinators- Speaker, Eliese Watson
2:00 PM- Film: ‘Vanishing of the Bees’. (Running time, 90 mins.)
3:30 PM- 15 min. break
3:45 PM- The Foundations of Food Panel discussion: Soil, Water, Pollinators, Nutrition and Economics
4:30 PM- Talk and video presentation: Nutrition, Weston Price Foundation, Calgary Chapter.
5:00- 6:00 PM- Dinner break (Local food establishments will be selling local food)
6: 15 PM- Local Food Panel discussion: John Wright (Thomson Small Farm), Paul Hughes (Urban Agriculture), Tim Axe (Terra Caratatis Patris Farm), Wade Sirois (Chef, Infuse/ Forage).
7:00 PM- Film: ‘The Economics of Happiness’. Running time, approx. 90 mins.)
8:30 PM- Closing Keynote: Hugo Bonjean, (Author, ‘Seed of Germination or Termination’ and ‘A People’s Power’
SOCIAL GATHERING: Attendees are invited to congregate in the Marquis Room at The Uptown for drinks and networking!

LOCAL 201: Sunday May 1st Schedule @ The University of Calgary, ICT Building

10:00 AM- Slow Food Calgary AGM for Slow Food Members- ICT room 122, University of Calgary
or
10:00 AM- Sustainable Energy Workshop -Sponsored by Arusha Centre- ICT room 114, University of Calgary
11:30 AM- Light lunch – and producer information available all day -Food supplied by Sunnyside Market – ICT room 116, University of Calgary

12:30 PM- Local 201: Alberta Small Farms Summit – ICT room 102 (theatre), University of Calgary

Breakout sessions to follow in ICT room 121, University of Calgary

HEAR about the local history of agricultural fairs and exhibitions!
ASK about the implications of the incoming provincial land use framework!
BRING your farm bio!
WIN the Silver Buffalo!
MEET the good folks of ‘FarmOn’!
LEARN about the ‘Expand/Explore Local’ program!
SPEAK in a panel discussion!

“DON’T FARM ALONE! Join other local “small” producers at the Summit. Share info and insight on issues ranging from legislation and current best practices to marketing options. All producers planning to attend are asked to bring a current bio to participate in a peer review process and the opportunity to take home the Silver Buffalo award. Admission to the Summit is free but participants are asked to confirm attendance by emailing farmsmall@gmail.com. The Summit will explore where we (as small farmers) are coming from, where and who we are and where we’re going. Please continue to check this website for additional details of presenters and panel participants.

Questions or concerns can also be forwarded to farmsmall@gmail.com.


Friday, April 22, 2011

KidsFarm receives Alberta Government Ministerial approval!

Read more!
KidsFarm application receives Alberta Government Ministerial approval!




Get involved! Join KidsFarm and get connected to your local food system.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

CFPC Elections 2011: 28April11 @International Hotel @6.30pm

Read more!
CFPC Elections 2011: 28April11 @International Hotel @6.30pm

CFPC Elections 2011 28April11 630pm






The following positions are up for election:

• Chairperson
• Vice Chairperson
• Policy Development Coordinator/EAC Representative
• Secretary/Treasurer
• Social Media/Communications Coordinator
• Liaison Coordinator
• Events Coordinator
• Youth Policy Coordinator
• Ways and Means Coordinator (FundRaising)

CFPC – Roles and Responsibilities


Chairperson:

● Liaise with Board members as appropriate to draw up meeting agendas
and confirm arrangements for meetings.
● Set meeting dates and locations.
● Chair meetings in a respectful and effective manner.
● Be well prepared on topics to be discussed, request agenda items in
advance.
● Keep to the agenda, allow adequate time for each agenda item and be
prepared to guide and end discussions.
● Encourage all members to participate in the discussion and ensure all
voices are heard.
● Should a vote be required, clarify the voting procedure and clearly state
the proposals.
● State clearly the agreed outcomes of discussions and votes.
● Liaise with Board members as appropriate over any action to be taken as
a result of decisions taken at the meeting.
● Represent the organization and act as spokesperson when required.
● Be available for consultation as necessary.
● Ensure that the organization’s staff & volunteers are supervised and
supported.
● Contact and brief new Board members about responsibilities.
● Ensure a good hand over between old and new committee members takes
place.
● Take overall responsibility for legal, health & safety and insurance
matters.

Vice Chairperson:

● Deputize for the Chairperson in their absence.
● Adopt the responsibility and authority of the Chairperson when
appropriate.
● Co-operate with the Chairperson to encourage and promote the work of
the organization and Board members.

Policy Development Coordinator/EAC Representative:

● Represent the CFPC on the EAC (Environmental Advisory Committee)
● Provide expertise in the area of food policy.
● Liaise with government officials (e.g. municipal, provincial, federal) in
order to develop policy and affect change within government.
● Maintain contact and flow of information with other food policy councils
in other jurisdictions.
● Remain astride of food policy developments in other jurisdictions.
● Lead policy recommendations and development for the CFPC.

