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Resilient Rurals recognizes the power and potential of small and rural communities to foster resilience and advance climate adaptation solutions. View Projects Discover Resources Connect The Resilient Rurals Model Over 6 million Canadians live in rural areas, which are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change while faced with greater resource restrictions and financial limitations. We are responding to these unique challenges directly and in partnership with the communities most affected with a first-if-its-kind small and rural community climate adaptation model. Regional Collaboration Rural communities are hubs of ingenuity. Our model centers diverse regional partnerships to collectively address the significant and unequal vulnerabilities to climate change. By bringing together unique perspectives and sets of resources, we can effectively address regional challenges. Holistic Approach Small and rural communities are adaptable. But, it is essential for commitments to make a tangible difference in the lives of residents. A whole-picture approach to resilience allows for creative solutions to real problems, ensuring measurable results for those who matter most - the people who live there. By and For Small Towns Trust needs to be earned. Resilient Rurals was started by small towns specifically to meet small-town needs. We understand rural communities face challenges and will work with you to address your community's priorities in an impactful way. Latest Stories Harvesting Perspectives of a Resilient Food Future Food For Thought Native Plant Tools to Support Nature-Based Solutions Resource Hub Adaptation & Resilience Guides Social Media Toolkit Information Library Adaptation Measures Home & Property External Resource Directory Funding provided by: Resilient Rurals participated in the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program , which serves to enable Alberta communities to better understand and respond to the impacts of climate change. We extend a huge thanks to the Action Centre and its partners, Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta for championing critical climate adaptation work across Albertan communities of all sizes and in all stages of climate-readiness. We would also like to thank ClimateWest for their Adaptation in Action Program , which enables Resilient Rurals to take the next step in our journey. Our funders have played a critical role in supporting our development into a non-profit tailored towards supporting small and rural communities in Canada. Learn about the Adaptation in Action Program

Severe Wind Warning In most of Alberta, a Severe Wind Warning is given for winds expected to reach at least 70 km/h, or gust at least 90 km/h Key Vulnerable Populations: Anyone who has reduced mobility due to a disability or other factors Who Else May Be Vulnerable? Other vulnerable groups can include people who live in sub-standard housing conditions, and people whose job requires working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. If you know someone who may belong to one of these groups, we encourage you to reach out to them, and share this information. How Does A Severe Wind Warning Impact Me? Severe Wind Warnings can cause injury, property damage, and/or make it difficult to operate a vehicle or machinery. It is important to secure loose items, such as patio/deck chair, garbage cans, etc. in order to prevent them from becoming potentially dangerous flying objects. Resilient Rurals Severe Wind Warning Resources: Collection: Safeguarding Your Property, Risks, and Staying Safe For more Resilient Rurals Resources visit the Resource Hub Additional Resources Tornadoes and extreme winds (Government of Alberta) Click here to check out more Rural Assist Program resources

< Back to Rural Showcase Beaver Hills Biosphere - The Role Our Local Biosphere Plays in Regional Resilience Spotted with hundreds of wetlands, lakes and streams, and home to diverse wildlife and native plants, the Beaver Hills Biosphere is a hub of nature and culture just east of Edmonton. The region was recognized by UNESCO in 2016 as a biodiverse and culturally significant site, and since 2019, the Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve Association works to ensure these invaluable systems continue to flourish. Alberta is home to two of Canada’s 19 biospheres—Waterton Biosphere Reserve and Beaver Hills Biosphere. Fortunately for us, our Resilient Rurals partner communities live right next door to the beautiful Beaver Hills. We sat down with Brian Ilnicki, Executive Director of the Beaver Hills Biosphere, to learn more about the role of a biosphere in bringing nature and people together. “At a high level, a biosphere is a learning place for sustainable development. It gives people an opportunity to explore living and working in harmony with nature, but it's not just about setting aside land or becoming a protected area. The Beaver Hills is a region the community has determined is important. The Beaver Hills Biosphere is the result of people coming together to help provide local solutions to local issues or pursue opportunities in this important region. We focus on conserving and enhancing biodiversity, and we also work to enhance cultural diversity.” Beaver Hills: Where nature, community and industry live in harmony The Beaver Hills Biosphere is a 1600 km2 region east of Edmonton. It covers portions of five rural municipalities—Lamont County, Strathcona County, Leduc County, Beaver County and Camrose County. Among these counties are many small towns and villages, and a variety of industries fairly typical of Central Alberta. Land in the Biosphere has been developed for agricultural crops and livestock, as well as for a variety of oil and gas extraction and transport activities. Land has also been set aside for protection. For example, Elk Island National Park, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Recreation Area and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park serve as centrepieces of the region’s vast ecological network. Land trusts, including Edmonton and Area Land Trust and Nature Conservancy of Canada, are also actively at work tending various conservation