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There are a variety of opportunities to get involved with organizations who support improving food security on a national and local level. Learning about different initiatives from across the country can also spark inspiration and learning can be shared.
Opportunities
Campus-Based Organizations and Food Provision Services
University of British Columbia Simon Fraser University University of Victoria
University of Alberta University of Calgary Lethbridge University
University of Saskatchewan
University of Manitoba
*Yukon
*Northwest Territories
*Nunavut
Carleton University George Brown College University of Guelph Lakehead University McMaster University University of Ottawa Queen’s University Ryerson University University of Toronto University of Waterloo Western University
Concordia University Université Laval McGill University Université de Montréal
Memorial University of Newfoundland
University of New Brunswick
Dalhousie University Mount Saint Vincent University
University of Prince Edward Island
*Students in Northern Canada face an added level of difficulty to food access to the geographic, transportation, and climatic challenges of both growing and/or delivering foods to campuses and the community as a whole. Access to proper nutrition in the North of our country, whether it be on campuses or beyond, continues to be a key area of development for food security scholars, policy architects, and health workers in Canada. We encourage you to educate yourself on the systemic causes and consequences of food insecurity in Northern Canada, and consider what role you can play in addressing possible solution.
Do you know of other provincial opportunities? Let us know here.
Regional and National Organizations
Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute: A hub for agri-food leaders to come together, share insights and advance ideas on emerging issues facing this important sector. They reflect systems thinking, researching complex and interconnected food issues, bringing diverse voices to the table — from across agri-food supply chains, governments, researchers and among adjacent sectors; and provide reference points, source material and education for stakeholders.
Canadian Fair Trade Network: A network of grassroots activists, academics, institutional and business leaders working to create a fairer and more sustainable world.
Canadian Federation of Students: The federation provides students from across the country with an effective and united voice, provincially and nationally. They create space and foster opportunities for students to join together in creating lasting change and winning victories, both on and off campus.
Canadian Nutrition Society: The leading Canadian society that integrates disciplines and professions interested in nutrition, including nutrition scientists and professionals, healthcare/clinical practitioners, government and policy makers, industry representatives (food developers, processors, manufacturers and distributors), and future leaders/trainees.
College Student Alliance: College Student Alliance (CSA) advocates on behalf of Ontario college students in partnership with student leaders. Through their member student associations, they represent the collective voice of Ontario's college students.
Community Food Centres Canada: Builds food security by partnering with local non-profit organizations to allow people access food that’s fresh, nourishing, affordable, and culturally appropriate, build skills, improve health, make social connections, and contribute to communities. They also share knowledge and resources with a community of like-minded nonprofits from across the country (called Good Food Organizations), and advocate to advance meaningful and substantiative income policies at the federal level.
Food For All New Brunswick: Food For All New Brunswick provides leadership in the advancement of food security in New Brunswick through networking, knowledge and information sharing, and partnership building.
Food First Newfoundland & Labrador: Food First NL works with communities in Newfoundland & Labrador to ensure everyone has access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food. A provincial, non-profit organization that collaborates with a network of 300 like-minded organizations and individuals to improve food security in NL.
Food Secure Canada: A pan-Canadian alliance of organizations and individuals working together to advance food security and food sovereignty through three interlocking goals: zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and sustainable food systems.
FoodShare: FoodShare is a food justice organization, advocating for the right to food, and working to challenge the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing the food they need to thrive.
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance: The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) represents the interests of approximately 150,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at eight student associations across Ontario.
Regenesis: Regenesis is an organization focussed on creating practical student-led environmental initiatives and programming, many of which focus on improving access to good food for students.
Think Upstream, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: A national project of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives providing research on social determinants of health; recognizing that social, ecological, and economic conditions shape people’s health and the wellbeing of our communities.
Regional and National Conferences
Arrell Food Summit: A summit that brings together food leaders and experts from across the system to co-create solutions and discuss how we can work together to ensure a healthy and resilient future of food.
Canadian Agri-Food Policy Conference: The CAFP is the premier national policy outlook for the agri-food sector. The conference attendees and presenters consist of a blend of distinguished scholars and industry stakeholders with knowledge of critical issues and potential policy solutions facing the agri-food system in Canada today.
Canadian Association of Food Studies Conference: An annual conference that promotes critical, interdisciplinary scholarship in the broad area of food systems, including policy, production, distribution, and consumption.
Food Secure Canada Assemblies: Assemblies to engage in a national conversation about our food system in all its aspects, and to meet with hundreds of leading thinkers in the Canadian food scene, including activists, policy makers, businesses, researchers and interested citizens, workers and associations.
Science Atlantic Nutrition and Food Conference: Food systems conference comprised of nutritional and food scientists, students and educators from each University in the Atlantic Provinces.
Volunteer and Employment Opportunities
Federal Student Work Experience Program, (FSWEP): An opportunity to gain experience working for the Canadian government, with an application process tailored based on interest, experience, and region
FoodWork: Canada's largest community of sustainable food professionals, job seekers and volunteers. Opportunities with sustainable farms, gardens, food businesses, restaurants, nonprofits, volunteering.
GoodWork: Canada's largest community of environmental change-makers, sustainability professionals, job seekers and volunteers. Connects motivated, passionate people with opportunities in environment and sustainability, meaningful work with environmental organizations, sustainable business, and the municipal and federal government