1. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Putting Food on the Agenda Simone Edginton and Lana Smith Sarnia-Lambton Food Coalition

2. Our vision: A healthy, sustainable food system for Sarnia-Lambton Steps to creation can result in broad health, educational, economic, environmental, cultural, and social benefits Processing Distributing RetailingEating Waste Management Producing Healthy Food System

3. SLFC Timeline July 2010 SLFC formed Fall 2010 Community roundtables Food Summit June 2011 A Healthy Community Food System Plan for Sarnia-Lambton released November 2011 Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter released Community and organizational endorsements Spring 2013 Seeking Municipal Council endorsement

4. Food Charters Public document that: Benefits communities, decision makers and the environment Creates opportunities for conversations about food Formalizes commitment around food Integrates food into decision making and policy development Ontario communities with a food charter

5. Sarnia- Lambton Food Charter Identifies our community’s vision of a healthy food system, based on: – 6 key values – Vision statements that describe how values help to build a healthy food system Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

6. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Health Food is an essential component to well-being Compared to the province, Sarnia-Lambton residents: – Are significantly more overweight/obese – Are significantly less likely to consume 5+ vegetables and fruit daily – Have significantly higher rates of heart disease Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

7. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Education Food skills are directly connected to health and food self-reliance Loss of food skills and increased availability of processed foods has resulted in loss of knowledge to make informed food decisions Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

8. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Sustainable Economic Development Buying local food keeps money in our community and provides employment opportunities for community members Strengthening links between local producers and consumers would strengthen our communities’ growth, development and self- reliance Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

9. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Environmental Health Food production and waste management impact our water, air and soil, agricultural areas, and ecosystems – Producing food to sell locally can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food transportation – Sustainable agriculture practices can conserve and enhance the natural environment Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

10. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Culture Food provides opportunities to celebrate, promote respect, and connect different cultures Initiatives including farmers’ markets, community gardens, collective kitchens, and cultural festivals bring people together around food Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

11. Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter: Social Justice Every Lambton County resident should have access to an adequate supply of nutritious, affordable and safe food without social and economic barriers Strategies such as the Circles™ campaign promote social justice in Sarnia-Lambton by: – Building intentional relationships across class and race lines – Identifying barriers that keep people in poverty – Implementing innovative solutions Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

12. Endorsing the Sarnia-Lambton Food Charter means… Endorsing the Food Charter means: – Putting food on your municipal agenda – Committing to work toward a healthy food system based on the 6 key values – Building healthier people and healthier communities Health Education Sustainable Economic Development Environmental Health Culture Social Justice

13. Thank you! Simone Edginton, SLFC Co-Chair Simone.Edginton@county-lambton.on.ca Lana Smith, SLFC Co-Chair Lana.Smith@county-lambton.on.ca