From June 7 - 10, 2022, the Nourish Anchor Cohort gathered for the first time in person in Montréal, Québec. Over a series of workshops, visits to a farm, hospital kitchen, and various community food initiatives, participants saw, learned from, and tasted what it’s like when health care and community comes together to strengthen food security.
Learning from Stephen McComber & welcome reception
We began the Gathering with an opening address from traditional artist, Elder, and renowned Haudenosaune seed keeper Stephen McComber, who shared with our attendees about his experience working in rhythm with the seasons of the earth and the moon.
Afterwards, participants of the Anchor Cohort and special guests joined us for the first time that the Cohort was meeting in person, sharing stories and getting to know one another over food and drinks.
“Sometimes it feels like you’re swimming upstream when integrating more local, traditional foods in health care. It was great to be with likeminded people.””
Making fresh produce accessible for Montrealers
At Jardins Carya, farmer and co-founder Ramzy Kassouf shared about his vision for farmers to contribute to the food security of communities in Montreal, through both providing fresh produce to consumers at an accessible price, and supplying public institutions such as hospitals and daycares.
A representative from the Quebec ministry of agriculture (MAPAQ) was also present, who talked about the Politique bioalimentaire, Quebec’s strategy for the bio-food sector, which has mandated public institutions to set a target for local procurement by 2025. While the group walked between rows of lettuce and peeked into greenhouses, participants witnessed firsthand the power of policy mobilizing public funds to encourage the local economy and make nutritious, sustainable foods available to all.
“It’s one thing to see a farm online , and another thing to go from farm to hospital tray. I’ve been in food service for more than 25 years, where there has often been little consideration for environmental impact. But now we are seeing that change, getting back to what are we doing, why are we here.” ”
This is what a hospital meal could look like,
with local produce in a salad, marinated tofu over a bed of rice, avocado, tomato, a spicy dressing and chocolate cake for dessert.
Guided by food services manager and previous Nourish Innovator Josée Lavoie, the Anchor Cohort got a behind-the-scenes look at the award-winning Délipapilles program at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Working with local producers near the Island of Montreal, Josée and her team of dedicated staff have built a room service program that features plant-forward and sustainable ingredients. Over the past few years, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with a dramatic increase in patient satisfaction and decrease in waste.
“I feel a creativity rising up, to be surrounded with people with the same mindset.” ”
Reimagining what food security could look like at the Carrefour solidaire Centre-Sud
Executive Co-Director Marie-Claude Ouellet Morin took participants on a walking tour through their neighbourhood in the southeast of Montreal., showing us the Carrefour solidaire’s multiple sites: a community grocery store with sliding scale pricing, a local produce market at the metro station, community kitchens, gathering spaces, and a street dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, where the citizens take part in caring for gardens and share in the harvest.
The visit with the Carrefour solidaire showcased one of the most visionary food security organizations in Montreal, who are working to bolster not only access to food but also food autonomy, while strengthening the social fabric of the community.
“There is nothing like being in person to build relationships. I now feel more comfortable to reach out to another team to learn about how they tackled similar challenges.””
Photos: Rachel Cheng Photography.