properties within the Biosphere. The Role of the Beaver Hills Biosphere Association One of the key functions of a biosphere is to support collaboration. Brian explains that the Association does this by helping to convene key stakeholders around specific environmental or cultural issues, like environmental change, land reclamation or tourism, and to look for opportunities to generate applied research and shared knowledge that can inform decisions that offer local solutions to global challenges. “We do a lot, but we’re also cautious of duplicating the effort of others. That’s a tenant of our organizational ethos—if others are doing work in the Biosphere, we won’t duplicate it, but we will help to make connections in support of that work.” So, for example, although the Association isn’t in the business of securing land, they will assist other organizations to do so. Similarly, if municipal representatives and policy writers need assistance with policy writing, the Association will facilitate integral connections. “Inclusive engagement is one of the Biosphere’s guiding principles. By bringing people together around common issues and having a conversation, we aim to establish a shared knowledge network that works collaboratively to address these issues.” Pastures and rolling hills are characteristic features of the Biosphere How does maintaining and restoring natural ecosystems in the Biosphere support climate adaptation and resilience? Ecosystem services are those seemingly simple processes nature provides that we may or may not take for granted. They include providing clean air, clean water, sequestering carbon, and sheltering wildlife habitat. Brian, together with the Association team, is raising awareness of the value of these services to communities and industry in the Biosphere. “What we’re trying to do is make community members, decision makers and elected officials aware that the region’s natural assets, like wetlands or native stands of spruce or aspen forest, or grasslands, all play a role in supporting their needs.” What climatic changes are happening in the Biosphere? Today, the Biosphere is roughly 2°C warmer than it was 100 years ago, and early trend forecasting predicts temperatures will continue to increase. Scientists studying the area are also forecasting precipitation forms will change—the region may not see as much snowfall for example, but more extreme spring and summer rain events. Wetlands and surface ponds: built-in flood mitigators Maintaining surface water and wetland features within the Biosphere will be critically important for regional climate adaptation. Wetlands not only support biodiversity, but they also play a key role in ground water recharge and reducing flood risks. As precipitation continues to change in the Biosphere, and as more extreme precipitation events occur, well-maintained wetlands will help to reduce flooding and the associated damage to infrastructure. The value of restoring riparian areas for climate mitigation A riparian area is essentially the interface between a natural water body, like a stream, wetland or lake, and dry land. These areas are dense with biodiversity and vegetation that soaks up water like a sponge. The Biosphere is covered in these habitats, and Brian explains communities need riparian areas intact to help minimize climate impacts. The Association is focusing on mapping riparian and wetland areas, identifying losses, and restoring damaged areas. Brian explains it’s important to understand what the natural ecosystems and features are and how they’ve changed over the last 50 years. “Whether it’s been wetland loss or drainage, industrial development, clearing of native habitats that has impacted the landscape…we look at potential ways to restore these systems so they can help mitigate negative climate change impacts.” The Biodiversity Trail in Strathcona County is a landmark destination for those interested in an immersive ecological experience “Committed people working together for a sustainable region, through shared initiatives and collaborative action” - Beaver Hills Biosphere In a region bursting with diverse interests, stories, ecologies, industries and people, the Biosphere applies its collaborative and inclusive approach to identify common threads around various needs and opportunities. Together, with its regional partners, the Biosphere has developed a number of initiatives to address these needs and opportunities to build a more sustainable and resilient region. A handful of ways they are doing so include: providing data for decision-making supporting applied research raising awareness of local Indigenous stories and history identifying opportunities for nature-based tourism Providing Data for Decision-making The Association hosts an internal data sharing portal, which can be used by municipal planners, environmental departments, agricultural fieldmen and conservation coordinators throughout the Biosphere to inform their decisions. The portal’s databases store information about various environmental features of the Biosphere, like the location of surface water or riparian areas. For example, if a developer presents a project proposal to a municipality in the Biosphere, municipal staff can reference the available data as they determine whether or not to approve the proposal or require changes. The Association recently completed a landsat-based inventory of all the surface water in the Biosphere. The inventory offers answers to many common questions municipalities and industry have as they consider development and other opportunities: Where are all the wetlands? Where have wetlands been negatively impacted through drainage? Where are all the surface water features? Where are the native habitat blocks and how do they connect to Elk Island National Park or Miquelon Lake Provincial Park? The Biosphere offers the public a glimpse of some of that data through its online StoryMap that harnesses the power of maps to provide another way to view and understand the complexity of the Beaver Hills landscape and why it is so important. Supporting Applied Research The Association also supports the applied research of a variety of academic institutions with its primary partner being the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus. Much