Is Orillia ready for a local food policy – join the conversation

Dr. Doug West, a Lakehead professor who is involved in the creation of community gardens at the campus, will lead a food policy discussion at the next In Conversation event, taking place at the Orillia Public Library on May 19 at 2 pm.

Dr. Doug West, a Lakehead professor who is involved in the creation of community gardens at the campus, will lead a food policy discussion at the next In Conversation event, taking place at the Orillia Public Library on May 19 at 2 pm.

May 14, 2015 – Orillia, ON

A local food procurement policy encourages governments and community organizations to purchase food from local suppliers. Such a policy helps local farmers and food suppliers in the community and can also help to build a more secure local food system.

At the next In Conversation event – on Tuesday, May 19 from 2 – 3:30 pm – at the Orillia Public Library, Lakehead University’s Dr. Doug West will lead a panel discussion to explore how and why such a food policy could be established in Orillia.

Dr. West, Associate Professor with the departments of Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, will be joined by Jacob Kearey-Moreland of the Orillia Community Gardens and Gary Machan, a resident of Rowanwood in Oro-Medonte.

 “There are plenty of benefits to implementing this kind of policy,” explains Dr. West. “We hope this event helps to raise awareness of the importance of local food policies, while pioneering a change in attitude that would support a more sustainable community.”

Admission is free to the In Conversation events, but registration is required and is accepted by email at info@orilliapubliclibrary.ca; by phone at 705-325-2338; or in person at the Library (36 Mississaga St. West).

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2nd in Ontario and 3rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

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