Wednesday May 21, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Executive Lead, UFRIS
On Tuesday evening May 20, City of Langford council heard a fullsome presentation of their new draft Official Community Plan (OCP) which includes Part 13 – Food Systems and Security.
Naturally, the Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society (UFRIS) supports all steps in the right direction for ensuring the household food resilience. That is the basic mission of our organization for all communities in BC and across Canada.
Recommendations to Premier Eby:
We wish to highlight that in November 2024, UFRIS issued 18 food resilience recommendations to the re-elected premier of British Columbia.
Premier David Eby’s office received those recommendations from UFRIS ahead of issuing mandate letters to his new cabinet (mandate letters were released January 16, 2025).
The recommendations were also sent to the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lana Popham, as well as Minister of Housing and Municipalities, Ravi Kahlon. We continue to anticipate the followup and meetings that have been discussed.
Langford leadership for the province:
With the City of Langford making strides for active urban food resilience, we further suggest that all municipalities across BC take similar steps to assure urban food resilience for their residents and tax payers.
Components of a strategy:
There is no standalone Food Security Strategy in Langford (though the idea was put forth at the May 20, 2025 council meeting).
Instead, there was a motion passed last night by council to assure that all city development and infrastructure, parks and other areas of development and service are examined through a food security lens during all decision-making processes.
Details of Part 13:
The City of Langford’s OCP includes desired outcomes, targets and commitments:
- Desired Outcome #1: All residents will have consistent access to affordable, healthy and locally sourced food within walking distance.
- Desired outcome#2: Agricultural lands will be protected, productive and harmoniously integrated with urban development.
Porcher Park aligns:
The first community garden in Langford aligns with those stated OCP goals about food security.
Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society (UFRIS) is the Operator of the city-owned Porcher Park Community Garden.
Most of the food-growers at Porcher Park Community Garden live within walking distance.
The garden has been harmoniously integrated with urban development (as part of a larger park with children’s playground and forested pathways).
===== RELATED:
Food-growers connect at Porcher Park Community Garden (UFRIS – May 11, 2025)
Porcher Park Community Garden supports Langford household resilience (Island Social Trends – May 11, 2025)
| Langford neighbourhood celebrates opening of new playground, community garden (CTV – April 22, 2025)
Langford ‘hits it out the park’ with transformed forgotten green oasis (Black Press – April 23, 2025)
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