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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 24, 2016 | 10 Community collaboration key to food access for all by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver Collaboration, commitment and innovation among community groups is critical to improving food access to those in need in Halton. That was the consensus among those at a Food for Life and Halton Poverty Roundtable's Raising The Bar forum in Oakville Monday (March 21). More than 100 people, including representatives from food assistance organizations and social service agencies, gathered at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) for solution-based dialogues on increasing food security in the region. The talks focused on three areas established at a preliminary meeting held in November 2015 -- access, acquisition and distribution, and infrastructure. It included presentations from Sheridan College President and CEO, and Food for Life Board Chair, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky; Food for Life Executive Director Brenda Hajdu and Alex Sarchuk, Halton Region commissioner of social and community services. The conversations are part of an ongoing process to find how food-assistance programs can better utilize innovation and collaboration to serve those in need. Halton Poverty Roundtable and Food for Life held a forum focused on increasing food security in Halton. Pictured, at the group working on the challenge of access, from left, are: Brenda Hajdu, Food For Life executive director; June Cockwell, Halton Poverty Roundtable co-chair, and Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan College president and keynote speaker. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "We're all here today to share a common thread, which is to feed those struggling to put food on their tables and to commit to having a collaborative discussion and fellowship," said Zabudsky as keynote speaker. "There likely isn't going to be one solution to the challenges that will be raised today. It will take a unified approach, collaborative effort and connection to make the leaps forward." The Sheridan president and CEO said hunger relief has been "part of my life for the last 10 years," as he was the board director for Winnipeg Harvest, one of Canada's largest food bank agencies, prior to moving to Ontario. For Zabudsky, the provision of food has been "very important" because of the immediacy of its impact. "While I know there are many underlying issues related to the need for the provision of food... the need to get food on people's tables is important," said Zabudsky. The weakening Canadian dollar has had a significant impact on the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, he said, noting some prices have increased by 16 per cent. "It not only makes purchasing food more difficult, it may also play a role in reduced donations, which are essential to many of your organizations," said Zabudsky. Because the cost of fruits and vegetables has increased, diet-related illnesses are also on the rise, Zabudsky said, which makes access to healthy food integral. "At Food for Life, there's a particular focus on fresh food, ensuring it gets to people in need and helping to address those dietary issues," said Zabudsky, who touted Halton's agricultural community for providing locally-grown food. What makes Halton particularly unique is the unity of its hunger-relief agencies, other non-profit groups, government and individuals with lived experience, Zabudsky said. They can come together to "explore, (create) see Survey on p.17 "It's why LaSalle Park is the perfect place for us to retire!" Experience how exciting Retirement Living can be! AMENITIES MATTER Family Lawyers. Expert Guidance. NEW OAKVILLE OFFICE! 11-1155 North Service Road 289-291-4019 SucceSSful ReSolution. NORTH YORK OFFICE The Madison Center 4950 Yonge Street, Suite 302 416-971-4802 All-Inclusive Retirement Rentals · Concierge Services · Full Service Dining · All Day Bistro · Exercise Studio · Billiards Lounge · Beauty Salon · Weekly Housekeeping · Scheduled Transportation · Indoor Salt Water Pool limite d suites availa ble MACDONALD & PARTNERS LLP 155 University Ave., Suite 1700 Toronto 416-971-4802 EXPERIENCE VIBRANT SENIORS LIVING Call Candise or Jelena at 905.527.9300 www.mpllp.com 18 Plains Road West, Burlington | www.LaSalleParkRetirement.com