Food Security

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, thank you for contacting us at (438) 938-7764 or at info@tqsoi.org

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.