Dr. Charles Z. Levkoe

Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Food Systems
Associate Professor

Department: 
Education
Environmental Studies
Geography & The Environment
Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences
Health Sciences
Master of Public Health
Social Justice
Social Work
Email: 
clevkoe@lakeheadu.ca
Phone Number: 
+1 807-346-7954
+1 807-343-8010ext. 7654
Office Location: 
Main Office: Braun Building 1068, Department of Health Sciences, 955 Oliver Rd Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1
Sustainable Food Systems Lab: Room 2001, PACI Building, 401 Red River Rd, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1B4, (807) 343-8010 ext. 7654; https://foodsystems.lakeheadu.ca
Academic Qualifications: 
  • PhD, University of Toronto, 2014
  • MES, York University, 2004
  • BA, Hon., McMaster University, 1998

Other Appointments

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo
  • Research Associate, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Wilfrid Laurier University
Date joined Lakehead: 
2016
Previous Teaching/Work: 
  • SOCJ 5302: Social Justice Perspectives of Agricultural Labour
  • HESC 5011: Canadian Food Systems: Perspectives in Health and Sustainability
  • HESC 5035: Qualitative Inquiry
  • NRMT 5132: Fisheries Governance and Qualitative Research Methods
Research Interests: 
  • Community-Based Research
  • Social-Ecological Health
  • Food Systems
  • Political Ecology
  • Social Movements
  • Social Justice
  • Positionality and Intersectionality
  • Political Economy
  • Food Sovereignty and Agroecology
  • Popular Education

My research uses a food systems lens to better understand the importance of, and connections between social justice, ecological regeneration, regional economies and active democratic engagement. Working directly with a range of scholars and community-based practitioners across North America and Europe, I study the evolution of the broader collective of social movement networks which views the right to food as a central component of more sustainable futures.

Mobilizing existing partnerships, I integrate my research and teaching through community engaged learning pedagogies and support students, community partners and scholars to be actively involved in knowledge cogeneration. Through community-based, action-oriented inquiry and teaching and the development of placed-based action projects, my research contributes to critical discussions that inform theory, civil society action and public policy.

I have also been involved in community food security and food sovereignty efforts for over 15 years and have worked as a community-based researcher, operated an organic farm and led programming with non-profit organizations across Canada and in the Middle East.

 For More information on my research program see https://foodsystems.lakeheadu.ca/