Advocating
Explore Our Work On:
A Whirlwind Year for Next Steps for School Meals
Last year was a whirlwind for Next Steps for School Meals. In January, we were making our first introductions and creating an advisory group. Throughout the year, we developed a comprehensive plan to hear from as many perspectives as possible. By December, our consultations were well underway. We held focus groups, sent surveys, and had countless meetings and conversations. Our approach has since become a guiding example or model for other Atlantic provinces. We’re excited to be part of the growing school meals movement in Canada.
Our first phase of work is wrapping up in early 2025, along with our final report and recommendations. It promises to be another exciting year with lots ahead!
Welcoming over 75 provincial and national stakeholders at our Next Steps for School Meals Summit
Creating an inclusive Advisory Committee with 37 provincial school food stakeholders
Conducting three rounds of initial surveys with N.L. schools, to understand their school food environment, offerings, and needs. We heard back from 89 – 95% of all schools in each survey!
Hosting 12 focus groups with folks across the province, including five with youth about their experiences and insights
Conducting five Regional online workshops to update regional partners and community members on school food in N.L. and answer their questions
Launching four new surveys for individuals to get feedback about
Labrador school food
School food in small schools with less than 100 students
Parent/caregiver perspectives, and
School staff/admin/teacher perspectives
2024 Project Highlights
Highlights from our Next Steps for School Meals Summit in May 2024.
“Whatever we collectively do today will not only impact students now but set them up for their entire future and the future of our entire country”
Food First NL staff, Summit panelists, and keynote speaker Joshna Maharaj at the Next Steps for School Meals Summit in May 2024.
Expressing Our Gratitude
Our Advisory Committee Members, community and national partners, NL Schools, and NL Health for their guidance and expertise. Special thanks to Nancy Hollett and Heidi Boyd.
School lunch providers for opening their doors to us and inviting conversations about the future.
All of our survey respondents and focus group participants, especially school staff, parents, caregivers, and students for providing invaluable feedback.
So many people made our work in 2024 possible. The list is far too long to include everyone here, but we are overwhelmed with gratitude for each contributor.
Learn More
Article about our Next Steps for School Meals Summit (CBC News)
Segment about our ongoing school food consultations (NTV News)
Getting Country Foods in Healthcare with the Labrador Anchor Collaborative
The residents at our long-term care pilot in Happy Valley-Goose Bay love our country food meals. By the end of 2024, the pilot served 21 meals to rave reviews. With this success and learning, we know it's time to expand our project and figure out how it could work elsewhere.
Last year was a time to plan, learn, and grow. We met with countless community members, local stakeholders, and organizations who also work with country foods. We spent time building relationships and learning from their insights and experiences. Every piece of knowledge about how country foods can and should be integrated is valued by our Team. As we continue to learn, we look forward to expanding our work in Labrador and beyond in 2025.
Labrador Regional Food Animator Dana Marshall and CEO Josh Smee assist staff at a long-term care facility to prepare a meal of country foods for residents.
2024 Project Highlights
Hosting our Country Food Gathering in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, having conversations with community members, and meeting with Joseph Murdock Flowers from Nunavut’s Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre
Serving a joyful country food meal to long-term care residents in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Holding 26 core Collaborative meetings and the inaugural meeting of our Advisory Group
Collecting data and expertise for our forthcoming discussion paper about including country foods in provincial health services
Gotta get our moose b’y!
We were excited to get our first charitable moose licence this year. Labrador Anchor Collaborative advisory group members Denley Jacque (left) and Edwin Russell (right) had a successful hunt and filled our licence. They delivered the professionally processed meat to the long-term care home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador Correctional Facility, and the Labrador Friendship Center.
Expressing Our Gratitude
Our Collaborative Members for their time, dedication, and expertise. Each member plays a vital role in the project’s success. A special thanks to former member, Patricia Kemuksigak, for her wonderful contributions.
The Indigenous Governments and organizations, food service staff, and healthcare professionals who work with us and provide guidance and support.
All of the Indigenous hunters, harvesters, and gatherers for their traditional knowledge/practices and ensuring access to culturally appropriate country food.
Surveys and homemade jams for Nourish’s Community Gathering attendees in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Learn More
Our blog post introducing the Labrador Anchor Collaborative’s work (Food First NL)
Segment live from a country food meal at the Long-Term Care Home in HV-GB (CBC Labrador Morning)
Policy Engagements
Food First NL engages both formally and informally in the policy process. One way we formally engage is through pre-budget submissions. Last year, we submitted a lengthy set of recommendations to the Government of Canada for their 2025 Budget. We also participated in formal and informal consultations led by the Federal and Provincial Governments and community sector partners. The right to food connects us to a broad range of issues. These consultations included everything from environmental impact assessments to gender-based violence.
We also engage with policy by supporting national-level advocacy campaigns. In 2024, we hosted several events for Disability Without Poverty’s Better the Benefit campaign. We also helped guide and inform advocacy work by Coalition Canada basic income and the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
Our Advocacy in the Media
The more we talk about real solutions to food insecurity, the more people realize that something different is possible. That’s why we take every opportunity to share our thoughts and amplify the voices of our partners and community members.
In 2024, we responded to 33 advocacy-related interview requests, from the national to the provincial, on radio, video, and print.
We’re proud to be one of many groups working towards a future where everyone can eat with joy and dignity. The chorus of voices calling for change is growing louder.
2024 Advocacy Interview Highlights
Panel show on systems-level change and the future of food charity (CBC The Signal)
Article on income-based solutions to food insecurity (Canadian Press)
Our thoughts on the latest Hunger Count results for N.L. (CBC Radio-Canada)
Article on basic income’s potential to reduce food insecurity (The Independent)