Local Food & Climate Change

What's on my mind these days, and a suitable topic for 2009 Blog Action Day on climate change, is local food production and how municipalities might help to make it easier for residents to produce food themselves and to buy locally-produced food.

The March 2009 issue of Municipal World ("Canada's municipal magazine since 1891") had an article talking about "foodshed strategy." It provides inspiring examples of ways that municipal governments and other organizations are finding ways to "shorten food chains and build community capacity."

A foodshed strategy, according to the article, includes three basic elements that depend on local resources and experiences:

- direct-marketing venues

- processes that connect producers and consumers

- avenues to develop greater access and security to food

There are aspects of these elements already in place in small ways in our region, and although we haven't completely lost our connection between food production and consumption in this area, we increasingly rely on food that comes from a great distance. Transporting food is a contributor to climate change; it also makes us vulnerable to disruptions in supply.

As a small step in this direction, since Peace River is currently reviewing its Animal Control Bylaw, I asked a local food advocate to do a presentation to inform Council (October 19, 5:30) about whether small scale poultry production Peace River might fit. It will be interesting to see how residents respond to this idea and to the more general idea of increasing local food production capacity.

There are visionary people in the region already working in practical ways on food issues. Municipal governments can provide support and leadership through appropriate bylaws, programs and other initiatives that could lead to a Peace regional foodshed strategy. The Town of Peace River is in the midst of developing a municipal sustainability plan; a foodshed strategy would fit in nicely. I'm looking forward to more discussion, but more importantly, action in this direction.

Peace River's Sustainability Survey

I encourage Peace River residents to take the time to do the survey on sustainability that is now on the Town's website. The results will provide important information for our municipal sustainability plan and the review of our Municipal Development Plan.

Grab a cup of tea and settle in--the survey takes awhile to complete (give yourself 15-20 minutes)--and know that you are making an important contribution by taking this time to respond.

Information seminar in Peace River: Focus on Islam

I encourage Peace River residents to take advantage of an information seminar on Islam that will be presented on September 26, 4:00-5:00 PM, at the Sawridge Inn by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), an international organization that rejects terrorism and advocates for the separate of mosque and state.

Peace River Town Council passed a motion yesterday supporting the seminar in the interest of promoting interfaith knowledge and harmony in our increasingly diverse region. I will bring greetings from the Town and moderate the question and answer period. 

Councillor Laurin and I met with an AMC delegation from Calgary earlier this month. They explained that the group tries to add new communities each year to its annual educational offerings, so Peace River and Whitecourt were being asked whether they would welcome the seminar.

The topic this year is "Concept of Jihad in Islam." It seems like this will be an excellent opportunity for anyone unfamiliar with the Islamic faith to learn more and to ask questions in an open learning experience. I hope there will be a good crowd on the 26th.

Test Your Broadband & Tell the Feds

Do you have broadband access to the Internet? Do you wonder about the speed and how it compares with other parts of the province and country?

Well, here's an opportunity for you. The federal government program called Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians is asking for consumer and ISP provider feedback to establish where broadband access is available and about the level of service.

You can participate by running a speed test and submitting the results. It's pretty simple and actually quite interesting. Communities without Boundaries did this kind of an exercise in Alberta last year and the results showed variation in service around the province.

The feedback being solicited now is described as the "first step" to "get a clear picture of where broadband services are available, and where they are not. Industry Canada is working with other levels of government and the private sector to define a detailed map of service availability."

Be aware that this feedback is only being used for information purposes in the design of the broadband program, "and will not necessarily change the availability of high-speed Internet in your area." But there is money available to expand broadband access and that program will be rolled out later in the year.

Why Sidewalks Are Important

Avi Friedman from McGill University is in town today and tomorrow with two of his architectural students to do consultations about tourism and downtown revitalization. I expect we'll hear a thing or two about community walkability along with many more thought-provoking ideas.

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine that looked at data from 11,541 survey participants in 11 countries came to the conclusion, according to this article, that "those who live in an urban neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active as those in the suburbs," with the most important factor being "accessibility to sidewalks."

The article goes on to say that the study found that "Those individuals who reported living in a city neighborhood with easy access to sidewalks were 15-50 percent more likely to get moderate-to vigorous activity at least five days a week for at least 30 minutes each day."

Peace River has lots of sidewalks as well as the paved paths along the dike and up the West Hill. This valley is so beautiful--let's take the time to savour it by walking, biking or taking the bus to work or activities, even just once in awhile. It's good for the environment and good for our bodies!

Peace River on Level 1 Water Restriction

The Town has declared a Level 1 restriction (Bylaw 1810). Please help out by minimizing all water usage until further notice, but the following restrictions are required by the bylaw:

LEVEL I

Residents at ODD numbered addresses may water lawns: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Residents of EVEN numbered addresses may water lawns: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens may be watered by hand, at anytime, using a watering can or a hose with a nozzle with a trigger shut off to restrict water flow.

The Water Park opening on June 19 will have to be postponed until further notice.

Updates will be posted on the Town's website and information about saving water is available there as well.

Grand Opening Today (June 11): Horizon Learning Centre

Come tour the new Horizon Learning Centre today between 4:30 and 7:30 and find out what it's all about. The Centre is located on Main Street at 9807-100 Street (tucked between the Horizon Credit Union and Domino's Pizza).

There will be music, munchies and mingling and a short program (where I'll be speaking briefly) from 5:30 to 5:45.

See you there!