Access to fresh, affordable and healthy food is limited to the extent that the area can be considered as a food desert, meaning that very few citizens live within a 500 meter radius of a service providing fresh fruits and vegetables. Grocery stores are situated almost exclusively on the main arteries. Moreover, there are very few markets where reasonably priced seasonal fruits and vegetables can be found. More and more people are requesting help from food banks, an alarming sign that encourages us to act.
Food security is an important preoccupation for many low income families, it has accordingly been identified as a high priority issue during consultations with the citizens of the southern West Island. A working committee has been formed and its role is to elaborate and implement, in association with the community, an action plan in order to improve food security in the southern West Island.
For more information or to participate in the committee, contact us at (438) 938-7764 or at info@tqsoi.org.
*New* Our Food Security Toolbox. It is the result of many years of work, projects, internships, collective and collaborative efforts by various committees and community organizations. You’ll find 5 tools to better understand local resources, food insecurity issues and the structure of the food system in the West Island.
References
- “West Island forum pinpoints need for community food center with central location”, Montreal Gazette, 2015.
- Food policy for Canada, 2017
- Portrait of the Population of the Southern West Island, 2015
- Portrait of the needs of certain vulnerable populations of the South of the West-Island of Montreal, 2015
- “Étude sur l’accès aux aliments santé à Montréal”, Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, 2013.
Seniors flock to “affordable” Neighbourhood Market at Bob Birnie Arena
/in Food Security, Media Coverage, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaThe TQSOI in the West Island Journal Métro
/in Food Security, Media Coverage, Nouvelles de TQSOI, Other TQSOI Updates, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaPointe-Claire Project Summer 2020 Report
/in Food Security, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaA Growth of Food Security Collaborations during COVID-19
/in Food Security, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaIn the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Island Food Security Intervention Cell was formed to foster collaborations in the West Island between residents, organizations, elected officials, farmers and businesses to better respond to the rise in food insecurity brought by the health crisis. Partnerships between actors across various sectors have emerged as a […]
Improving access to fruits and vegetables in Pointe-Claire – Outreach Report
/in Food Security, Other TQSOI Updates, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaReport: Let’s Talk Food! Results of the survey on access to fresh fruits and vegetables in Pointe-Claire
/in Food Security, Nouvelles de TQSOI, Publications /by Alena Ziuleva“Together, Let’s Create Food Alternatives for the South West Island”
/in Food Security, Other TQSOI Updates, Publications /by Alena ZiulevaReport: The Voices of Valois Village
/in Food Security, Health & Social Services, Housing, Nouvelles de TQSOI, Other TQSOI Updates, Poverty Reduction & Social Inclusion, Publications, Social Development, Transportation /by Alena ZiulevaFood Insecurity: TQSOI and West Island Community Resource Centre Interview
/in Food Security, Nouvelles de TQSOI, Other TQSOI Updates, Videos /by Alena ZiulevaListen to Léa from the TQSOI and Cristina from the CRC talk about the food insecurity issue in the West Island with Amanda from Journalists for Human Rights – McGill University.
Hidden Hunger Documentary
/in Food Security, Nouvelles de TQSOI, Videos /by Alena Ziuleva