Food System Roundtable WR

Food System Roundtable WR

Advocating for a sustainable food system in the Waterloo Region
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Cooking for Climate

Cooking for Climate is a short video series directed by Kai Reimer-Watts from the People’s Climate Foundation and produced by the Community Kitchen Co-op KW.  Featuring local food actors and organizations, this series explores the...

Membership

Food insecurity is a growing crisis in our region with the unaffordability of food, housing, and basic necessities along with minimal income and social support, low wages, and growing inequalities. The Waterloo Region Food Systems Roundtable is...

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Cooking for Climate

Cooking for Climate is a short video series directed by Kai Reimer-Watts from the People’s Climate Foundation and produced by the Community Kitchen Co-op KW.  Featuring local food actors and organizations, this series explores the joys of plant-based cooking and its links to health and climate action!

The first video in Cooking for Climate features board members Josalyn Radcliffe and Doug Jones as they help discuss some key points surrounding plant-based diets and the environment. The video also features steps on how to make a delicious plant-based dish from northern India, ‘pav bhaji’.
The second video in Cooking for Climate introduces ‘Food For Bombs’, a Kitchener-based volunteer group whose members walk viewers through cooking a delicious plant-based Potato Coconut Curry dish and their thoughts on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Membership

Food insecurity is a growing crisis in our region with the unaffordability of food, housing, and basic necessities along with minimal income and social support, low wages, and growing inequalities.

The Waterloo Region Food Systems Roundtable is a non-profit food policy group that is dedicated to accelerating the growth of a resilient local food system in Waterloo Region through advocacy, community connections, research, and education!

We help amplify voices and support grassroots community food initiatives for equity and food justice within the context of intersecting ecological crises (pollution, soil degradation, climate +) and our current commodified, colonial food system.  Everyone is welcome to the table! 

Become a member in two quick steps:

  1. Proceed with your membership payment (suggested $20) through our Canada Helps Donation page, administered by Seeds of Diversity, so it’s tax deductible! NON-MEMBERSHIP DONATIONS ALSO WELCOME.
  2. Provide your contact info and opt-in as a member with this form!

Thank you for supporting this work towards a healthier local food system!

Fertile Ground Farm: Ecological Initiative Supports Food Access in Waterloo Region

Fertile Ground Farm: Ecological Initiative Supports Food Access in Waterloo Region

January 30, 2024 • Erica Carmount Photos by: Angie Koch, Fertile Ground... Read More "Fertile Ground Farm: Ecological Initiative Supports Food Access in Waterloo Region"
Growing Resilience: The Hungarian Fairy Garden Movement

Growing Resilience: The Hungarian Fairy Garden Movement

By: Erica Carmount Published: December 28, 2023 Eva May, a Magyarország (Hungarian)... Read More "Growing Resilience: The Hungarian Fairy Garden Movement"
Nurturing Connection: Food Producing Program Supports Youth Empowerment in Waterloo Region

Nurturing Connection: Food Producing Program Supports Youth Empowerment in Waterloo Region

By: Erica Carmount Published: November 24, 2023 Photos by: Christine Frim, Smart... Read More "Nurturing Connection: Food Producing Program Supports Youth Empowerment in Waterloo Region"
Growing Roots and Connection: The Healing Nature of Community Gardens

Growing Roots and Connection: The Healing Nature of Community Gardens

Lead Author: Emily Woodall Co-Authors: Anna Mahler and Shifra Fern-Weinbren Published: November... Read More "Growing Roots and Connection: The Healing Nature of Community Gardens"
Making Connections at Seedy Saturdays

Making Connections at Seedy Saturdays

Emma and Josalyn smiling at the Seedy Saturday event in Kitchener. Josalyn... Read More "Making Connections at Seedy Saturdays"
Urban Food Forest in the Heart of Uptown Waterloo: Building community and resilience through food

Urban Food Forest in the Heart of Uptown Waterloo: Building community and resilience through food

By: Cristy Argueta  Published: October 31, 2022 On Saturday, October 22nd, at... Read More "Urban Food Forest in the Heart of Uptown Waterloo: Building community and resilience through food"

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Our History

The Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region has been embedded in the region’s food system for over 15 years.

Early History described by Toronto Food Policy Council: “The Region of Waterloo Public Health led a process in 2005-2006 to develop a food system plan, beginning with their discussion paper, titled Towards a Healthy Community Food System in Waterloo Region. The report identified priority food-related issues and the need for co-operation among many different organizations and individuals to achieve a healthy food system together. Through a community and stakeholders’ consultation process, the decision to form a Roundtable came out of a 2006 forum. A start-up committee of 8 people was formed, who spent a year developing the Roundtable’s Terms of Reference. A call for applications was then circulated, and the committee decided on 18 members. In November 2007, the Roundtable was officially recognized at a public launch event at Conestoga College.”

The Roundtable played a critical role in bringing food justice, sustainability, and security issues to the forefront through the development of the Food Charter, adopted by the Region of Waterloo in 2013. Today’s Roundtable is a non-profit organization focused on “championing healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system through policy advocacy, education, and community partnership building in the Region of Waterloo”.