• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 

Food Sustainability

Food Co-op

The CRC operates a weekly fresh food market from April to November (run by local volunteers) where produce is available at inexpensive prices. We also continue to support the establishment of other markets in the community. In addition, we operate a fresh food delivery service that provides the same fresh inexpensive produce to local agencies with food programs.

Community Gardens

In the 1980′s the CRC recognized that many people in Regent Park were not accessing fresh fruits and vegetables. They simply cost too much and people were choosing to sacrifice basic healthy foods to pay for other necessities.

CRC worked with the community, and brokered our relationship with Toronto Community Housing to make available green spaces and turn them into urban agriculture areas. To date we coordinate 3 community garden sites where over 70 families in Regent Park grow produce for their own consumption. In addition, we partner with Regent Park Community Health Centre in their coordination of 4 community gardens, serving an additional 120+ families throughout Regent Park.

200 families now benefit from shared resources and gardener gatherings in urban gardens scattered around Regent Park. The program continues to grow and flourish and the demand out weighs the supply of green areas. But it is also at risk due to the revitalization of Regent Park.

Community Garden Challenge

In the redevelopment of Regent Park, there is no commitment to replace the existing garden spaces, despite them being an integral part of the health of our community.

CRC is advocating with residents to ensure these garden spaces are replaced. We are leading a group called the Food Consortium, which is working from a philosophy that “no one ever needs to use a food bank again”. We continue to negotiate with the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing, Daniel’s Corporation and other vested partners to look at ways that Regent Park can become a sustainable community through the growth of local agriculture.

A Food Centre for Regent Park

CRC is working to become a food centre in Regent Park. We recognize that food is a social convener; it brings people together, yet we also acknowledge that although everyone needs food, not everyone has access to food.

During the redevelopment in Regent Park, we have been able to successfully negotiate with the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing, and the Daniel’s Corporation to ensure that rooftop, balcony, and container gardening opportunities are available. As well, we were able to ensure that the new Big Park will host an outdoor oven, a greenhouse, and a market space.

We are also in negotiation to have fruit bearing trees planted in the community as another source of fresh produce.