Reflecting on our first decade
Over the last ten years, CFCC has created a movement of caring, committed people and partners from coast to coast to coast. And we’re just getting started. With a new CFCC home base and the launch of the Poverty Action Unit, we’ll continue to work at building a country where everyone can thrive.
Nick Saul, CEO, Community Food Centres Canada
When CFCC staff finally got together after pandemic lockdowns, we went on a tour of the brick-and-beam mattress factory in Toronto that will soon become our national office and a brand-new Community Food Centre (CFC).
With the light shining through the big old windows on the third floor, it was clear to all of us that there was huge potential in the space. It’s fitting because CFCC has always been about finding potential—in people and communities—and creating dignified, welcoming spaces where everyone has a chance to thrive.
This new home will be a test kitchen for innovative ideas and programs. It will be a place where we can train people from across the country and build on a decade of inspiring and galvanizing work.
It’s hard to believe it was over ten years ago when we first began to dream about this movement. We started with the idea of building respectful, well-resourced centres, and today we have fifteen incredible CFCs nationwide–with more to come.
Our aim was also to strengthen the food security sector. We wanted to increase the ability of community organizations to support low-income people, shift the conversation from emergency handouts to community advocacy, and amplify the voices of local participants. Today, there are more than 350 Good Food Organizations that share our vision. We also create and invest in responsive new approaches to health and wellness that focus on access to healthy food and building skills in a supportive environment.
Through it all, we have never lost sight of the importance of pushing for policy change, believing as we do that the poverty experienced by community members is not a choice or a personal failure, but the result of structural inequities. We are taking our commitment to long-term change even further by launching the Poverty Action Unit. The goal of this new initiative will be to mobilize around progressive policy change that has a transformative impact on people’s lives.
Over the last decade, we have built a spirited movement of caring, committed people and partners. And we have done this with rigor, integrity, and a willingness to experiment. There are so many people to thank for helping to make it happen: generous donors, committed board members and dedicated staff, partners and supporters. You are all part of the good food movement. Thank you! Happy anniversary to all of us. Onward.
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When CFCC staff finally got together after pandemic lockdowns, we went on a tour of the post-and-beam mattress factory in Toronto that will soon become our CFFC home office and a brand-new Community Food Centre.
With the light shining through the big old windows on the third floor, it was clear to all of us there was huge potential in the space. It’s fitting because CFCC has always been an organization about finding potential—in people and communities—and creating dignified, welcoming spaces where everyone has a chance to thrive.
This new home will be a test kitchen for innovative ideas and programs. It will be a place where we can train people from across the country and build on a decade of inspiring and galvanizing work.
It’s hard to believe it was over ten years ago when we first began to dream about this movement. We started with the idea of building respectful, well-resourced spaces, and today we have 15 incredible Community Food Centres nationwide–with more to come.
Our aim was to also influence the food security sector. We wanted to increase the ability of community organizations to support low-income people with dignity, shift the conversation from emergency handouts towards community advocacy, and amplify the voices of local participants. Today, there are more than 350 Good Food Organizations who share this vision across the country. In addition to movement-building, CFCC also develops responsive programming, shares knowledge and creates transformative special projects aimed at supporting better mental and physical health, and belonging.
Through it all, we have never lost sight of the importance of pushing for policy change, believing as we do that the poverty experienced by community members is not a choice or a personal failure, but the result of structural inequities. This work is ongoing and this year we are taking it even further by launching our Poverty Action Unit. The goal of this new initiative will be to ever more clearly articulate and mobilize around issues of inequality that matter to all of us.
Over the last decade, we have built a movement of caring, committed people and partners from coast to coast to coast. And we have done this with rigor, integrity and a willingness to experiment. There are so many people to thank for helping to make it happen: generous donors, committed board members and dedicated staff, partners and supporters.
You are all part of the good food movement. Happy anniversary to all of us. Onward.
Share this story
