Policy for Police Engagement

Protecting team and community members from harassment and violence  Since September 2020, FoodShare has had a policy in place to guide decision making when presented with opportunities to engage with police throughout the delivery of our programs and social enterprises. Our approach is aligned with our commitments to social, and in particular racial justice, and […]...read more August 12, 2022

Fundraising Guidelines

Towards a justice-oriented approach to fundraising With inspiration from The 10 Principles of Community-Centric Fundraising and The Revolution Will Not Be Funded At FoodShare, we orient our approach to fundraising in justice and equity. As fundraisers, this requires us to have an understanding — and to continue educating ourselves — on the systemic forms of […]...read more March 25, 2022

Body Liberation and Fat Acceptance Statement

In 2019 when a small group of FoodShare staff started working on a set of guidelines to address and avoid anti-fatness and body policing in the organization, finding an umbrella term for this work was a challenge. At the time, we called it our ‘Body Positivity‘ statement because we wanted to use something people had […]...read more September 21, 2021

FoodShare’s Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation

In efforts to take meaningful steps towards truth and reconciliation, FoodShare commits to: 1. Two new permanent paid organization-wide shutdown days for all staff to engage in the work of reconciliation. FoodShare’s Board recently approved a motion to introduce two new and permanent shutdown dates. Moving forward both June 21 (National Indigenous People’s Day) and […]...read more July 1, 2021

A call for compensation info on job posts

We’ve had over 90 organizations and more than 380 individuals join the call for transparency in compensation for jobs posted on the site. An open letter to Charity Village Re: All job posts should include compensation information Dear Charity Village, We are writing this open letter to have a public conversation about your organization’s approach to […]...read more June 4, 2021

Stop the Genocide of Indigenous Peoples

Stop the Genocide of Indigenous Peoples June 1, 2021 FoodShare is a food justice organization. We are collectively grieving. Residential schools were part of a genocidal project meant to eradicate Indigenous peoples, destroy culture, language, and food ways. The legacy of residential schools continues to cause harm. And without meaningful work towards truth and reconciliation, […]...read more June 1, 2021

Paid Sick Days Now

An open letter to the government of Ontario Re: Paid Sick Days The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario The Honourable Christine Elliott, Minister of Health Mr. Faisal Hasan, MPP York South-Weston During the pandemic FoodShare has seen a massive increase in demand for our Good Food Box delivery service — including delivering more than […]...read more April 20, 2021

The 2021 Federal Budget – 7 Things We Need Now

A federal budget is our government’s opportunity to outline their priorities. It’s how and when they tell us what they are putting at the top of their to-do list. Here are seven things the team at FoodShare is hoping to see on Monday April 19, 2021 when the latest federal budget drops: END BOIL WATER […]...read more April 16, 2021

In Solidarity with the Asian Community

Statement in solidarity with the Asian community and against anti-Asian racism Our Asian neighbours, colleagues, family and friends are under attack. From the recent heart-wrenching massacre in Atlanta, Georgia to here in Canada where we have seen a disturbing upsurge of anti-Asian hate crimes. Much of this has been driven by misinformation and false blame about […]...read more April 1, 2021

Letter in support of Khaleel Seivwright

Photo credit: Khaleel Seivwright, GoFundMe  Dear Mayor Tory, FoodShare’s mission is to realize a Toronto where everyone can feed themselves, their loved ones, and their community with dignity and joy. Safe, permanent, affordable and dignified housing is central to a justice-oriented approach to tackling the food inequities that exist  in our city. We live in the […]...read more March 5, 2021

FoodShare’s Statement on Defunding the Police

Dear Mayor and Council, FoodShare Toronto is a city-wide food security organization, we work alongside individuals, families and communities to promote good food for all. FoodShare does this work in a number of ways, including supporting the over 50 community-led produce markets across the city, supporting the development of student nutrition programs in Toronto schools, […]...read more June 29, 2020

Statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day

Statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day on which we celebrate and honour the culture and significant contributions made by Indigenous peoples. From the wisdom passed down from generation to generation about this planet and the ecosystems alive around us to the significant inventions and discoveries, including […]...read more June 21, 2020

Body Positivity Statement

Body Positivity Statement Body Positivity means that there is no wrong way to have a body. All bodies have the right to exist as they are. We acknowledge that many people, particularly those who identify as fat, racialized, trans, queer, gender non-conforming or disabled, are most often told who or what they are because of […]...read more 2019

Food Justice Statement

Food insecurity is complex. It’s more than geographic and economic barriers to food access. That’s why at FoodShare, food justice means working to dismantle systemic forms of oppression that exist in our food system and in our food movement. It means acknowledging that colonialism, capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy are some of the organizing principles […]...read more 2019

A Holistic National Food Strategy

In April, 2013, FoodShare participated in the Conference Board of Canada’s 2nd Food Summit as a member organization of Food Secure Canada (FSC) – a national voice for the Food Security Movement in Canada. FoodShare highlighted issues in our food system and proposed a National Food Strategy that includes diverse populations....read more 2013

Standing Committee on Finance 2012 Pre-Budget Hearings

FoodShare's Executive Director Debbie Field helped build a case for universal student nutrition programs at Food Secure Canada's National Assembly....read more 2012

Submission to UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food

FoodShare Executive Director Debbie Field presented to Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. The meeting discussed establishing a Ministry of Food Security, strengthening the social safety net and implementing a national student nutrition program....read more 2012

City of Toronto Budget Deputations

Student nutrition program supporters made deputations to the City's Budget Committee, preventing funding cuts for 59 programs across the city....read more 2011

Do Not Destroy the Social Safety Net

FoodShare asked the Mayor and City of Toronto to reconsider cuts that would destroy the social safety net and make Toronto unliveable....read more 2011

Put Food at the Top of the Municipal Agenda

FoodShare assessed the barriers preventing access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food in Toronto. Four Key Actions were identified, including saying Yes! to food and supporting local food jobs. ...read more 2011

Policy Recommendations

FoodShare recommended policy triplets for the Federal, Provincial and City level. Ideas included national student nutrition programs, social safety nets and growing public food on public land....read more 2011

Canadians Demand Federal Action on Childhood Nutrition

FoodShare released a study conducted by Strategic Communications describing the state of diabetes and obesity among Canada's young people. FoodShare again called for universal access to healthy snacks and lunches for all school aged children across Canada....read more 2010

Children’s Health and Nutrition Initiative

FoodShare, partnering with MP Chow, Breakfast for Learning and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, launched the Children's Health and Nutrition Initiative. The initiative called for a nutritious breakfast, snack or lunch program to be available to any Canadian under eighteen. ...read more 2007

Eat It, Grow It, Share It

FoodShare launched the Eat It, Grow It, Share It campaign to raise consciousness about what we eat and how we eat it. You can take ten key actions to put food first....read more 2003

2002/2020 Process

FoodShare and other community agencies generated 28 grassroots actions to complement 28 policy recommendations to build food security in our communities....read more 2002

A Call for a New Canadian Food Policy

A coalition of community agencies and people, including FoodShare, submitted an Open Letter to then Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief on the Eve of the Rome Food Summit....read more 2001