North Shore Table Matters Network Receives $5,000 for Food Security Hub Development

The North Shore Table Matters Network received $5,000 from the BC Healthy Communities Capacity Building Fund. North Vancouver City, North Vancouver District and West Vancouver jointly applied for the funding with Vancouver Coastal Health as a partner.

The North Shore Table Matters Network has been operating for the past five years with the goal of improving food security and enhancing the health of communities. Table Matters is built entirely on partnerships. VCH, municipalities, non-profits organizations, local businesses and citizens come together to strengthen the local food system and promote access to healthy food for all residents. North Shore Population Health Team staff, Margaret Broughton, leads the Table Matters Network and VCH funds the annual Table Matters Network Meeting event.

Funding from the Healthy Communities Capacity Building Fund will enable the Table Matters Network to begin establishing a food security hub. The hub will provide a way to continue building the network of the many residents who want to become involved in building a local food system and ensuring everyone has access to healthy food. The funding will be used to hire a hub coordinator whose initial task will be to improve the existing website (www.tablematters.ca) so people can find out about local food activities and how they can participate. The hub coordinator will also develop an online forum for communication.

This work is consistent with the endorsed Memorandums of Understanding between North Shore municipalities and Vancouver Coastal Health related to building healthy communities. These MOUs with VCH demonstrate the commitment of local governments and VCH to address population health issues such as childhood obesity, which is linked to access to healthy food choices. 

To learn more about Table Matters, look at www.tablematters.ca or email margaret.broughton@vch.ca