What drew me to Co-op Cred was it really goes beyond merely addressing hunger to look directly at some of the root causes of food insecurity in Parkdale. I believe that it should be everyone’s fundamental right to never experience chronic hunger. We need to rethink our food programs, our food systems, and our economic relations to food as a whole. More people are using them, and for longer periods of time. Looking at those numbers, it’s apparent that emergency food initiatives are crucial, but that they are not a solution in-themselves – more so because the use of food banks in Canada is actually growing. We live in one of the richest countries in the world, so how can we have so many individuals and families struggling to find their next meal? To me, this points to a crisis in the ability of Canadians to access and afford food, and to deeper issues of economic marginalisation and the problematic notion of food as a commodity – not a necessity for life. In 2014, there were over a million visits to food banks in the GTA, with nearly 400,000 of those visitations occurring in downtown Toronto. That is, the systemic and systematic reasons as to why so many people are hungry are left unaddressed or acted upon – only the base need to not be hungry ‘in the moment’ is serviced. Food banks and drop-in meal centres are the most obvious examples of this type of food initiative, and unfortunately they exist only to provide emergency relief for hunger. Beyond forcing folks to spend incredible amounts of time going from location to location just to have enough to eat, there are also no guarantees about the quantity, quality, nutritional value, dietary or cultural appropriateness of the food given. It is an incredible example of a progressive food initiative in the city – one that builds the capacity of people to become truly food secure, instead of locking them into a perpetual cycle of ‘looking for the next meal’.įor context, most community food initiatives do the latter that is, they only address the immediate hunger needs of participants. Good Food Revolution: So Diana, how would you explain the Parkdale Co-op Cred program, and how and why did you come to be part of it?ĭiana McNally: An instructor of mine in the Community Worker program at George Brown College, Robin Buyers, introduced me to the Co-op Cred program at the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC). We sat down with volunteer Diana McNally to explore the innovative structure of the Parkdale Co-op Cred program. And for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, each home is equipped and ready for EV charging stations and solar panels.Ĭome discover the beauty and convenience of Parkdale Commons, where the best of Colorado living awaits.It was only recently that I heard about a marvellous community project in my old neighbourhood of Parkdale, and I was so impressed by the progressive thinking behind its workings that I felt moved to cover it for Good Food Revolution. As part of a planned community, Parkdale Commons offers a wealth of amenities for residents of all ages, including a swimming pool, park, picnic area, and playground.īut what really sets Parkdale Commons apart are the stunning open-concept plans, complete with desirable features like 22' deep garages, 10' ceiling heights on select plans, mudrooms, and walk-in pantries. Parkdale Commons is located within the highly-regarded Boulder County School District. Erie is also home to a charming downtown area with plenty of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, including the annual Erie Town Fair and Balloon Festival. Residents will enjoy the state-of-the-art rec center, Erie Community Park, and Thomas reservoir, all just a stone's throw away from their doorstep. Located just a short drive from Boulder, Denver, and Longmont, this community offers easy access to some of the most stunning scenery in Colorado. Welcome to Parkdale Commons, a beautiful new home community from Century Communities-one of the nation’s top 10 homebuilders, nestled in the heart of Erie, CO. Navigate to the toggle menu button or press the escape key to close this navigation modal
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