of the research coming from this relationship explores what drives the Biosphere’s environmental cycles. While these studies have an obvious environmental and biodiversity focus, they also incorporate the interests of the community to support long-term sustainability and resilience. Raising Awareness of Local Indigenous Stories and History Another significant piece of the Biosphere’s efforts that can inform decision making and opportunities in the region is the deep and lasting relationships between the landscape and local Indigenous Peoples. “We’re aware that, historically, the Beaver Hills has been very important to and has had a strong First Nations and Métis presence. We are working diligently to ensure that history is acknowledged and Indigenous perspectives are present within the work of the Biosphere” The Association is doing this in several ways. A dedicated team member of the Association is responsible for Indigenous engagement and has been building relationships with people, communities and organizations for the last two years. “We’re working to understand the role we can play to help tell the stories and how we can assist reconnection between Indigenous people and the land.” A series of video vignettes about the Biosphere’s early history have been commissioned by the Association, and these videos are bringing to life the relatively unknown, yet rich Indigenous history of the Beaver Hills. Explore the vignette videos about the Biosphere's history . The Biosphere also offers an Indigenous book club that gives people the opportunity to learn more about and discuss Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional ecological knowledge. Visit the club web page to see what they are reading right now and get involved. Identifying Opportunities for Tourism Municipalities in the Biosphere are highly interested in generating tourism in the area, and Brian explained there’s a big movement by the Alberta Government to support tourism in the region. Currently, his team is working with regional tourism operators and provincial tourism experts to define what their role will be in growing the local tourism industry. “We’re envisioning an all-encompassing, nature-based tourism strategy that would include sport-based tourism, Indigenous-based tourism, as well as promoting local food producers and cultural sites like the Ukrainian Village.” The Association plans to develop tourism support programs to connect experts with vendors. He gives an example, “Someone may run a bird watching company that brings people out to the Biosphere regularly. We’d connect them with others who have similar interests and knowledge to help support their endeavours.” Thank you again to Brian, for offering us insight into the important ecological, cultural and social work underway in the Beaver Hills Biosphere. Keep up with what's happening in the Beaver Hills and find opportunities to get involved on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram Previous Next Introducing Rural Showcase... A dynamic network of resilience leaders are working in and among rural communities across Canada. Resilient Rurals' Rural Showcase highlights the prominent champions channelling their expertise and passion to empower rural communities, advance climate adaptation and enhance the local environment. Connect with local leaders, hear their stories and learn from their expertise.

The excitement thrums in the air. Around the room, bright thinkers and thought leaders wait eagerly for the next speaker. Our audience is diverse. It includes farmers, teachers, activists, students, entrepreneurs, and members of government. Our diversity is our strength. Like a forest, our diversity is what allows us to thrive and innovate. We are eager to grow like young saplings, but we are also eager to share like the log giving nutrients back to the soil. We are all sharing and growing in the ecosystem of our discussions. Despite many of us only meeting today, we are also connected. Our passion for a strong food system connects us, as do our activities and dedication to our roles. We are here because we have heard of permaculture techniques, or we are concerned about the disappearance of small family farms. We all recognize how food insecurity is a persistent challenge in our communities. We were brought together by a shared passion for building resilience in our food system. Seven presentations, and seventeen audience members, all of whom travelled across Alberta to be here on this day. In this article, I will be sharing with you the recurring themes and lessons learned from our event, Cultivating Food Sovereignty, which was held in Bruderheim on November 28, 2023. Introducing Our Speakers Collaborating for the Cultivating Food Sovereignty Project, Resilient Rurals and SevGen Consulting Inc. chose presenters for the session based on their active involvement in the food system, as well as the relationships built in previous engagements. Our speakers included representatives of non-profits, tribal councils, educational institutions, and farmers. As such, we were able to learn from a variety of perspectives and experts. We have outlined our presenters and their associated organizations below: Penny Fox - Community Futures Keleigh Cormier - Connect for Food Cheryl Savoie - Yellowhead Tribal Council Gardens Brady Weiler and Mario Swampy - Maskwacis Education Schools Commission (MESC) Nanâtohk Mîciwin (Universal School Food Strategy) JR Weasel Fat and Ade Onanuga - Mi’kai’sto Red Crow Community College Trudy Harrold - Harrold Family Farm and Aspenhurst Permaculture Brayden Omeasoo-Steinhauer - Maskwacis Youth Representative and University of Alberta student We would also like to acknowledge our audience, their thoughtful questions, and their own valuable experiences. They contributed to a full and rounded discussion, and their contribution played a valuable role in the group’s learning. Hearing the unique perspectives and informed contributions of these speakers encouraged us all to expand how we think about the topic of food sovereignty. The messages interwoven throughout the day’s discussion left all attendees eager to continue the work and the conversation beyond the walls of Bruderheim’s Community Center. Fostering