Food Animators

The Toronto Food Animators Project is a partnership between three innovative food security organizations: The Stop Community Food Centre, FoodShare Toronto and Afri-Can FoodBasket. Since 2005, Food Animators have been working with agencies and residents in and around Toronto’s thirteen priority neighbourhoods to start food projects such as community gardens, community kitchens and Good Food Markets (fruit and vegetable stands). These projects increase access to affordable, fresh and culturally appropriate foods, while also creating opportunities for residents to learn new skills, meet their neighbours and experience their own power as they witness the positive impacts of their efforts. Ultimately, food animation is as much about building positive community interaction and creating welcoming community spaces as it is about increasing food security.

Currently, The Stop’s Food Animator is working with agencies and residents in Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) buildings in south Scarborough. The residents selected the food project that best suited their needs and the Food Animator provided the support needed to get these projects started. The Food Animator does not run the projects, but rather helps to build partnerships and offers some resources and technical support so that agencies and residents themselves develop the skills and confidence to sustain the projects in the future.

To date, The Stop’s Food Animator has helped to start a community kitchen, two Good Food Markets and two community gardens, as well as support the start-up of a Good Food Market at The Stop.