Real people making a real difference in the fight against hunger
With a national network consisting of food banks, agencies, and provincial associations, Food Banks Canada is proud to be part of a community that is driven by a passion to impact lives for the better. These are the stories that feed our desire to make a difference.
There’s something wholesome about getting your hands dirty in the garden and growing your own food. That’s if you ask Alex Boyd, the executive director of Fredericton’s Greener Village food bank in New Brunswick. “There’s just something therapeutic about working the ground, being outside, and getting the fresh air and the sunlight,” Boyd says. “I…
We are always interested in hearing more about the individuals in food banking across Canada! This month, our spotlight is on Dan Huang-Taylor from Food Banks BC. What is your role in food banking? I am the executive director for Food Banks BC. I am part of a team of six staff that support our…
There’s a lot more to food banking in Canada than meets the eye. In the network of over 4,750 hunger relief organizations supported by Food Banks Canada across the country, donations of money and food — combined with local storage and distribution capacity — are brought together by food banks of all different sizes in…
When life gives you potatoes, make tuktu poutine! That’s what the Ikurraq Food Bank in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut did after receiving 22,500 pounds of P.E.I. potatoes distributed by Food Banks Canada between March and May this spring. Utilizing its strong food recovery network, the Ikurraq Food Bank secured funding to purchase cheese and gravy, and…
Every year, food banks in Canada strive to ensure that individuals experiencing food insecurity are provided with fresh and nutritious food where and when they need it most. With the abundance of choices on the shelves of your local grocer, accessibility to these items may appear relatively easy. However, with the increasing cost of living,…
Child hunger in Canada is a serious issue. Year after year, one of the most alarming findings to emerge from Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount report is how disproportionately food insecurity is impacting children — even in a country as wealthy as ours. According to HungerCount 2021, one third of food bank clients in Canada are…
We are always interested in hearing more about the individuals in food banking across Canada! This month, our spotlight is on Arianna Scott from Food Banks Alberta. What is your role in food banking? 2011–2018: Executive Director, Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Fort McMurray, Alberta 2013–2015: Various Positions on the Board of Alberta Food Banks Network…
When Shontell MacInnis was working as a teacher in Iqaluit, she remembers how serious an issue summer child hunger was for her students. Now on the board of directors for the Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank in Iqaluit, MacInnis says Canadians need to work together to ensure sufficient access to safe and nutritious food for…
Not all people experience food insecurity equally. Some populations, like people living with HIV/AIDS, are more vulnerable to hunger because of ongoing stigma and discrimination rooted in homophobia, transphobia, racism, and gender-based violence that they face. According to Food Banks Canada research, people living with HIV/AIDS are more likely to experience poverty and rely on…
Since time immemorial, the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation people in northern Alberta have used Gipsy Lake to gather fish as a healthy source of food in the winter. However, following the creation of the reserve system, the administrative base for the Nation became Janvier 194, which is located about 50 kilometres southwest of Gipsy…