Connection in Diverse Ways Like the diversity in our attendees, a main theme that emerged from food sustainability and food sovereignty was the importance of diversity and connection. A diverse and interconnected ecosystem is more resilient than a monoculture or single-crop field. Likewise, the diversity of our roles around the food system is necessary, and speaking to one another about our roles, challenges, and areas of growth fosters connection. This theme also emerges in the diversity of actions taken to improve food sovereignty and the central role of connection in the success of those actions. Keleigh Cormier, a representative of Connect for Food, specializes in making connections throughout the food system. Her initiative recognizes the desire in Alberta to craft a healthy, thriving local food system, as well as the reality that there are challenges in this area, including the fact that consumers are disconnected from where their food comes from. Many consumers aren’t even eating food produced in our agriculturally-inclined province. “How can we start connecting these people?” she asks, explaining how she and her colleague drove across northeast Alberta to start conversations with producers, distributors, consumers, and more. “We want people in the community to understand, be excited, and drive an initiative,” she explains, and that drive only comes when people are truly connected to their food system. Introducing healthy food options to a community also necessitates diverse strategies and connections with that community. Penny Fox, the General Manager of Community Futures and President of St. Paul Champions for Change, has spent the past 14 years of her career introducing small strategies in St. Paul to encourage healthier eating and reduce the rate of chronic illness. “Everyone wants to live in a healthy community… let’s do things in a small and manageable way,” she explains. Small and manageable changes over a decade are bound to show up in big ways. Actions such as introducing healthful food options at community events give attendees the right to choose their food, and many choose to eat strawberry yogurt parfaits over cake and ice cream. Building connections between consumers, restaurants, and producers at their Harvest Ball brought the community together, supported activities, and established awareness of the local food system. Community gardens, food preservation workshops, and even policy changes were all a part of the diverse strategy in St. Paul to improve food options and overall health. Similarly, Brady Weiler and Mario Swampy play an integral role in establishing connections and diversity in the Nanâtohk Mîciwin (Universal School Food Strategy). Offering whole foods cooked in the schools themselves, this program introduces students to a variety of nutritious and delicious meals, including a fully stocked salad bar. Much like St. Paul, simply offering this nutritious option opened the door for students to introduce new foods to their diet. This innovative school food strategy would not have been possible without the connection between the four Nations that have partnered to establish Maskwacîs. Montana, Louis Bull, Samson, and Ermineskin Nations are all autonomous governments that have recognized the value of cooperation, especially as it pertains to the children and youth in their school system. Our youth are our future, and also our champions of diverse solutions. In his policy proposal written while studying at the University of Alberta, Brayden Omeasoo-Steinhauer emphasizes that a diversity of food sovereignty solutions can be generated if we give communities the tools to develop their own strategies. He points to the success of the Tsuu-tina bison farm, which not only feeds the Nation but also is an important connection to their traditional culture. “This is a wild game farm so we have to treat our relationships with the utmost respect, which includes animals and non-living things. When they harvest a bison, they practice their culture and ceremonies when harvesting that meat,” he emphasizes the importance of putting the creative power in the hands of communities. Connection and diversity on the land itself are equally important as our diverse connections within our food system. At Mi’kai’sto Red Crow Community College their agronomy program seeks to connect Indigenous students back to the land while imparting agricultural skills and opportunities. Ade Onanuga explains, “We have to connect to our land in order for the land to give us good produce… We always have Indigenous ceremonies, whenever we want to start an operation, we connect to our Creator”. JR Weasel Fat’s connection to the land is what drew him to an agricultural teaching position;  “Me going back to school – I did it with a passion, and I work the land with a passion. Because the land, it is us. I think everyone in here can say we depend on the land.” Connecting to the land, understanding its needs, and incorporating diversity are integral to farming in a sustainable way. Mi’kai’sto Red Crow Community College seeks to impart this knowledge to its students. Moreover, 10,000 pounds of food they grew was shared with the community, furthering this sense of connection. Trudy Harrold, representing Harrold Family Farms and Aspenhurst Permaculture, shared her own perspective on the importance of diversity when growing crops. Not only does her family farm integrate diverse strategies to improve productivity, including permaculture gardens, solar projects, and riparian area restoration, but Trudy explains “It’s not just about the parts, it’s about how to connect those parts and have them work really well together”. The diversity of her farm requires that relationships and interconnections are established between each component. Diverse plants work better when they are complementary to one another and the established ecosystem. For example, her pollinator garden nurtures native plants and is designed to support local pollinators. Beyond her garden, Trudy and her husband also act within their local food system to support small farmers. They have done this both by creating a livestock feed blend and by hosting a market of small producers on their property. Education Encourages Sovereign Choice