Survey
A big hello from Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC! For those of you in other parts of Canada/the Globe VIU is a relatively small campus located on Vancouver Island, just off the west coast of BC. As the three Campus Food Strategy Group Coordinators for the 2011-2012 year, we would like to express our excitement at being selected for this new initiative. Our names are Jesse Alexander, Celia White, and Leah Chesterman. The CFSG is a program under Meal Exchange that encourages healthier and local food choices on University Campuses across Canada. We are also members of VIU’s “Solutions: a Sustainability Network”, a student club on campus that dedicates itself to promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable ideas on campus
Our goals for this program target the institutional purchasing system for our cafeterias and food service providers. We hope to adjust the food system to accommodate local produce from on campus or within the community as much as possible. We see many opportunities at VIU to integrate our Community Gardens and University Programs such as Horticulture, Fisheries and Aquaculture into our food system. Reducing the ecological footprint of a necessary industry such as food production is essential to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, preventing deforestation and similar issues.
For more information, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at viu@studentfood.ca.
Dec 11, 2012
Hey guys! A pair of VIU Anthropology students, James Nielsen and Jackie Wunderlick, recently created this mini documentary of the VIU Food Movement. Check it out!!
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support during the 2012 year. We look forward to building on our successes with you in 2013.
March 15, 2012
We had an incredibly successful kickoff event last Tuesday with an inspiring talk from keynote speaker, Nick Versteeg. Thanks to all those students who came out and participated! Check out the photos from the night below.
Feb 28, 2012
Hey everyone! We would like to invite all VIU students and faculty to attend our Inaugural kickoff event on March 6′th. Nick Versteeg will be our keynote speaker on food security, sustainability and related topics. Afterwards there will be a free locally sourced dinner and an open student forum so you can let us know what YOU want to see happen at VIU! Check out the event on facebook: VIU Student Food Forum and CFSG Kick-off event! – VIU Team
Feb 1, 2012
Check out the trailers to these documentaries! “Island on the Edge” is a film outlining Vancouver Island food production and discusses what may happen in the event that VI is cut off from outside food sources by unforseen circumstance. The second documentary, “Food Security – It’s in Your Hands”, answers a variety of questions ranging from bees to soil, to how to people into farming. The Producer of both films, Nick Versteeg, will be our key-note speaker for our kickoff event on March 6. Come check it out!
Food Security – Its in Your Hands
Also, feel free to join our newly formed facebook group: VIU Campus Food Security Group. Have a good week everyone! -VIU Team
Some pictures of our current campus food system:
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- Our growing campus community garden
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- Larger community accessible plots
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- Jean volunteering in the garden
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- Our growing orchard
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- Cafeteria beverage options
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- Cafeteria Salad Bar
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- Snacks
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- and more snacks
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- Soup & Bannock at the Gathering Place
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- Bagged lunch support kitchen
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- Culinary Herb Garden
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- Coffee Shop Confectionery
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- Jumping Java Coffee Shop
Most interested in what you are doing. I have been cooking since 1957 and have been lucky to be successful and happy in my work. I live on a mountain with a small b&b and a 10 chair dining room, 150 acres of wilderness, 25 minutes from Canadas Parliament in Val des Monts Quebec. How can I help you ?
I have cooked over most of Canada and the U.S.OF A…….
sincerely, Gordon Hoselton, chef de cuisine 819-671-0305
Hi Gordon!
Thank you so much for your interest! It sounds like you live in a beautiful place, and that you do great work.
I am not sure how you could help us. We are situated on Vancouver Island, on the west coast of British Columbia, so you are situated very far away from us. Did you have any ideas as to how you could help?
Thanks again for your passion!
We popped in to VIU Duncan last week to check out the food options or perhaps I should say the non-options. Food operators do have a choice in the foods they serve and the packaging they use. If a small operator like us can try to do the right thing so can others. Together we can change things for the better! If you agree, Like us on FB to show your support!
Thanks for your input Laurie! The Campus Food Strategy Group is located at the Nanaimo campus of VIU, and we would love to extend our reach to the other campuses, including Duncan. Our work has just begun, and so far a lot of exciting progress has been made. Hopefully we will extend to Duncan in the next few years!