Got your attention?

Good.

And it’s true. The Food Action Coalition Board of Directors is calling all members to a planning session that will determine the course of the FAC for the future. Are monthly meetings meeting your needs? What special projects would you be interested in helping out with? Are you willing to serve as a board member? Are we meeting our mandate as a network of people supporting local food and local food growers?

Please attend the next FAC general meeting and give important input into the FAC’s future role in Creston.

Monday, November 7
4:30 pm
College of the Rockies
Room 118

Please bring your ideas and some local snacks to share.

Thanks,
Gail

Tamara Fox is part of a group of Creston residents currently organizing a question-and-answer forum for the town council and mayoral candidates. This communication is from her:

Why a forum? As you may know, the Chamber of Commerce has put together a “Meet the Candidates” evening already, however this event (as covered in the Creston Valley Advance) offers no chance for citizens to pose publicly answered questions in a forum like setting. They have done this due to the sheer number of candidates running. We feel that electing an official based upon a three minute speech is not quite satisfactory and have taken it upon ourselves to host a separate session for just the council and mayoral candidates.

We are contacting you (Creston Valley Food Action Coalition) because we would like community groups to be involved and feel welcome, and we would love to respectfully ask for your group’s public sponsorship. We are accepting donations at the door, simply to cover the cost of renting the hall, however, no one should feel obligated to donate.

We are asking this because we feel the more people involved, the more opinions will be heard. The more public support we can gather, the more eyes will be on the candidates. Creston is our home, and we as a group would like to ensure that those in office sincerely have the best interests of the Creston people in mind.

You can find our online forum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/crestoncitizens/. There is also a list of questions we as a group have decided on. Those attending the forum will have the opportunity to add their own questions to the list as well.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Tamara through the Facebook group. Find the event information below.

Unofficial Town Council Forum
What: A community organized event intended for Creston residents to ask questions of their council and mayoral candidates in a forum setting.
When: Sat, November 12, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Where: Rotacrest Hall

This workshop IS NOT ABOUT HONEYBEES!!

Mason bees are native bees and also play a vital role in pollination. They have a very short active life, only foraging for 6-8 weeks in the spring. The males mate and die shortly after. The females lay eggs in nests, the larvae feed off the pollen collected and stored, they then cocoon themselves over the winter months and emerge as adults in the spring.

Sign up for our course and learn more about these wonderful little creatures and how to provide the necessary environment for them to flourish especially in towns and/or areas where pollination is sorely missing because of restrictions and/or allergies of keeping honey bees.

Space is limited……so book now!!!

Mason Bees Workshop
Instructor: Lynn Westcott, Local Entomologist

Date: Saturday 19th November 2011
Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Location: Nelson Chamber of Commerce, Upstairs Meeting Room, Hall Street, Nelson

Brief Biography

Lynn Westcott (MSc, RPBio) is an entomologist with 17 years experience working for government agencies and environmental consultants throughout British Columbia and Alberta. Lynn now operates her own consulting business, Westcott Environmental Services in Castlegar, BC. Lynn’s entomological specialty is native bees and their role in plant pollination.

Course Description

The Mason Bee life cycle
How to make a home for them
Annual maintenance tasks
How to find a suitable location

Class Size: 40 people max.
Cost:$15 per KLAS member / $20 per non-member
Last Booking: Wednesday 16th November 2011

Please send your registration form and cheque made payable to K.L.A.S.
Kootenay Local Agricultural Society, 1911 Irving Road, Tarrys, Castlegar, BC, V1N 4N6
Email: klasociety@shaw.ca Phone: 250-608-0334

Food Safety Systems Implementation (Processor) Program:
Introductory Food Safety Workshop for Food Processors

B.C. food and beverage processors are aware of the importance and economic advantages of implementing food safety systems in their operations. Food processors are invited to attend an introductory food safety planning workshop to be held at the College of the Rockies in Creston on Thursday, October 27. You’ll learn some basic HACCP theory and, practical monitoring procedures, as well as information on employee hygiene and practices. It’s also an opportunity to network and access information that will help enhance your bottom line in these changing economic times.

Upcoming Food Safety Planning Workshop in Creston (8:30am to 4:00pm, registration fee $20, includes lunch and coffee breaks)
Thursday, October 27 – Greenhouse Classroom, Creston Campus, College of the Rockies, 301 – 16th Avenue South, Creston

To register:
Call the Creston Campus of the College of the Rockies at 250-428-5332, fax 250-428-4314 or email creston@cotr.bc.ca

Visit www.ssfpa.net/foodsafety for more information on the workshop and the Food Safety Systems (Processor) Program.

For information on the workshop content, contact:

FSSI (Processor) Outreach Coordinator

Toll Free 1-866-619-7372

Email: fssi.outreach@ssfpa.net

The purpose of the FSSI (Processor) Program is to offer education and funding for processors across British Columbia to develop food safety plans. The program delivers educational workshops, one on one consultations and funding to eligible food processors to implement GMP and/or HACCP plans. The Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA) is pleased to deliver this program in support of British Columbia food processors (www.ssfpa.net/foodsafety).

The Food Safety Systems Implementation (Processor) Program is offered as part of Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Growing Forward offers programs and services to support a profitable, innovative, competitive and market-oriented agriculture, agri-foods and agri-based products industry. Growing Forward will contribute to the health and wellness of Canadians through the development, recognition and implementation of food safety systems across Canada. Funding for this program has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

A discussion is coming to Passmore Hall in Slocan Valley on November 5. Bob Sandford will be the guest speaker. Check out the poster below for more information, and attend if you can!