Growing nutritious food is a piece of the resilient food system puzzle. But how do we get people in our community to eat the food we grow? If vegetables aren’t a staple already on someone’s plate, why would they suddenly eat vegetables that are locally grown? As we’ve researched and developed materials on this topic, we could not find the answers to these questions. Luckily, our event speakers were able to answer it for us. In the case of Community Futures and St. Paul Champions for Change, something as simple as offering a second option at public events meant that about half the community chose that second, nutritious option. Moreover, initiatives that introduce the concept of vegetables, what they look like, and how they grow also play an important role in increasing their community member’s familiarity with the produce. Incredible Edible Barrels is one initiative that does just that. By planting barrels filled with edible flowers and vegetables, and including information cards about what is growing and how to use it, St. Paul is showing (not telling) their residents how food is grown and how it can be incorporated onto their dinner plates. The freedom to use the produce of these barrels further encourages residents to take those vegetables home to cook with. Showing people nutritious options, rather than telling people they should eat healthier, is essential if one wants to shift the food environment. The Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission implemented a Universal School Food Strategy in 2013 to do just that. Made from whole foods, sourced as locally and affordably as possible, this program feeds nearly 3,000 students and staff breakfast and lunch each day. Brady Weiler, the Interim Director of MESC-Universal School Foods Strategy, is proud of the work his team has done to cut costs and introduce superior products to the students. For example, skipping the grocery store ensures that MESC is saving dollars and their orchard owner partner is better compensated for his produce. “[The apples] are an exceptional product, we buy them from the farm,” he explains. Perhaps most fascinating of all is the evolution of the salad bar in their program. At first, many students did not add fresh salads to their plates. However, that changed and over time a second salad bar was needed as the fresh greens became so popular. In addition to offering nutritious meals to students, MESC’s Universal food Strategy also offers a pipeline for students to join the food industry themselves by apprenticing in the program as cooks; “we are going to make the path for students to go through this program, and hopefully carry on with their education”. Offering the option of fresh vegetables is key. The Yellowhead Tribal Council operates within the City of Edmonton and serves the urban Indigenous population, 30% of whom are food insecure. A significant pattern within food insecurity is that fruits and vegetables are the first food groups dropped when money is tight (Eskandari et al., 2022). YTC decided to tackle this discrepancy by opening its hydroponic growing operation, which now has over 450 different cultivars and produces 400 heads of mature lettuce each week. “The uptake of the greens was massive, we didn’t expect it,” Cheryl Savoie shares, while explaining the other strategies YTC employs to improve their food environment. “At the tribal council level, we are saying to ourselves start demonstrating what healthy eating actually looks like.” This perspective led to the opening of a salad and smoothie bar within their building. Food sovereignty refers to a level of ownership and choice over one’s food that is not included under a food security definition. “I don’t want to rely on people for my quality of life,” Cheryl states, “people are hungry and we aren’t controlling our own food, we have this push from people looking to address their own constraints.” The work YTC Gardens is doing seeks to foster food sovereignty among the urban Indigenous population within Edmonton. The choice about what we eat and whether it supports our health is a key aspect of food sovereignty. In communities across Alberta, unique food needs are not often provided for in local grocery stores or convenience stores. In her role as a food producer, Trudy Harrold was able to learn to provide for her own needs when grocery stores did not provide celiac-friendly options. “If I can preserve some of my own produce and maintain it through the winter months, I would have that food to turn to,” she shares on the topic. This exemplifies critical aspects of food sovereignty whereby people should have the knowledge and the option to prepare food that is appropriate for their diets. How We Grow Supports Our Future Our food system is dependent on our environment, and our environment is shifting every year. Farming and growing practices that have become embedded in Alberta may not work as well as they once did and may hurt our ability to grow crops in the future. Our event participants had much to say on this matter. For example, monocultures use a large plot of land for one crop like wheat, barley, or canola. This method of farming not only makes that land vulnerable to the conditions of the summer, pests, and disease, but it also strips the soil of nutrients and leads to the overuse of fertilizers. Monocultures over time can have a disastrous impact on the soil. Our soil is one of our most important assets, “if we are not nice to our soil it will not be nice to us. If we don’t manage our soil very well, we will get crop failure.” Mi’kai’sto Red Crow Community College places high value on their soil, recognizing how the land itself allows us to farm at all. Using only organic fertilizer as needed, and reducing erosion with windbreaks and mulch, their program was able to produce corn, carrots, onions, potatoes, and tobacco, much of which was shared with the community and those in need. Trudy Harrold also integrates environmental goals within her family farm. Solar projects and riparian area restoration are key ways to reduce energy usage and protect local ecosystems and their services. Beyond that, Trudy’s permaculture projects are “a nature-based design method for land, people, and communities”. Permaculture seeks to provide