Events and Workshops – March 2010

Panel on Food Security; Migrant Worker Rights; Environment versus Jobs

March 6 2010, 9:30am, Maritime Labour Centre
Part of the Redistribution of Wealth: Economic and Environmental Justice from Indigenous and Faith Perspectives Conference, March 5‐7. More info at: http://www.interfaithjustpeace.org/program.php

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New Westminster Food Mapping Event

Tuesday, March 9th, 6:30-8:30pm
Olivet Baptist Church, 613 Queens Avenue@ 7th Street, New Westminster

The New Westminster Community Food Action Committee will be hosting our food mapping event this coming Tuesday evening from 630pm to 830pm.

In this event, you will be learning about what our community’s current status is in regards to access to food. The main part of the event will be mapping out the various types of food outlets in our community. This could range from major grocery stores to your favorite local bakery. The map will help those who are new to the city, and those are unaware of certain food services find their way through our city.

Event details can be found in the poster.

RSVP @ newwestfood@gmail.com OR Phone 604 522 3443 EXT 30

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Upcoming Workshops @ the Sharing Farm in Richmond

March 13th 10am-12pm – Growing & Using Medicinal Herbs – Join acclaimed author Robin Wheeler in the fundamentals of growing and using medicinal herbs. Hosted by the Richmond Food Security Society. To register, contact arzeenahamir@shaw.ca or call (604) 727-9728. Cost $25.

March 13th 1-3pm – Personal Food Security – How food secure are you as an individual or family? Do you have access to fresh, locally-sourced produce? Can you preserve food while it’s in season? Do you cook? These are just some of the questions that Robin Wheeler, author of Food Security for the Faint of Heart will answer. Cost $25. To register, contact arzeenahamir@shaw.ca or call (604) 727-9728.

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Rhizome Free Store: Seeds, Plant Cuttings, and Garden Stuff

Sunday, March 14, 5 – 8pm
Rhizome Cafe, 317 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Share what you have! Get what you need!
Each month, the Rhizome Free Store has a different theme, allowing us to share our resources with each other. This month, we’ll be sharing garden stuff: seeds, plant cuttings, and gardening tools.
Bring things to share! Come browse the free store, and choose some new (to you) items.
Free!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150287142575001

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Food Skills for Families

Mondays 2 pm -5 pm. Starting Monday Feb. 15th 2010.

Are you interested in cooking healthy, tasty food, on a smart budget while learning new recipes and skills? Join us for a free 6 week course. Interested? Leave name and phone number with front desk at REACH or call Carol Ranger 604-254-3987 ext 2

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Site Analysis and Field Workshop at Cedar Cottage Community Garden

Sunday, March 21st 10:30 AM
Cedar Cottage Community Garden, Hull St. @ Victoria Drive, East Vancouver
Permaculture workshop. $5 donation per person.

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Community Kitchen Leadership Workshop

Thurs, March 25, 2010, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave

During this one day workshop you will have the opportunity to find out more about community kitchens, different ways a group can work, and how you can lead or start a community kitchen. Select ONE of the following dates: 
 Thurs, March 25, 2010, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
. Thurs, June 3, 2010, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. 
Location: Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave. For more information: Contact Darlene Tanaka at darlenet@foodbank.bc.ca, 604-876-0659 ext 105

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The Drive to Resilience: Envisioning the Future of Commercial Drive

Friday, March 26, 2010, 10am-3.30pm
The WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Vancouver

Resilience is about understanding our changing world, and taking action to enhance the strength of our communities to cope with environmental, social and economic challenges. What does resilience mean for Commercial Drive?

Join SFU’s Semester in Dialogue students, in partnership with the Commercial Drive Business Society, for a creative, action-oriented conversation about the future of this neighbourhood. This dialogue will provide a venue for residents, community groups and representatives of local businesses to share their ideas, and connect with other individuals and organizations to help translate them into action.

RSVP by Wednesday, March 24, using our online form at http://websurvey.sfu.ca/survey/52572817. Feel free to bring your organization’s promotional materials for our display table, and to invite anyone you know in the community who might be interested in attending.

More information at: http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/undergrad/resilience.html

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Burnaby Food Forum

Wednesday, March 31, 2010: 8:30am – 1:30 pm
Shadbolt Centre, 6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby

Join us for a community forum on the future of food in Burnaby, hosted by Burnaby Food First. Local community groups will showcase their successful projects, participants will discuss food issues in Burnaby and plan for a resilient local food system. Lunch provided.

Everyone is welcome. Please register by emailing: burnabyfoodforum(at)gmail.com

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Job Postings

Executive Director, LifeCycles Project Society

LifeCycles Project Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating awareness and initiating action around food, health and urban sustainability in the Capital Regional District. We work proactively to promote and create personal, shared and community gardens, research and educational activities and youth skills development programs. Through partnerships we strengthen individual, community and global health. 

15 hours a week at a rate of $25.00/hr post probation. 3-month probation period at $23.00/hr. Application deadline: Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: Applications will only be accepted via email to Katie@lifecyclesproject.ca. Please include a cover letter and résumé, addressed to the attention of the LifeCycles Hiring Committee.

Full posting at www.lifecyclesproject.ca

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Community Kitchens Facilitator with Interest in Mental Health

Application deadline - Apr 7, 2010

Pathways Clubhouse is a non-profit organization located in Richmond, BC, that supports people recovering from mental illness through housing, employment, and education, and wellness programs.