Secretary/Treasurer:

● Record the minutes of all Board meetings as well as the minutes of any
committees to which the Secretary is assigned, making sure that all
actions are duly noted.
● Circulate minutes and notes to Board members and/or committees, as
appropriate.
● Keep all the records of the association in a safe place.
● Keep a record of all policies approved by the Board in the association's
policy manual.
● Maintain and monitor a calendar of important dates for the association
such as grant filing dates, audit dates, etc.
● Dispose of old documents only with the approval of the Board.
● Make sure that all files are in good order for the next Board Secretary.
● Lead and assists in the preparation of the budget.
● Monitor the budget.
● Ensure the Board's financial policies are being followed, where
applicable.
● Report to the Board of Directors and general membership on finances.
● Prepare any required financial reporting forms.
● Maintain all bank accounts.
● Write and signs off on cheques, with support from other signing
authorities.
● Pay rent, bills or other fees, as applicable.
● Maintain financial records in a secure manner.
● Oversee all financial transactions.

Social Media/Communications Coordinator:

● Engage with the public through social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter,
blogs).
● Manage content of social media.
● Liaise with media (e.g. news/radio); serve as point of contact for media
inquiries.
● Prepare media releases.
● Prepare newsletters and other communications for members.
● Develop materials for communication with the public.


Liaison Coordinator:

● Maintain communication with liaisons.
● Remain-up-to-date on liaison activities.
● Create synergies between liaison activities.
● Communicate liaison activities to the rest of the Board.


Events Coordinator:

● Organize events, with assistance from other Board members.
● Coordinate volunteers for events (e.g. tabling).
● Seek out event opportunities and secure positions.
● Coordinate fundraising events with CFPC Ways & Means/Fundraising Coordinator

Youth Policy Coordinator


● Maintain communication with Youth groups, especially post secondary institutions
● Remain-up-to-date on Youth activities.
● Create synergies between Youth activities.
● Communicate Youth activities to the rest of the Board.


Ways and Means Coordinator (FundRaising)


• Motivating and facilitating supporters to maximise the funds they raise.
• Developing new and imaginative fundraising activities, many of which will be events-based.
• Work with CFPC Event Coordinator.
• Raising awareness of the CFPC and its work, at both the local, provincial and national level.
• Increasing funds by researching and targeting orgs whose criteria match the CFPC's aims and activities.
• Developing and implementing a strategy for individual and corporate supporter recruitment and development.
• Overseeing corporate fundraising, including employee giving and matched giving from employers.
• Managing and updating databases to record donor contact and preference information.
• Recruiting organising and managing volunteers to fulfill various functions within the CFPC.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Vandana Shiva, Global Food Justice Champion, speaks in Calgary

Read more! Calgary Food Policy Council is a cosponsor of this event.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi will present the 2011 Calgary Peace Prize to Vandana Shiva, world famous environmentalist.

Vandana Shiva, Global Food Justice Champion, speaks in Calgary



Vandana Shiva speaks on democracy, gender, development & social justice

March 9, 2011 7:00-8:30pm
Murray Fraser Hall 162,
University of Calgary 
Tickets: $12.00 online - $15 at the door

An Evening with Vandana Shiva Facebook Event
http://bit.ly/VandanaYYC


To purchase advance tickets, visit www.netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/shiva or call 403.220.2136
All event information available at www.ucalgary.ca/peacestudies

Supported by:
Calgary Food Policy Council, Slow Food Calgary, Calgary Centre for Global Community, Project Ploughshares, Social Work Students, Political Science Students, India Canada Association of Calgary & Shastri Indo-Canada Institute

Lecture opens with Indian Classical Music, samosas, chai & Dr Shiva’s books will be available for purchase

Organized by Consortium for Peace Studies

Monday, January 10, 2011

FoodStock 2011: Saturday, 29Jan11 @Kingsland Farmer's Market 2pm-5pm

Read more! LETS TALK ABOUT FOOD!
Quality and access to food are important considerations for 2011. Both globally and locally our food choices have a major impact on our environments and communities.
Through a series of presentations and speakers we hope to inspire Calgarians to take a closer look into our local food system.

This event is a food & family friendly fundraiser for the “Canadian Right to Food Trial” which will be going to court on Feb 14th, 2010. Tickets are a suggested $5 but we encourage everyone to attend the event and give what they can.

PRESENTERS NEEDED
Do you have something important to say about food?
Perhaps a solution to some of the challenges Calgarians face in accessing quality food?
Now is a great time to contribute your voice to the dialog.

We are currently seeking musicians to play acoustic sets as well as artists who would like to contribute pieces (%50 commission) to our silent auction.

Contact:
Event Coordinator
oryxzen@hotmail.com

Music Coordinator
reghano@gmail.com

For more information on the “Canadian Right to Food Trial” visit http://www.scribd.com/doc/43910904/Paul-Hughes-CLUCK-vs-The-Queen-Canadian-Right-to-Food-Trial