back to the land, reduce waste, produce a yield, and maintain sustainable growing conditions. While the practice itself is new to Trudy, many of the principles were already in place on her farm as she and her family worked to reduce waste, protect their land, and cultivate a strong local food system. “Our new motto is about honouring the past and growing the future,” Trudy says in her presentation, and her actions demonstrate the vision behind this motto. However, one does not need to be working the land to protect it. At YTC Gardens in Edmonton, they have made significant strides in reducing their waste. Similarly, MESC’s school nutrition program recycles tons of cardboard, while incorporating land-based education through diet. “Treaty is not always about rights, it’s about responsibility” Councillor Mario Swampy shares, “Each and every one of us have a sphere of influence; no one has all the answers and all the solutions, but we can learn from each other and implement them slowly and truly.” Policy: A Barrier or an Opportunity? Municipal, provincial, and federal policies can serve to support or inhibit grassroots movements. The policies of a town may encourage residents to garden and potentially even raise small animals, or they may outlaw these practices entirely. So is policy a barrier or an opportunity? In our conversations, we found it could be both but most often was an opportunity to share knowledge and new perspectives. “Everyone has to eat,” Keleigh states matter-of-factly, but that does not mean everyone supports a thriving local food system. In her work, Keleigh found that sometimes municipalities don’t understand the value behind farming. They may be too removed from their food, and lack a fundamental understanding of how a farm operates. Agrotourism is an opportunity to shift those perspectives. If you take the time to invite government representatives to a farm and give them a tour of the operations, it establishes an understanding of the value of that work. Oftentimes, it also opens up new policy avenues to either allow for small-scale growing in towns or support wider agrotourism opportunities. A policy can also be used to prop up food initiatives. Penny Fox helped start conversations by asking “How do we make policy changes in our community to make it a little bit easier for people to access healthy food”? These conversations led to change, such as the implementation of a policy restricting how close fast-food restaurants are allowed to be to schools. In some high schools, the three closest food sources are fast food restaurants. A policy like the one implemented in St. Paul would have had a positive influence on overall student nutrition. Policy change is possible, but it takes time. Brayden Omeasoo-Steinhauer, a youth representative from Maskwacîs, shared with us his vision of a food-sovereign future which he developed in his pursuit of post-secondary studies at the University of Alberta. He shared important food statistics with us; did you know that 10% of households experience food insecurity, and of that 10%, 80% of those households are working but not making enough money to cover basic living expenses? In addition, food insecurity is connected to rates and patterns of chronic illness, including diabetes and heart disease. These facts are a public health problem, and yet communities usually hold the answers to these concerns themselves - they just lack the financial resources to pursue their solutions. Brayden and his peers, recognizing this pervasive problem, presented their policy proposal on a national level and recommended that the Government of Alberta initiate a funding program to aid communities in their pursuit of food sovereignty. By allowing communities to brainstorm their own solutions and giving them tools to make those goals a reality, this program would support the foundations for a better food system, including the right to food, healthy and sustainable food, a sustainable food system, an avenue for reconciliation through food, and the inclusion of more voices at the table. Food For Thought Throughout our Cultivating Food Sovereignty event, we have sown the seeds for a food system discussion that is rooted in resilience, sustainability, and connection. We have heard from representatives of traditional farming, Indigenous organizations, community initiatives, and future leaders. We are excited to see where our diverse initiatives and projects grow, and for what new ideas can sprout in this fertile ground. For more information on innovations in our food system, please visit our YouTube Channel to view our webinars continuing the Cultivating Food Sovereignty conversation. Cultivating Food Sovereignty - A Government of Alberta Project Funded Through The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) is a partnership between Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta. Their funding has enabled the Town of Bruderheim and its partners to implement Resilient Rurals actions to improve climate resilience in the region. Our project, Cultivating Food Sovereignty, emerged as a cross-cultural strategy to improve food sovereignty sustainably and adaptively. We engaged food system contributors across Alberta to better understand the challenges and hopes in this industry. Our engagement sessions helped us identify passionate speakers and stakeholders, whom we invited to our event, Cultivating Food Sovereignty in the Town of Bruderheim. The stories, lessons, and successes shared in this event opened up doors for conversation, and hope for new initiatives, and stressed the importance of building a resilient food system in the face of climate change. Above all, we were asked to continue the conversation around our food system resilience, which has shaped the development of our webinar series centered around innovative food choices. We have also learned that many of our attendees, despite being embedded in the food system, had not yet recognized the challenges a changing climate will bring to our food system. This information, and the value of sovereignty over our food, are topics Resilient Rurals will focus on in a growing conversation. Additional Resources Eskandari, F., Lake, A. A., Rose, K., Butler, M., & O’Malley, C. (2022). A mixed‐method systematic review and meta‐analysis of the influences of food environments and food insecurity on obesity in high‐income countries. Food Science & Nutrition, 10(11), 3689–3723. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1002/fsn3.2969

