The 13th annual gathering of the BC Food Systems Network (BCFSN) is taking place July 7-10 in 100 Mile House.
The theme of the gathering this year is Resiliency and Diversity. The gathering will provide the time and space to inquire into the characteristics and processes that make a community resilient, diverse and better able to overcome the stress and uncertainty associated with food insecurity.
For 10 years, the gathering was held in Sorrento. Last year, it was in Ymir, a small rural community near Nelson, and the year before that, it was in Chehalis near Chilliwack.
The BCFSN organization decided to move the gathering around the province to highlight regional issues and strengths. 100 Mile House is centrally located and more people from the northern areas are expected to attend.
Like other networks, including the BC Rural Network, the BCFSN wants to engage youth in creating a vibrant and sustainable future.
It is essential. Many decisions are made without their input.
This is a call to all organizations to consider sending their community youth representatives to the gathering this year. The challenge is: to find some money or do a fundraiser to sponsor their participation.
The network registration fee includes basic accommodation and food, as well as all the workshops and presentations for three days. It is a bare bones fee with a great big payoff.
Food security workshops are being developed and will include open discussion, hands-on activities, policy and position statement creation, network organization and media marketing and development.
We want the energy and honest perspective of the next leaders of our communities. The gathering provides an excellent opportunity to build on the success of a great number of exceptional initiatives and hard-working people.
For more information, contact the gathering organizer Dawn Morrison at 250-679-1116, gathering@bcfsn.org or the local liaison Trish Chung at tntchung@telus.net.
Trish Chung is the local liaison for BCFSN gathering.
