Island Food Hubs - Together for Food

Nanaimo Region

NANAIMO FOODSHARE SOCIETY

Nanaimo Foodshare Society is undertaking several initiatives in their role as the Food Hub for the Nanaimo region. With leadership from Executive Director, Paula Masyk, Foodshare is engaging with city and community in conversations around food sovereignty, in support of recommendations for the City of Nanaimo’s official community plan.

In their role as a Food Hub, Foodshare is engaged in many community initiatives to support food sovereignty across the Nanaimo Region, including partnerships with the City and Growing Opportunities Community Farm Co-op in the ongoing development of the Five Acres Community Farm. In addition, Foodshare is active with several school garden sites and educational programs. Outside of their hub role, Foodshare provides a variety of food-focused services and programs across the region.

Paula Masyk

Hub Lead: Nanaimo Foodshare Society

Executive Director Paula has a BSC in Agriculture from McGill University, and is passionate about healthy food skills and education for everyone.

Paula comes to Nanaimo Foodshare from Ladysmith, where she worked as a Food Security Manager. Paula has extensive administrative and Human Resources experience and has worked on many food security projects. These include including development/marketing of an organic seed line, an organic tea line, and a seed incubator farm. She has led gleaning projects and managed a food bank, soup kitchen, and several food recovery projects.

Born in a farming area of Manitoba, Paula loves preserving, fermenting, foraging, gardening, and making cheese and wine. She loves living on Vancouver Island and spends her free time volunteering, in the garden, or out enjoying nature.

ed@nanaimofoodshare.ca
250 753 9393

Stacey Blouin (Island Health)

Stacey is the Public Health Dietitian/Community Nutritionist for Nanaimo & Ladysmith regions. She is very grateful to and thankful for the possibility to live, work and play on the unceded and traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, Snaw-Naw-As & Coast Salish First Peoples. She has a wide variety of experience encompassing pediatrics, adults and seniors’ health. Stacey provides leadership in nutrition, food systems and healthy public policies. Her focuses include improving food security nutrition, enhancing family & school health, educating school staff & service providers, and developing & implementing nutrition related policies and resources. She supports the work of the Nanaimo Foodshare Hub, as well as various other coalitions and networks in the region with the hope of improving health overall in Nanaimo & Ladysmith.

Island Health: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
stacey.blouin@islandhealth.ca
250-589-0357

Community Partners