Resilient Rurals, SevGen Consulting Inc., and the Town of Bruderheim invite you to a day enjoying, sharing, and discussing our food. Where does our food come from? Who owns or manages the food we have access to? How do we keep our communities healthy? Cultivating Food Sovereignty is an opportunity to answer these questions and more. Food is Valuable Where would we be without food? Throughout time and space, food has been at the forefront of cultural change, family gatherings, and celebrations. Food is valuable. It is nourishing. Food creates nostalgia, builds connections, and fills stomachs. Food is also complex. What we eat is connected to political, technical, sociological, environmental, economical, and global forces. The food on our dinner plates has been grown, processed, distributed, and marketed. It will be eaten and some will generate waste. Passionate people provide food services, as well as education and advocacy for safe and healthful food. We are all a part of the food wheel, and we all have a place in the food conversation. Have you considered the processes behind the food you ate for lunch? Do you know where the vegetables or meat on your plate were grown? In a globally connected world, you might be eating food from anywhere. In an agriculturally inclined province, like Alberta, you may have even grown your food yourself. We often take food for granted. When we are rushing to buy groceries, make dinner, or splurge on a night out, many don’t consider the complexities behind what we are eating. The list of what we don’t know about our food can include: Who grew or made it? Were they compensated? Where did it ship from? How many kinds of travel (air, sea, land) were needed? How much has the price changed from when the ingredients were produced to the final product on my plate? How much labour went into making these ingredients into food? How will this food nurture my body? My mind? The parts of the food system we don’t see are some of the most important and the most vulnerable. When we go to a stocked grocery store to buy our weekly groceries, we don’t usually consider factors like supply chains. The food is right there, so it should always be there. Right? Food is Vulnerable Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us realized we had taken food access for granted. A complex food system can be disrupted in many different ways. What if the next shipment can’t make it to the grocery store? What if ocean shipping routes are disrupted? What if a natural disaster disrupts the growing of an important crop? Food is vulnerable to weather, transportation routes, and economic pressures. Severe weather events, such as wildfires and flooding can have drastic impacts on the food system. In Lytton, BC, both wildfires and flooding contributed to food spoilage, destruction, and disruption of food shipping routes. The residents of the town and neighbouring Kanaka Bar needed to find their own solutions to food security in their region. Due to their geographic limitations, a flood wiping out one road meant an abrupt halt of food transport into the community. Rural and remote locations are especially vulnerable to transportation interference. During the wildfires in Alberta in spring 2023, there were other disruptions. The fires threatened livestock and cropland, and farmers were on the frontlines protecting their homes and communities. As families and towns evacuated, they were required to source their food from new places. If they did not have access to a kitchen, families had to buy expensive pre-made food on top of other necessities. Albertans and Food Banks alike banded together to support these displaced people, but the food system was shaken by this past wildfire season. Less severe events also have enduring effects on food systems. Wildfires were followed by a very hot and very dry summer. In southern Alberta, crops that would normally flourish grew poorly, resulting in insurance write-offs and poor production. Immediate effects were seen on grains such as wheat but impacts rippled beyond the price of bread. Albertan grains are used to make cattle feed, and without strong production, beef prices have soared in stores as cattle feed costs skyrocket. Temperatures are predicted to rise. Wildfires and floods are predicted to occur more frequently. Consider the impacts of these events on the food we eat. What effects have we already witnessed and overcome? What steps can we take to protect our food systems? How can we nurture our local economies and farmers? Food is Community Luckily, the conversation around food systems and resilience-building is not new. Many producers, advocates, and distributors are working to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our food system. They are operating on the front lines, maintaining our access and quality of food, and advocating for better conditions for those without. Producers, advocates, and distributors are all a part of a community - a community that cares about how our food is grown, where it comes from, who it supports, and how it nourishes us. On November 28th, 2023, Resilient Rurals will be hosting this community in our workshop, Cultivating Food Sovereignty. We are surrounded by brilliant minds and passionate hearts and are bringing both together for a day of learning and inspiration. Join us to learn about innovative and inclusive school lunch programming, operated by the Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission. Learn from Harrold Family Farm about their operations while reducing their carbon footprint. Feel inspired by hydroponics programs such as Yellowhead Tribal Gardens, which provides fresh produce to the community while fostering food sovereignty. Our presenter list is ever-growing, and we all have something to bring to the food conversation. Our workshop is a chance to learn, collaborate, and inspire others to care about the complexities and vulnerabilities in our food system. To buy tickets for this event, please visit our page on Eventbrite.

