23. Vancouver Food Policy Council: Local Government Support for Independent Food Retail Businesses – A Policy Environment Review

Organization Information

Organization Name

Vancouver Food Policy Council and KPU Institute for Sustainable Food Systems

Mission and Vision of Organization

Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFPC)

The Vancouver Food Policy Council is an official civic agency that advises Vancouver City Council and staff on improving food sustainability in Vancouver, including program and policy changes to improve the local food system. See the VFPC Terms of Reference for more information.

The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS)

The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems is an applied research and extension unit at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) that investigates and supports regional food systems as key elements of sustainable communities in British Columbia. Our research investigates the potential for regional food systems in terms of agriculture, economics, community health, policy, and environmental integrity. Our extension programming provides information and support for farmers, communities, business, policy makers, and others

Guiding Principles + Values

Vancouver Food Policy Council

The Vancouver Food Policy Council works to help improve food sustainability in Vancouver, where food is:

• Safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate
• Affordable, available, and accessible to all
• Produced, processed, marketed, consumed, and waste products reused or managed in a manner that is:
  • Financially viable
  • Protects the health and dignity of people
  • Minimally impacting the environment

Institute for Sustainable Food Systems

The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems aims to advance a regionally-focused food system that supports and nurtures local communities and ecosystems by

• Providing safe, nutritious food to local communities,
• Employing regenerative agricultural practices,
• Advancing local economies,
• Sustaining the health, well-being and dignity of people

Community collaboration is central to our research and extension approach.

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Naomi Robert
• Email: naomi.robert@kpu.ca
• Phone: 6045992680
• Address: 8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond
• Website: www.kpu.ca/isfs

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email
• Best day(s) to contact:Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:30pm
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Independent, locally-owned businesses provide important, economic, cultural and social benefits to communities. For example, a retail sector dominated by independent, local businesses is more likely to recirculate revenue within the local economy, while profits generated in chain competitors often leave the community at the end of the business day. This project focuses on locally-owned, independent grocers. These retailers can also increase access to culturally appropriate foods while contributing to the character, culture and social connectedness of urban communities. The existing economic landscape in Vancouver presents challenges for operating financially viable independent grocers, resulting from trends in both local and global policy landscapes including increasing property values, corporate hegemony, and vertical integration. Therefore this project aims to articulate policy options for local governments to support thriving, independent grocers.

Main Project Activities

What can local governments do to support local, independent businesses, particularly grocers?

To address this students will a) describe current policy environment, including key barriers to owning and operating independent food retail businesses in Vancouver and, b) complete a scan of existing policy precedents adopted in other jurisdictions to address select barriers.

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

At the conclusion of this project, students will write a final report describing:

• Key challenges to operating independent businesses, with a particular focus on grocers
• Identifying local government policies that can help address these challenges and support independent businesses

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Research, information gathering/organizing
• Independently-driven, internet-based research
• Knowledge of local government policy instruments and structures (asset)

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

• Improve ability to identify, synthesize and communicate complex policy issues
• Gain knowledge of the role of the retail sector in the food system supply chain

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• None

Is a criminal record check required?

• No

Project Location

• Flexible

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Monday-Friday 9:30-4:30

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• Students will have the opportunity to a) attend monthly Vancouver Food Policy Council meetings b) present project results to Development Working Group within the Vancouver Food Policy Council

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

• Gibb, N., & Wittman, H. (2013). Parallel alternatives: Chinese-Canadian farmers and the Metro Vancouver local food movement. Local Environment, 18(1), 1–19. DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2012.71476
• Vancouver Food Policy Council website
• Institute for Sustainable Food Systems website
• Request relevant past LFS350 student reports from your TA, including Measuring Urban Food Growing Sites (Fall 2019)

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:

• But, I. & Bencio, C. (2017). The Role of Small Grocers in Neighbourhood Food Access.
• Working with Local Government on Food Policy (2018)
• Ho, A. & Chen, A. (2017). Vancouver Chinatown Food Security Report