Food System Resiliency Table
History and Mission Statement
In response to the systemic issues, underlying risks, fragilities, and inequities in global food systems and those shocks were felt here at home in Guelph-Wellington, the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington’s Our Food Future initiative laid the groundwork for the Food System Resiliency Table (The Table). This unique regional food policy and programming working group brings together a multi-sectoral cross section of community leadership to:
- Learn lessons from the pandemic and resist the attempt to return to business as usual;
- Continue with building and supporting a food system transformation that builds resilience at all levels;
- Ensure that diverse groups of people are leading from their lived experience and active in building a resilient food system for all; and to
- Support the transition to a circular food economy that is designed with equity, prosperity and sustainability at the core.
Current Projects
Food Charter Revitalization
The first action of the Table is a commitment to revive and refresh the 2011 Guelph-Wellington Food Charter and Toolkit. This important document brought together over 150 stakeholders to rally around a shared vision for a better food system. The Table will be working to modernize the language of the Charter aligning it with our local vision of circularity, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and creating a suite of digital tools that will make the information accessible to audiences both old and new.
Unearthing an Oral History of Food Activism in Guelph-Wellington
With funding from the Musagetes Foundation, the Table is inviting applications from local artists to create a digital expression of the history of food activism across Guelph and Wellington County.
“Unearthing an Oral History of Food Activism” is looking for a community artist to co-host a series of events with a diverse group of community partners to document stories of the lands, waters, cultures, people and events that contribute to the rich history of food culture and food justice in Guelph and Wellington County. The artist will create an accessible, compelling and memorable digital expression that combines audio and visual elements to capture the themes gathered in the engagement phase.
Emerging Work
We anticipate that actions emerging in 2022 will include policy work, community engagement and strategic planning to integrate our work into both City and County Councils.
Public Meetings
The Table will connect diverse stakeholders from the food, farming, and community to make a better food system for all of us. Since officially launching in late 2021, the public working group has been meeting internally to build relationships and set the priorities for the next two years.
We host open meetings 4 times a year, in the months of February, May, September and October. The theme for the meeting will be shared via social media the month before. Watch for the link to sign up. All are welcome and we aim to provide a light meal and bus tickets.
Join us!
Do you have an interest in working towards a better food system for all? The membership of the Table is characterized by a diversity of lived experiences and rich connections throughout the regional food system. Current participants of the Table represent the rich diversity of Guelph and Wellington including but not limited to differences in race, colour, sex, age, religion, socio-economic situation, culture, gender identity and expression, and ability. Participants are appointed based on one or more of the following areas:
- Their professional or community experience reflects the values and principles that align with the mission of The Table
- They bring skills and experience in at least one arena of community food security that allow them to contribute to The Table
- They can help The Table to initiate dialogue and partnerships with at least one distinct population grouping in Guelph and Wellington.
Application Form
Thank you for your application to the Food System Resiliency Table.
There is no deadline for applications. They will be reviewed as they are received with applicants being contacted following review.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to email: [email protected]!