Food-Friendly Neighbourhood Plan: North Etobicoke Neighbourhood profile Community Food Vision Population: |20,625 To develop a centralized food centre that will support and strengthen the capacity of the community through the sharing of resources, infrastructure, Area: 6.0 km2 human resources, and ideas. Special thanks to the Rexdale Food Access Committee, the Rexdale Community Health Centre, Thistletown Community % low-income after tax: 24.1% Services Unit, City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Food Strategy and North Etobicoke residents who participated in neighbourhood Retail Findings Grade Opportunity: There are seven large chain grocery stores in the neighbourhood, including four discount There are a number of initiatives underway to explore the establishment of an chains and three large cultural grocers. In addition, there are many small cultural grocers. Many affordable produce market in the community. For example, a Community Market residents shop based on price-matching initiatives by stores, which are very popular. As an has been discussed by local partners that could be held in various locations. example, Wal-Mart is outside of the neighbourhood but frequently accessed by residents due Support from organizations in North Etobicoke for markets should be explored to discount prices. Residents noted that they would like more access to cultural foods through Opportunity: by encouraging local organizations to direct some of their food budget toward discount chains. The No Frills at Islington and Albion closed a few years ago, an absence that B Many residents and purchasing from local markets. is felt by residents. There is also a need for new affordable grocers in the Elms-Old Rexdale representatives from neighbourhood and on the strip of Kipling between Panorama Court and Steeles. community organizations Who should be involved: highlighted the need for more • Rexdale Food Access Committee social enterprise opportunities • Local politicians Produce markets in the community. There is • Albion Islington Square Business Improvement Association a wealth of knowledge and The closest produce markets are located several kilometres away, for example Weston Road and • Food Share skills around food and cooking Lawrence, highlighting the potential for a produce market in the neighbourhood. There are • Local gardeners and farmers and a desire for community some private operators selling fresh produce out of trucks and a Mobile Good Food Market used • Residents catering and processing to operate in the neighbourhood, but is no longer functioning due to lack of staffing capacity • Other interested community agencies that could be harnessed and at local organizations. Most residents access their produce from discount chains or local cultural developed into small business grocers. Better access to fresh produce is a priority for residents to help create a more food- F opportunities. However, friendly neighbourhood. the lack of appropriate Opportunity: infrastructure to support these There are many food banks that serve hundreds of local community members in the small food businesses is a neighbourhood every year. These programs are primarily volunteer run with limited Food assistance challenge. In order to support capacity to provide additional support beyond direct food assistance. Catchment There are eight food banks, a seniors’ drop-in meal program, and three other food assistance social enterprise development, areas in the neighbourhood for these programs are separate and often overlapping, programs that serve the neighbourhood. However, these programs have limited capacity the creation of a commercial creating confusion for community members. An “open catchment” area should be for outreach, engagement and connections to other service providers, resulting in a lack of kitchen could be explored. explored for food banks in the wider North Etobicoke neighbourhood with similar awareness among residents of how to access available food assistance options. Congregate Similarly, in the meantime, an intake procedures created, such as the absence of income screening, to ensure dining at faith-based institutions, as part of many community members faith practice, evaluation of existing kitchen dignified food assistance and improved food access. Local food banks would contributes to addressing a neighbourhood need for food assistance and building a sense of C space in the area highlighting also benefit from enhanced connections to broader social service agencies and community. Many residents expressed concern with the quality and freshness of food at food availability and barriers to community kitchen and garden programs to create more meaningful connections banks. accessibility would be useful. for community members. Potential models to replicate