Our Beginnings
In May 2019, Public Health, local Community Health Boards and Chrysalis House brought together close to 100 individuals in Berwick, NS for a community conversation about food in Kings County. The day included learning about the CHBs’ Western Zone Community Health Plan, food asset mapping in Kings County, and facilitated discussion and brainstorming around opportunities to strengthen food security in Kings County.
Two follow-up meetings were held to further explore next steps. By the end of these meetings, brainstormed opportunities to strengthen food security were collated into five overarching themes and then prioritized.
Two themes were categorized as Priority #1:
Form a Community Food Council
Increase food related initiatives within Kings County schools
Three themes were categorized as Priority #2:
Establish a Community Food Centre
Establish Community Food Hubs
Compile an online food security asset map
A smaller group continued to gather as the framework for a Kings County Community Food Council was formed. Terms of Reference were drafted, including establishing the Vision and Mission for the Council. The Council became incorporated as a not for profit in April 2021.
In October 2024, the Board unanimously agreed to change its name to the Annapolis Valley Community Food Council to better reflect the scope of our work and to be more inclusive of the many people and initiatives collectively working improve food security in our Valley communities.