Promoting Food Security in Higher Education

Together with Meal Exchange, the University of British Columbia, the University of Ottawa, and McMaster University, the University of Guelph/Community Engaged Scholarship Institute is hosting a month-long conference series from March 2nd - March 30, 2021. Promoting Food Security in Higher Education is a unique opportunity to explore links between campus and community-based efforts to change local food environments and build community wide food security. 

Sessions will explore research, affordability, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, student leadership and food service experiences to catalyze campus communities for whole systems change. There will also be networking opportunities throughout the conference to connect with food security experts and dive deeper into participants' interests and questions around campus food security in Canada. Additionally, attendees will engage in discussion on building future networking and/or coalition building beyond this conference.

Participants are encouraged to register for as many sessions as they would like to attend. See the full listing of sessions below; please note that all times are in PST.

How Do We Make Change in Higher Education

Tuesday, March 2nd (12PM - 1:30PM PST)

Please join us for the kick off session to our conference on Promoting Food Security in Higher Education. You will leave feeling inspired to address complex intersectional problems from a holistic perspective and be exposed to innovative ideas, practices, and concepts to address existing problems. We will break down our goals, agenda and intentions for this month-long virtual conference, including the potential for forming a network across Canadian universities, as well as co-creating principles for food security in higher education.

What Do We Know? the State of Food Insecurity Research and Dialogue Building

Thursday, March 4th (11AM - 12:30PM PST)

Join us for an action packed food security research roundtable featuring student and faculty-led research from across Canada. Specifically the VOICE research project will share the experience of utilizing institutional prevalence data, such as the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS), to enhance research questions and engage the campus community in food security dialogue.

Food Sovereignty and Indigenous Food Sovereignty on Campus

Tuesday, March 9th (11AM - 12:30PM PST)

This panel will discuss the distinction between food security and food sovereignty, and especially how Indigenous communities and activists across Canada are addressing issues of food insecurity and seeking ways to promote food justice and sustainable futures for all.

Fireside Chats - Drop in Networking

Wednesday, March 10th (11AM - 12PM PST)

Interested in connecting further with your food security colleagues? Drop in during any of our three networking sessions throughout the conference for a casual conversation!

Working Together: An Essential Ingredient for Creating Change

Thursday, March 11th (12PM - 2PM PST)

In order to improve campus food and address student food insecurity, it is essential to understand and work with a variety of stakeholders, including those who hold the power to make changes, those who are allies in creating change, and those who are most impacted, as well as empathize with those various perspectives. In this workshop, Meal Exchange staff will facilitate interactive stakeholder mapping and empathy exercises, which you can use to better understand who your campus stakeholders are, their viewpoints, and how to work together more effectively. Please note that this is an interactive workshop so come prepared to participate!

What’s the Cost of Good Food on Campus? Food Services and the Campus Food Environment

Tuesday, March 16th (11AM - 12:30PM PST)

We see the value of building transparency around operating costs and understanding the role of food services on a post-secondary campus. This panel will invite campus directors, and food procurement experts to discuss everything from business and operations, to strategies that they use to improve the quality of food services, including how they support their institutions in addressing student food insecurity . The panel will also explore how food services are working towards a growth in locally sourced food and a reduction of food waste.

Fireside Chats - Drop in Networking

Wednesday, March 17th (11AM - 12PM PST)

Interested in connecting further with your food security colleagues? Drop in during any of our three networking sessions throughout the conference for a casual conversation!

Exploring Issues of Income, Affordability and Financial Aid for Students – What’s the Role of Universities?

Thursday, March 18th (11AM - 1PM PST)

Are Canadian universities affordable? What are the links between food insecurity and income/affordability for students? And why should we care? All of these themes and more will be explored in this session to connect the dots between income, access and food insecurity at Canadian universities. Join us for a deeper dive into the issue of student food insecurity and the existing institutional and systemic pressures that make it challenging to create lasting but necessary change.

Pathways to Change: Exploring Student Leadership in Higher Education

Friday, March 19th (12PM - 2PM PST)

For decades students have been the leaders within campus food movements across Canada. Student voice and advocacy have been vital to elevating the issue of student food insecurity nationally. In this session, you will hear from students with a variety of leadership experiences and perspectives on what is needed for future campus food systems to better meet the needs and values of students. The session will start out with a panel discussion to gain insight from dedicated student leaders, followed by breakout sessions digging deeper into the different ways students can utilize their energy, diverse perspectives, skill sets, and lived experiences to contribute to sustainable campus food movements.

Fireside Chats- Drop in Networking

Wednesday, March 23rd (11AM - 12PM PST)

Interested in connecting further with your food security colleagues? Drop in during any of our three networking sessions throughout the conference for a casual conversation!

Catalyzing Community Food Solutions on Our Campuses: Food Provision, Food Hubs, Community Food Solutions

Tuesday, March 25th (11AM - 1PM PST)

Food security on post secondary campuses is a very complex issue, requiring multi-dimensional solutions. Community based food solutions on and off campus play a vital role in addressing food insecurity. During this panel discussion, we will dig deeper into what and why community food solutions remain critical to student success. How can we replicate the successful models in other campuses?

How Will We Make Change Together?

Tuesday, March 30th (11AM - 1PM PST)

Join us for a presentation of Food Security Principles for Higher Education and engage in a discussion on building future networking and/or coalition building beyond this conference.