Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute

Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Security Practicum Opportunity

Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute
c/o Collingwood Neighbourhood House
5288 Joyce. St, Vancouver BC
V5R 6C9, 604-435-0323

Description of Organization: The Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute is a non-profit organization established in 2002. We support and encourage initiatives focused on organic growing, healthful cooking, harvesting, sharing of knowledge and resources, leadership development, and capacity building. The Institute works in collaboration with Collingwood Neighbourhood House to develop community learning, leadership and networking around the issues of food security and food sovereignty through a community development model.

We believe that food is a human right, and that the “right to food” means more than meeting basic nutritional requirements. We use food as a meeting point for community capacity building, inter-cultural and inter-generational understanding, and making Renfrew Collingwood a place of safety and belonging.

Description of Roles and Responsibilities:
• Assist the Coordinator in promoting and developing food and food growing programs and resources, including rooftop gardening, community kitchens, and mason bee monitoring
• Facilitate or co-facilitate cooking and food preservation workshops with participants
• Work with volunteers and leadership teams to harvest and/or collect locally produced fruits and vegetables for distribution to low-income residents
• Document residents’ food traditions through photography, interviews, and storytelling transcription. Examples include immigrants’ gardening practices and Aboriginal food traditions
•Help map community food resources and facilitate participatory initiatives through volunteer support and leadership teams
• Assist in hosting community celebrations, food education, and events around organic food growing and sustainable food systems
• Document and evaluate progress of work through weekly reports to supervisor

Specific Qualifications: Due to restrictions from HRSDC funding, the suitable candidates must be 15-30 years of age, legally able to work in Canada, and have been in full-time studies in the previous year and be returning to full time studies in the fall of 2009.

Preferred Qualifications Include:
• Knowledge and passion for food issues and urban agriculture
• Familiarity with “food security” and “food sovereignty” issues
• Experience working with/leading volunteer teams
• Organizational and time management skills
• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings
• Preference will be given to person living in the Renfrew-Collingwood Neighbourhood.

Training Provided:
• Program development and delivery
• Community development models for sustainable agriculture practices, food sharing, and related issues
• Skills around gardening, food preservation, leadership, and participatory workshop facilitation
• Opportunity to achieve Food Safe Level 1 certificate

Level of education: Post-secondary (relevant fields include planning, geography, sociology, social work, environmental sciences, agriculture/land and food systems, anthropology)

Projected start date: Flexible within the last week of June 2009

Compensation: $11/hr + 17.72% MERCs (35 hrs/week; 10 weeks)
This position is subject to funding through HRSDC Canada.

Closing Date: May 15, 2009.

We thank all individuals who apply for this position, and will be contacting shortlisted candidates directly. No phone calls please.

Please send resume and cover letter to foodsecurity@cnh.bc.ca
Attention: Stephanie Lim.