Draft Bruce Grey Food Charter Now Available for Community Review

The draft Bruce Grey Food Charter is now available for public comment. Developed by the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force with input from a variety of community stakeholders, the charter outlines the goals and objectives of the community and becomes a tool to affect change in promoting a healthy food system in Grey and Bruce Counties.

The draft Charter, and a survey offering an opportunity for comment, are available on the Grey Bruce Health Unit website at

http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Eating-Well/Food-Charter Responses will be collected throughout February. Once feedback is received, the final version of the charter will be launched.

A food charter is a vision. It outlines the goals and objectives of the community and can be the basis to affect and inform policy. Local food charters build on community knowledge and strengths to develop a robust food system reflecting local values.

The draft Charter addresses how food is produced, distributed, sold, and enjoyed. Six key values are identified with related statements of support addressing: health, social justice, culture, education, sustainable economic development, and environment.

“We encourage comment from the public,” says Laura Needham, Registered Dietitian with the Grey Bruce Health Unit and Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. “Developing the draft Charter allows us to reflect on the strengths of Grey and Bruce. There are many successes for our community to build on in our food system. The Charter will support future action by giving us clear direction towards the community’s interests.”

In addition to the Grey Bruce Health Unit website, the draft Charter and the food charter survey are also available on the on the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Facebook page.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the draft Charter, please contact Jill Umbach, Poverty Task Force Coordinator, at [email protected] or Laura Needham, Public Health Dietitian, at [email protected].

For more information:

Laura Needham

Public Health Dietitian

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext.1267

[email protected]

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