CRFAIR promotes healthy and sustainable food systems. This considers our relationships with each other, and the land and waters of this region. The presence of settlers (non-Indigenous peoples who live on these lands) is not neutral; it has had and continues to have devastating impacts on many aspects of life for Indigenous peoples. Many of our practices, including the seeds we plant, the ways we educate, and our methods of growing food came to these lands through the ongoing process of colonialism. Settler colonialism has suppressed local well-being by harming Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ food systems, whether they be land-based or of the sky and sea. We hold this understanding in our interactions and engagements with this land and its people
We endeavour to honour the land and its treaties by strengthening our relationship and responsibilities to them. We live and work on unceded Coast Salish Territories*, specifically of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations here in the core area, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations {W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱,(Tsawout) W̱SIKEM (Tseycum)} out on the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands, to the west Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, and Pacheedaht, and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut) Nations.
The Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRFAIR) supports the Capital Region through information sharing, networking, collaboration and policy development around healthy food systems in the region. CRFAIR is the backbone organization of the Good Food Network, a regional network of food system actors working collaboratively and aligning efforts towards the Good Food 2025 strategy. The Good Food Network has developed shared-impact goals and a Collective Impact Map with the aim of mobilizing efforts across three impact areas: (1) Local Food Economy, (2) Food Literacy and (3) Food Equity and Access. CRFAIR coordinates a number of roundtable and working groups across varying themes, incubating new projects, building capacity, and supporting collective action towards shared system goals.
CRFAIR coordinates the annual conference of the Good Food Network, the Good Food Gathering, which brings community, food advocates, organizations, local governments, farmers, and educators together to connect, collaborate and engage in meaningful dialogue around the key issues and opportunities of our local food system.
Hub Lead: CRFAIR
Executive Director Linda Geggie works extensively with a wide range of individuals and groups and believes in collaboration as a path to meaningful change. Within the Hub Collective, Linda brings significant expertise in working with policymakers to effect change at regional, municipal, and community levels. She has been actively working on regional food system issues since the early 1990s and has been instrumental in building and shaping CRFAIR into the organization it is today.
lgeggie@telus.netKatty English is a Registered Dietitian working in the South Island with Island Health’s Public Health team. She is passionate about working alongside communities and schools to promote well-being and to address barriers to health for all. She attends Good Food Network leaders meetings and supports the work of the CRFAIR. In her time away from work, she enjoys brisk ocean dips. Katty is grateful to live and work on unceded Coast Salish territory, on the lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̲SÁNEĆ peoples.
Public Health Dietitian, Island Health
katherine.english@islandhealth.ca
250-588-9417
Areli Hermanson works as a Public Health Dietitian at Island Health in South Island communities including Greater Victoria, Saanich Peninsula, and Gulf Islands. As a public health dietitian, she helps to translate nutrition knowledge, guidelines and recommendations into action.
Island Health: Capital Regional District
areli.hermanson@islandhealth.ca
Amanda is a Registered Dietitian with Island Health’s Indigenous Health Team. Her office is located on unceded Lək̓ʷəŋən territory in Victoria and she works with Indigenous communities throughout the South Island.
Her work centers around supporting community driven food initiatives and advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous voices, values and perspectives on matters that impact the health of the land, waters, and peoples on Vancouver Island. She supports the work of the food hubs by participating in food roundtables and creating space for meaningful collaboration with local Indigenous communities.
Originally from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan, Amanda is of Metis, French and Irish ancestry. She received her Dietetics degree from the University of Alberta and acknowledges that many of her learnings have been shared with her while working alongside communities. She is one of two, full-time dietitians with the Island Health Indigenous Health Team.
Aboriginal Health Dietitian: South Island
amanda.henry@islandhealth.ca
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