About Us
Who we are
We are a not for profit organization directed by the passion of volunteer members who want to ensure a healthy and sustainable food system across Greater Sudbury.
We connect people from across the food system including areas such as farming, food processing, environment and health.
Why we were formed
In 2004, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Sudbury & District Health Unit, now Public Health Sudbury & Districts, endorsed the City of Greater Sudbury Food Charter, one of the first food charters in North America. In 2013, local community leaders and stakeholders formed the Greater Sudbury Food Policy Council to help move the Charter forward and address the many significant food security needs of our community.
Our Vision for Greater Sudbury
The Greater Sudbury Food Policy Council (GSFPC) envisions a Greater Sudbury where:
- All residents have access to adequate, affordable, safe, nutritious and culturally preferred food.
- Our food system is financially viable, equitable, and environmentally sustainable.
- Citizens are knowledgeable about the food system and its impact on their lives, community, and environment.
Our Mission
The Greater Sudbury Food Policy Council champions an affordable, equitable and sustainable food system.
Our Mandate
The Greater Sudbury Food Policy Council recommends food policies, plans and programs to various constituencies (including municipal, provincial, federal, business, public sector, community and households) and works to enable their implementation. It has set the following objectives:
- Supporting the implementation of policies, plans and programs related to the pillars of the Greater Sudbury Food Strategy and the 2026 Assessment:
- Agriculture and Food Processing
- Food Access
- Food Literacy
- Food Service, Retail and Tourism
- Food Waste
- Forest and Freshwater Foods
- Urban Agriculture
- Conducting and supporting research, analysis and advocacy to identify food systems issues and solutions.
- Facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse food system actors.
- Encouraging and supporting community-driven food systems initiatives.
- Raising awareness on local food issues and opportunities for engagement.
Our Team
Our Council has members who represent a certain area of food system expertise, and organization representatives who provide support on behalf of their organization. Both members and organization representatives represent different sectors of Sudbury’s food system:
- Academia
- Advocacy
- Agriculture
- Anti-poverty
- Child & Youth Nutrition
- Economic Development
- Emergency Food Providers
- Environment & Sustainability
- First Nations
- Government
- Healthcare
- Institutions
- Labour
- Land Use
- Public Health
- Supply Chain
We are looking for new Council members and organization representatives from a variety of sectors. Contact us if you or someone you know would be interested in joining us!
2026 Members
Rachelle Niemela (Acting Co-Chair)
Jackie Edwards
Dan Cronin
2026 Organization Representatives
Better Beginnings Better Futures, Student Nutrition Program: Angele Young
City of Greater Sudbury: Barb McDougall-Murdoch, Emily Trottier, Jennifer Babin-Fenske (Co-Chair), Vivienne Martin, Scott Rennie, Shanelle Lacasse
College Boreal: Sylviane Beaulieu
Greater Sudbury Public Library (CGS): Colin Burns
Meals on Wheels: Michelle McCullough
Ministry Northern Economic Development and Growth: Kim Murch
NOSM U: Joseph Leblanc and Cassandra Whymark
OMAFA (Ministry Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness): Pierrette Desrochers
Public Health Sudbury & Districts: Bridget King
Rethink Green: Leigha Benford, Destiny Roy
Sudbury District Nurse Practitioners Clinics: Sarah Gatien
Sudbury Shared Harvest: Carrie Regenstreif
SWEAC (Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre): Scott Florence
UWCNEO (United Way Centraide North East Ontario): Laura Beaudoin