A special investigation into Revelstoke food security has been compiled, and the resulting Revelstoke Food Security Strategy recommends ways to increase our access to healthy and locally produced food.
The report was completed with the involvement of many in Revelstoke-based steering committee, and compiled by consultants Fraser Blyth of Selkirk Planning and Design and Hailey Ross. It finds Revelstoke relies heavily on the global food system for our food supply.
“Historically, Revelstoke was mostly food self-sufficient,” the report states.
“It used to have two dairies, many farms, hunting, fishing, and wild harvesting that would provide all of its food needs. However, like most, if not all communities in Canada, Revelstoke has slowly lost its ability to produce its own food.”
Dependence on a global food system means reliance on fossil fuel and chemical inputs for high yields and negatively affects opportunities for local growers.
The report highlights a trend in 2013 that shows a number of Revelstoke residents were dependent on the Community Connections Food Bank with the program servicing 289 households, including 342 adults and 96 children, and repeat visitations increased substantially.
Revelstoke resident numbers is an issue to be considered for the future food vision as it fluctuates with the seasons.
“Revelstoke and area’s permanent resident population in 2011 is recorded at 7,691 people,” the report states.
“This number may jump as high as 12,700 to 13,700 on the busiest day of the tourism season in both winter and summer.”
“This increase of 5,000 to 6,000 people means that Revelstoke needs to address access to and cost of food more thoroughly during peak tourist season.”
Some of the report recommendations include:
– Allocate resources for a paid position dedicated to coordinate community-wide food security initiatives
– Develop a community compost system whereby end product is suitable for agricultural use. (In progress).
– Amend the local animal control bylaw to permit chickens, bees and other small livestock for food production in all single-family residential zones in the city.
The report is over 100 pages and contains inventories of existing food systems, and many recommendations for the future. We’ve embedded it here:
Revelstoke Food Security Strategy, Feb. 2015 by Revelstoke Mountaineer
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