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. |
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
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Collaboration
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Strategic Priorities (2020-2025)
- Advance a resilient place-based food system in Squamish
- Increase agricultural land productivity and improve access to foodlands
- 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.