include the Rexdale Community Health Centre (CHC) link with a local food bank, where CHC staff offer Who should be involved: services from Diabetes and Mental Health teams. Food skills and growing • Local food banks • Residents interested in Who should be involved: developing food business • Local food banks There are over ten community gardens and five community kitchens and cooking programs • Daily Bread Catering • Rexdale Community Health Centre located in and around North Etobicoke. Programs cater to a range of participants highlighting Kitchen • North York Harvest the diverse population of the neighbourhood. The Rexdale Community Garden Network is • Toronto Employment and • Daily Bread Food Bank strengthening and connecting the neighbourhoods’ community gardeners. Improved access to C Social Services • Rexdale Food Access Committee community garden and kitchen programs was listed as a top priority for residents. • MicroSkills • Rexdale Community Garden Network North Etobicoke Food-Friendly Highlights Thistletown Community Services Unit Established in 1980, Thistletown Community Services Unit (TCSU), Rexdale Food Access Committee Foodie Fest has been serving the Rexdale area for over 30 years and is one of Held in May, 2014 this second annual community food event was the busiest programs in northern Toronto. The food bank is run by a incredibly successful, attracting over 1500 community members. The team of dedicated volunteers and through support from North York event provided community members with access to free produce from Harvest, Second Harvest and Toronto Community Housing, provides a mobile Good Food Market, container gardening workshops, food food assistance to over 300 households a month. TCSU has recently samples and Zumba lessons! The event is organized by the Rexdale Food embarked on a three year pilot project with North York Harvest to Access Committee, a coalition of local organizations and stakeholders, enhance their services, create closer connections to other social who are advocating for improved food access for the Rexdale community. service agencies and to promote civic engagement opportunities for community members to come together and organize around poverty and food security issues. About this document TCSU is equipped with a community kitchen, has connections to local This Food-Friendly Neighbourhood Food Plan is the community gardens that provide fresh produce donations and strong links with the local community. TCSU is also currently running a ‘World product of a year-long consultation process with City of Foods Cooking Club’ project with the goal to harness and share the food Toronto research departments, community organizations knowledge and skills held by community members through a mutual and local residents. learning exchange. TCSU is keen to establish partnerships with local community partners and agencies in Rexdale. Legend Published by Retail Major Arterial Street Produce Market Priority Area Copyright (c) 2011 City of Toronto. All Rights Reserved. This project was made possible Food Assistance 1 km Buffer (15 minute walk) Published: August 2011 Prepared by: Social Policy Analysis & Research through funding from the Heart and 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Contact: [email protected] Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Food Skills and Growing Park or Greenspace Km Reprinted with permission Catalogue of primary food assets Macelleria Potenza 2635 Islington Ave North Kipling Jr. Middle School Breakfast Program 2 Rowntree Rd John D. Parker Children’s Garden 202 Mount Olive Dr For information about food assistance programs please Rexdale Asian Supermarket 34A Rexdale Blvd Our Saviour Lutheran Church Food Bank 2705 Islington Ave North Kipling Community Centre 2 Rowntree Rd call 211 or visit http://www.211toronto.ca/ Rowntree Meats 2687 Kipling Ave Redeemed Christian Church of God Victoria House Food 175 Rexdale Blvd Panorama Park Community Garden 31 Panorama Dr Rexdale Community Health Centre Community Kitchen 8 Taber Rd Retail Salaama Halal Meat & Grocery 1987 Kipling Ave Bank Rexdale Alliance Church Foodbank & Kitchen 2459 Islington Ave Rexdale Community Health Centre Men’s Cooking Club Al-Fateh Grocers & Halal Meat 10 Rexdale Blvd Sheriff’s No Frills 1530 Albion Rd The Elms Public School Snack Program 45 Golfdown Dr 21 Panorama Crt Alflah Grocery & Halal Meat 973 Albion Rd Sunny Foodmart 1620 Albion Rd Rexdale Community Hub Thistletown Community Services Food Bank 246 Jamestown Cres Apna Bazaart 2450 Finch Ave W Tre Rose Bakery 2098 Kipling Ave Rexdale Women’s Centre Building Communities Best In Town 1530 Albion Rd Wal-Mart 2245 Islington Ave Community Kitchen Food Skills and Growing Robert J Smith Apartments (TCHC) Community Garden 101, 102 Kendleton Dr Bestco Food Mart