Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City administration to compile report on food security work in Grande Prairie

Mar 26, 2024 | 6:00 AM

A discussion about emergency funding for the CAIRN Housing Society turned into a bigger discussion about food security in Grande Prairie at Monday’s city council meeting.

Council approved $16,000 in operational support and $8,000 for a food bank the organization has for its residents. It had lost a corporate donor, leaving it short of money.

Council also asked administration to compile a report on the Food Security Committee and other food organizations in the city.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says officials know a lot of people in Grande Prairie are facing food shortages.

“We know there’s already the Salvation Army Food Bank. We know the Friendship (Centre) is doing services. We know that there’s restaurants that are feeding people.”

“To have a better, broader conversation to talk about what are the initiatives, is there any overlap, are there areas we can support as a whole to talk about food security as a whole in our community.”

Clayton is hoping this leads to more coordination.

“One-offs, in my opinion and council’s opinion, are not how we solve issues. Having a full conversation in regards to overlapping initiatives and finding opportunities, having a process to serve the needs of those who are looking for those programs, will be a much better approach.”

Clayton says some families are dealing with food security daily.

“To know that food security is such a topic of concern actually isn’t surprising based on what we’re seeing.”

“(The) impacts of things such as (the) carbon tax, impacts of the cost of groceries, impacts of (the) cost of utilities continue to rise and that impacts people on a daily basis.”

Clayton says expects a report within a few weeks after city staff said they could have something done quickly.