praLocal adaption leaders share how collaboration, perseverance and dedicated climate adaptation funding will lead Prairie municipalities to resilience ClimateWest, in collaboration with the Prairie Climate Centre, launched a short film featuring climate adaptation leaders across municipalities in the Canadian Prairies. Resilient Rurals was thrilled to be a part of this project with Jill Yanch, Director and Resilient Rurals founder, speaking to the significance of the collaborative approach taken by our three partner communities in building resilience against shared climate risks. Jill Yanch on the collaborative, small town approach “Much of the work related to climate change adaptation has been done in cities and that adaptation is going to look very different for small communities." Resilient Rurals was born as a collaborative project between Bruderheim, Gibbons, and Lamont, three small municipalities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland facing similar climate change impacts. The Town of Bruderheim leads the project, which focuses on environmental, social, and business continuity priorities. On the challenges felt by residents in the region, Yanch explains, “like other areas, we’ve seen more hot days and more significant storms as well. Also, seeding and harvesting crops have been very difficult. It’s been felt very deeply in the agricultural community here.” “Collaboration with other communities the same size was very helpful to see how we can share resources and pool our knowledge and look for those common risks.” Resilient Rurals is bolstering the capacity for each partner to adapt by creating adaptation plans, strategies and tools that can be implemented in the communities. Currently, this extra capacity is funded by the Adaptation Resilience Training program, a cost-shared initiative delivered by the University of Alberta and supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise program and Alberta Environment and Parks. Barriers to implementation: the need for more inclusive and widespread funding streams Prairie Climate Centre explains that implementation of adaptation plans can be challenging for many Prairie communities. These challenges are largely due to the fact that there are currently not enough dedicated funding streams and resources available to do so. And this is undeniably the case for smaller-sized communities; even with the funding that is available, smaller communities have a difficult time tapping into the pot, as they often must compete with larger city projects for grant funds. “Often, when we talk about climate change adaptation we talk about climate; we don’t talk about other things that would impact a municipality’s ability to respond to climate,” says Yanch. Trevor Donald from the Town of Churchill explained, “few municipalities really have the tools available to them to incorporate climate change options in their municipal operations.” Donald says it’s critical to ensure the leadership and decision-making in a municipality is working and that necessary tools, funding and resources are made available. “A municipality with a suite of options like that—however big or small they are—can achieve so much more than how it’s currently being done.” In the short film Prairie Communities Adapting to Climate Change, frontline adaptation planners from five Prairie communities speak about the work underway and the future paths they envision for Prairie resilience. Resilience and adaptation tips from local leaders So how do people working in climate adaptation in small communities find the motivation to keep going in an under-funded environment? Start where you are; it’s important to start somewhere Make it community-based by engaging community members to learn about their climate change experiences to reflect their stories in your community’s adaptation Find your champions that can work in your community, organization and the political sphere Use the tools that exist like ICLEI’s many tools and other resources available through organizations like Resilient Rurals, ClimateWest, Prairie Climate Centre, and Climate Atlas of Canada Learn from each other by reviewing other municipality’s plans and sitting down with changemakers to have important conversations Collaborate with similar size communities, as is being done through the Resilient Rural’s partnership between Bruderheim, Gibbons and Lamont Don’t get discouraged; change doesn’t happen overnight, but adaptation work has critical, long-term impact Read ClimateWest's blog post: Community Action: How the Prairies are Adapting to Climate Change