The Annapolis Valley Poverty Coalition hosted an event on May 12th at the Nova Scotia Community College in Middleton. There was a large crowd out to this event and we are hopeful that many of the people who attended will stay involved with this issue in some way.

The event offered people in this area a chance to see the new Food Costing Report, a participatory research project conducted since 2002. The results show that the cost of food in Nova Scotia has increased 35% since 2002. Coordinator for the project, Cynthia Watt, stated that quite simply, many Nova Scotians cannot afford a healthy diet.

The evening began with the showing of a public health video that showcases a girl who lives in poverty every day. Her story demonstrates the effect of living in food insecurity for the entire family. She understands she lives differently than many in her school, and she has plans to change things when she grows up. It is a heart wrenching story that many people see and live in our community. You can view the video at: www.changingourpictureofhealth.ca

We showed a video that was taped at a local high school. The video shows one of our committee members, Bill Knowlton, interviewing a student named Jill Olsen. Jill offered her perspective on the research she had reviewed. She had also done a survey of her own in the school and found that 20% of the students who responded had gone to bed hungry. Almost 50% of respondents thought that poverty is an issue in our community. Jill plans to continue her advocacy of eradicating poverty at the school and in the area.

Heather Cress, a community member and story sharing coordinator, presented on the stories she heard. She offered reasons for the many stigmas and judgments that are frequent with those living with food insecurity. She told the crowd that she appreciated the work of food banks, but hopes that they are someday not needed. Heather intends to continue her work on food security in the Bridgetown area.

The last thirty minutes of this event were dedicated to a discussion by the people in the room. Rhonda Fraser, Executive Director of Chrysalis House, was the facilitator. Rhonda had her work cut out for her! There were many passionate people in the room from many different sectors. There were health professionals, municipal counsellors, people living with food insecurity, business people, service providers, volunteers with food banks, students and seniors. It was a lively discussion that sometimes became a bit heated. That being said, it is a discussion that needs to happen and action needs to arise from those discussions. It was inspiring to feel the dedication in that room towards food security.

We ended the evening with refreshments. Beside the refreshments were visuals of healthy and not-so-healthy foods with the prices of each. It was a clear dramatization of the decisions people face each and every day. People made connections to begin programs, to offer suggestions, and to tell their own stories. It was a very important evening in many ways for many people.

Morgan