They are seeking a facilitator to host a monthly community kitchen session for adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. Participants may have difficulty making healthy eating choices due to constrained budgets, limited cooking knowledge/skill, and lack of access to healthy ingredients. The goal of this kitchen program is to build capacity in cooking, nutrition knowledge, and food security.

Their monthly community kitchen is held one Tuesday a month, and the rate is $120 per session, which includes 2.5 hours of shopping and menu planning and 2.5 hours of hands-on kitchen time.

For more information: Please refer to the job posting.

To apply: Please send a resume and cover letter by April 7, 2010 to Charlene Dy, Wellness Coordinator, at charlene.dy@cmha.bc.ca. For questions, call 604-276-8834.

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Job Opportunities with the SFU Local Food Project

Are you interested in building community food security? Are you passionate about local food, environmental and social justice, and creating more sustainable food systems on campus? Are you looking for rewarding and challenging part-time work this summer? If you have the vision, energy, passion, and dedication to help grow the SFU Local Food Project, we encourage you to join our team!

Please note: deadlines have been extended! Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. We encourage all interested candidates to submit a cover letter and resume as soon as possible.

Positions available with the SFU Local Food Project:

• SFU Pocket Market Site Coordinator - Apply by April 8 2010

• SFU Local Food Project Communications Internship - Apply by April 9 2010

• SFU Local Food Project E-Newsletter Writer Internship - Apply by April 9 2010

Positions Available with the Coquitlam Farmers Market Society:

• Coquitlam Farmers Market Job Postings (5 additional postings listed) – Apply by April 8 2010

Thanks for your interest in working with us! We look forward to hearing from you.

Please contact us at info@sfulocalfood.ca should you have any further questions.

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Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project – Sharing Farm Internship Available

Application deadline: April 10, 2010

Sharing Farm Internships are available to full-time student who will be returning to college or university in the fall of 2010 and be 18 to 30 years of age.

The Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project (RFTSP) is a non-profit community organization that grows vegetables on donated lands for the Richmond Food Bank and other agencies. The Richmond Fruit Tree’s Sharing Farm grows organically and is located in Terra Nova Rural Park at the west end of Westminster Hwy. Successful candidates will report to a team of volunteer Board Directors and a Farm Manager. The Sharing Farm site is not on a direct bus route. It is accessible by bus with about a five minute bicycle ride from the nearest bus stop. For more information about the Sharing Farm please visit www.richmondfruittree.com

For more information on the duties and qualifications and how to apply:  Please see the job posting

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Volunteer Opportunities

Community Kitchen Volunteer Positions in New Westminster

The Lookout Society is seeking a volunteers for a community kitchen in New Westminster.  The  major  program  goals  of  the  Community  Kitchen  are  to  strengthen  community  capacities  and  to  improve  the  nutritional  well-­‐being  of  the  participants.

a)  Community Kitchen Facilitator who would be responsible for the coordination and  facilitation  of  a weekly community kitchen  with residents of housing programs.  The role of coordinator may be shared among more than one leader.

and

b) Community Kitchen Support Team Members who would be responsible  for assisting  in  and  supporting  the  coordination  and  facilitation  of  a  weekly  community  kitchen  with  residents  of  housing  programs.

The program schedule is determined by input by all participants

These are  eight-­‐week  volunteer  positions,  beginning  in  early  May,  with  the  possibility  of  another  Community  Kitchen  being  offered  in  Autumn  and  twice  a  year.  Candidates  must  consent  to  a  criminal  record  check.

Program duration: 8 weeks (repeated annually).

For more information: View the volunteer postings at the Lookout Society website: http://lookoutsociety.ca/Volunteer.html

To apply: Qualified  applicants  can  mail  or  fax  resume  with  cover  letter  to:  Karen  Young  kareny@lookoutsociety.ca

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Guerrilla Gardening Coordinator  – Vancouver Public Space Network

A love of green mixed with a dash of stealth: The VPSN is looking for someone who’d like to lead the green guerilla team in the greening of underutilized city spaces. Nothing illegal required, just a sense of fun, creativity and a little organization. Last year’s activities included making and spreading seed balls, vacant lot clean up and cultivation, and spreading the hardy goodness of kale. There is already a crew of people interested and ready to create new projects. For more information, visit http://vancouverpublicspace.ca/index.php?page=volunteer-job-list or contact info [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

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Grandview Woodlands Food Connection

The Grandview Woodlands Food Connection is a grassroots food security group supporting residents to access healthy and affordable food. We are developing a number of community based food initiatives, including community gardening, canning workshops, arts based food initiatives, and more and are looking for individuals interested in hands-on project coordination. Check out our projects at http://gwfoodconnection.blogspot.com. Call Ian @ 604-718-5895

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The Food 2 U Program

The Food 2 U Program is a partnership between the Vancouver Food Bank and Vancouver Coastal Health. The program delivers food to seniors or persons with a disability most Friday mornings and is looking for volunteer drivers (with their own car) and passengers. Mileage will be reimbursed for those using their vehicles. Volunteers must be able to work well with people and be physically able to lift 20-25 lb grocery bags. Familiarity with the downtown area is an asset. For further information, please contact Carrah Boume at (604)215-3931.

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