Read about the rise of the Slow Food Youth Movement in Canada and why local youth leader Stephanie Kolk says local food knowledge and cooking skills are vital to her generation: Slow Food Youth
The Opportunity:
Farmer’s Market Coordinator (Part-time, 12 months)
About Us
The Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association’s mission statement is “to preserve and enhance a healthy and vibrant quality of life for the residents of Hillhurst-Sunnyside”. This organization is founded on the principle that human beings can be more successful in their relationships and as productive members of society if they are engaged in citizenship-building, and have a strong sense of community where they live, work and play. As a community-centered organization we also believe fundamentally that all human beings have a right to certain basic needs, and we have a responsibility to support individuals in meeting those needs wherever possible. The services we provide to achieve this mission include (but not limited to), Outreach and Senior’s Supports Services, Hall rentals, Arts & Recreation programming and facilities, Farmer’s Market, Flea Market, Community Gardens, Childcare and Advocacy for Community Planning, Vitalization and Heritage preservation.
About the Opportunity
The Farmer’s Market Coordinator is a contract part-time position requiring approximately 10 hrs/wk with potentially up to full-time hours during the Farmer’s Market Open Season. The position’s primary function is to develop and direct HSCA’s seasonal outdoor Farmer’s Market in accordance with the market’s guiding principles and with a view of fostering a sense of community around food. Specific responsibilities include:
The HSCA is also currently exploring opportunities for expanding its role in addressing food security issues in the community, in particular for those residents who face the greatest barriers to accessing wholesome, locally grown food. The HSCA Farmer’s Market Coordinator will be responsible for leading new initiatives as they emerge.
About You
You ideally have 2 years related experience as well as some post-secondary education in any one of the following areas: business, community development, non-profit or volunteer management, education or sustainable agriculture. As a strategic thinker, you are able to deliver on social, environmental and financial desired outcomes by employing your skills in program, people and issues management. Your flexibility to work a fluctuating schedule, especially should HSCA expand its programming around addressing Food Security issues in the community, will enable you to grow this portfolio to become a permanent full-time responsibility. You are highly organized and a strong communicator, and you love to be surrounded by people like yourself who are passionate about community development and making a difference.
You do not want to miss out on this opportunity. If you agree, then please forward your resume and cover letter to Quentin at mydreamjobis@hillhurstsunnyside.org.
We will continue to receive applications until the right person is found!
Calling all cooks – the City Palate Culinary Travel Grant helps cooks get where they want to go, i.e. go to Terra Madre in Oct 2012. For info and how to apply: click here
Calgary, AB – December 19, 2011 ~ Joel Salatin, the man that TIME magazine called ”the world’s most innovative farmer” is coming to Calgary and the Kingsland Farmers’ Market on March 21 & 22, 2012. Salatin is known and respected worldwide for his family’s innovative and effective farming techniques that allow them to produce ‘beyond organic’ produce effectively, in a way which regenerates their farmland while making them a profitable livelihood.
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, Kingsland Farmers’ Market is hosting Joel Salatin’s workshop on how to make your small farm more ethical, profitable, and deeply integrated with your local community. This workshop is an important one for anyone involved in local food, sustainability or agriculture to attend. A second, shorter workshop will be offered the following day.
Joel Salatin is a third generation organic farmer and author whose family owns and operates Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The farm produces what Joel calls ‘salad bar beef’, ‘pigaerator pork’, pastured poultry and forage-based rabbits. The Polyface farm operated by the Salatin family direct markets to 4,000 families, 40 restaurants, and 10 retail outlets.
A prolific author, Salatin’s eight books to date include both how-to and big picture themes. The farm features prominently in Michael Pollan’s New York Times best-seller The Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food, Inc.
Tickets for these events go on sale January 14, 2012 and are available by calling 403-255-3276 or @: www.kingslandfarmersmarket.com
Calgary, Alberta, Canada celebrates Terra Madre Day.
December 10th, 2011
On December 10th, 2011, about 75 citizens came together at Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre in Calgary to celebrate Terra Madre Day by sharing fantastic food they had prepared using local ingredients, to engage in vital conversations about our local food system and to enjoy a glass or two of delicious local beer, provided by Brew Brothers. Slow Food Calgary partnered with Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association in hosting this great event. Proceeds from the sale of the great beer and donations made by those present amounted to $250.00, which was donated to the Calgary Food Bank in order to help them with their efforts at alleviating the food distress experienced by too many local families.
This being Canada in the winter, root vegetables abounded, and the conversations around the tables tried to get to the root of both the difficulties and the great and as of yet not fully realized potential of our local food system. Local meat- bison, beef, turkey, pork, chicken and goat were also well represented on the heavily laden tables, and the feeling of many of those present was that the meat of the matter, when it came to discussing food systems, was that the fostering of dynamic, positive relationships of producers and co-producers comprising the food system was the key to creating a resilient and healthy local food system.
A passionate presentation was given by Darl Hobsbawn, a graduate of the Culinary Arts program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, introducing the nascent Slow Food Youth movement in Calgary and inviting all youths to join with him and others in building a vibrant and active youth contingent affiliated with Slow Food Calgary.
Participants were asked to engage in conversation springing from 10 questions about the local food system and to give us written feedback on these 10 questions. The ideas and inspirations offered in this feedback will be used to give both Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association and Slow Food Calgary a better understanding of how their two organizations can better serve the community in helping to promote and build a better local food system.
The most frequently offered comment received by the organizers of the event was that there was need to have such events not only on an annual basis, but more often, perhaps even on a monthly basis, with the serious issues and questions pertaining to our local food system being discussed in a more focused and systematic fashion.
Become a Snail today and "LIve the Slow Life"! Here's Why:
