Bill 216, The Food Literacy for Students Act
January 21, 2021
January 21, 2021
We’ve talked in the past about the importance of food literacy, a.k.a. food knowledge, experience, and understanding. This also happens to be one of my favourite reasons to love farmers’ markets because they are an incredible place to ask farmers questions and experience food in a way like no other. We try at CGM to increase food literacy as well by (in a usual year) hosting cooking classes and other demonstrations. But we especially love it when youth get involved. Making sure that the next generation knows and truly experiences food is so important for their lives and those of others, and for our food systems.
If this is something you’re interested in as well, we thought you’d like to know that there is currently a Bill in the process of becoming a law that would bring food literacy education to every grade level in Ontario schools! It’s called Bill 216, The Food Literacy for Students Act and you can read more about it here. “The Bill will amend the Ontario Education Act to include experiential food literacy education in the provincial school curriculum. When it comes into effect, students in Grade 1 to 12 will have the opportunity to grow and prepare healthy food and learn about the food system.”
So far, it’s passed first and second readings but whether or not it passes, this is still exciting news for food literacy! Everyone eats and has a connection to food, and everyone deserves to know how wonderful their food is, and what it can do for them and for their communities. Hands-on experience with food in the classroom, in gardens, and in the kitchen, would change the game!
Some schools are lucky enough to offer Food, Nutrition, and Horticulture courses in secondary schools, but these are unfortunately not options for everyone. Would you have wanted to learn more about food during your primary and secondary education? What would you have wanted to learn?
The Farmers’ Market is taking a scheduled break as usual right now, but don’t forget that the Indoor Market remains OPEN! Every Monday through Saturday, 8-6!
Here’s who’s open!
Produce:
Havaris Produce
Doris Family Prouce
Butchers, Seafood, Poultry:
Chris’s Country Cuts
Mark’s Fine Meats
Seoul Seafood Shoppe
Cheese, Dips, Sauces:
Smith Cheese
Glenda’s
Organic, Health Food Store:
Homeopathy London
Sacred Earth Vegan Market
Foods of the World:
Cucina Italiana
Hot Oven
Kleiber’s Deli
Mercado Burrito
Mona’s Shawarma & Grill
Rice Box
Seoul Seafood Shoppe
Thai Delight
The New Delhi Deli
The Piping Kettle
Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Frozen Desserts, Baked Goods:
Hasbeans
The Tea Haus
The Little Red Roaster
Chocolate Factory
International Bakery
Services:
Carpe Diem Massage (By appt. only)
Market Lottery
Restaurants:
Olive R Twists (519-204-9184)
Waldo’s on King (519-318-5029)
Tanakaya (519-850-8838)