Also, we’ve commenced a four month pilot project ( Sept – Dec)  in collaboration with Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Regional Distribution Food Association at our most popular stadia / arena’s concession where 70% of the menu has been replaced with healthy and traditional foods. Tho only a few weeks in, I’m beginning to hear some excellent feed-back. I’ll provide more details and an update later in October when I’ve more statistical data & feedback to report on.

Thunder Bay lost its local fish processing plant 20+ years ago. A couple young local entrepreneurs started up a new one & their doors opened ~ 4 weeks ago(Canadian Freshwater Fish).  This upstart company built indigenous relationships & buys it’s fresh fish direct from on-reserve commercial fisherman. Thus we’ve been able to tick a couple boxes on this success. We will be further experimenting with fish pieces and renderings into some recipes.  

I appreciate the efforts of Nourish and it’s cohorts(Cathy & others) who’ve brought awareness of traditional foods forward. Tho I practice on a personal basis,  I hadn’t connected incorporating into an institutional food stream.  

In the summer newsletter, Dan Munshaw writes about the environmental and community benefits of strategic procurement for the City of Thunder Bay and how he’s modelling ways in which public institutions can reclaim ownership and power in supply chains when they demand local food. Read more.