Squamish CAN is the backbone organization for the Squamish Food Policy Council.

Squamish CAN is a registered not-for-profit grassroots community organization that has operated a variety of environmental projects since 2009 in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish, BC). Squamish CAN's mission is to educate, support, and empower the community of Squamish by developing, promoting, and implementing sustainable strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 
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(Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 2022)

Strategic Plan

The Squamish Food Policy Council (SFPC) has been advancing sustainable place-based food systems and food security initiatives in the region since 2015. Prior to 2015, the local non-profit Squamish CAN (Climate Action Network), that is the backbone for the SFBC, has been working on sustainable food systems since their inception in 2009. Squamish CAN provides an established organizational structure including a Board of Directors and staff.
Mission
Our mission is that all members of Squamish have access to nutritious, ecologically sustainable, and culturally appropriate food at all times. We envision that Squamish Valley food and agricultural lands are protected and productive, and producers, processors, growers, foragers, and knowledge-holders are supported.
Values
  • Resilient local food systems
  • Productive foodlands
  • Environmental, social health, and economic sustainability
  • Social justice
  • Indigenous Food Sovereignty
  • Food literacy
  • Celebration
Collaboration
  • Actively foster partnerships with other agencies working on food and agriculture initiatives 
  • Provide a platform for community to network and share resources
  • Support Indigenous Food Sovereignty
  • Participate in regional, provincial and national initiatives and conversations that impact our local food system
Policy
  • Influence and advise on policies, regulations, and bylaws that support a resilient local, sustainable, fair, accessible, and healthy food system, at all levels of government
  • Convene members from the community, non-profit, health, education, agriculture, business, and governance sectors to provide input into food policy and initiatives
Education
  • Engage in community outreach to advance public education on food literacy, agriculture skills, and traditional food ways, and to encourage public participation
  • Facilitate intergenerational knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices and research to enhance local food production and strengthen the agri-food economy
  • Exchange information across sectors to bridge gaps and build support
Projects
  • Undertake high value, meaningful projects
  • Support groups developing and implementing projects to enhance the food system
  • Lead implementation of the Squamish Valley Agricultural Plan, in collaboration with the District of Squamish and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
  • Complete assigned Food Task Force special projects

Strategic Priorities (2020-2025)

  1. Advance a resilient place-based food system in Squamish
  2. Increase agricultural land productivity and improve access to foodlands 
  3. Expand organizational capacity and reach

    Strategic Priority 1: Advance a resilient place-based food system in Squamish

    Goal Increase community food assets by ensuring access to local food through social, economic and environmental sustainable practices

    Actions 2020-2022
  • Facilitate Land-Linking Program (SVAP 1.1)
  • Work with urban and rural producers on reducing conflicts between food production, agriculture, and wildlife (SVAP 3.3)
  • Continue to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives with agricultural stakeholders (SVAP 4.1)

    Actions 2022-2024
  • Explore local or regional food hub (OCP Objective 26.13)
  • Deepen dialogue with Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) on foodlands and agricultural activities (SVAP 1.3)
  • Disseminate information about the range of crops that can be grown in the Squamish Valley (SVAP 1.4)
  • Encourage regenerative agricultural practices (SVAP 3.5)
  • Maintain Food Asset Map and development of Squamish Food Guide (SVAP 6.1)
  • Work with Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) to integrate Indigenous food systems and resource management perspectives and knowledge within food plans and initiatives (SVAP 6.2)
  • Facilitate Farm and Agri-food Workshops (SVAP 6.4)
  • Identify and support opportunities for school-aged children to learn about and engage in the food system (SVAP 6.5)
 
       Strategic Priority 2: Increase agricultural land productivity and improve access to               foodlands

          Goal Facilitate the expansion of a sustainable food system through policy and land access

          Actions 2020-2022
  • Identify opportunities and locations for enhancing land access for agriculture initiatives and determine the feasibility of a community farmland trust for the Squamish Valley (SVAP 1.2)
  • Develop Procurement Strategy: Good Food Pledge and Policy (SVAP 2.4)
  • Continue to encourage policies and practices for maintaining and increasing pollinator health (SVAP 3.1)
  • Encourage farmers to participate in the Environmental Farm Plan Program (SVAP 3.4)
 
           Actions 2022-2024
  • Identify and pursue viable solutions for local meat processing (SVAP 2.3)
  • Support efforts to review and educate on farm tax policies (SVAP 5.7)
  • Engage and educate the financial sector and real estate industry in agri-sector land use issues (SVAP 6.7)

       Strategic Priority 3: Expand organizational capacity and reach         

          Goal Strengthen our impact locally, regionally and provincially 

          Actions 2020-2022
  • ​Offer capacity building services to organizations regionally and provincially 
  • Continue work and collaborate after wrap up of Squamish-Lillooet Regional Food Task Force

          Actions 2022-2024
  • Explore options to expand regionally 
  • Professional development
  • Ensure continuity in staff
  • Deepen people's understanding of what food policy councils do and the community benefits 
  • Achieved reliable core funding so we can provide secure meaningful jobs

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Squamish Food Policy Council

The Squamish Food Policy Council’s work aligns with seven of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These goals were created to provide a globally shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
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SFPC advocates for increases in sustainable agriculture and food production to alleviate perils of food insecurity.
SFPC supports ​sustained and inclusive economic growth in sustainable agriculture that create decent jobs for all, improves living standards, and protects the environment.
SFPC contributes to the sustainable growth of our community through protecting ALR land and access to green space (community gardens, farms, and schoolyard gardens).
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SFPC facilitates responsible consumption and production of food, by advocating and actualizing place-based food systems through growing food, creating policy, and community capacity building.
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SFPC promotes climate change adaptation and mitigation through improved education and awareness-raising, specifically on the positive impacts of place-based food systems.
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SFPC advocates for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources and fisheries through policy.
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SFPC recognizes that nature provides us with our oxygen, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops, and produces our food, and therefore advocates for the protection and sustainable management of agricultural lands.