Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council

Event Description:

This virtual event will bring together youth from across the unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory known by settlers as Ottawa, to explore how we can collectively advocate for food justice and better food policies for all of the city’s residents. We will hear from speakers who are leading work at the intersections of food, climate change, farming, and livelihoods, and how they are enacting change at the municipal level. These presentations will be followed by brainstorming sessions, with a view to initiate an agenda for youth food advocacy, and lay the building blocks for a new Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council, both independent and connected to the existing Ottawa Food Policy Council.

Come join us, and share your vision for a better food system for Ottawa! 

Speakers

Nika Moeini (she/her)

Title: Organizer, Youth Climate Save Canada

Nika Moeini is an activist, author, and policy analyst working at the intersection of climate change and food systems. She is the organizer of Youth Climate Save Canada, a youth-led group at the intersection of food and climate with a focus on animal agriculture. Nika is a Youth Ambassador with the Plant Based Treaty which is a global grassroots movement to transition to sustainable, healthier food systems. Full time, she works at Environment and Climate Change Canada as a Policy Analyst on Coal Mining Effluent Regulations. Nika is involved with Toronto Global Shapers, Re-Generation (formerly the Canadian Business Youth Council for Sustainable Development), Lighter Foodprint climate labelling, Food@COP campaign, and the Veg Climate Network.

Rav (she/her)

Title: Founder & farmer at Shade of Miti and former Co-Chair of the Food Secure Canada Youth Caucus

Rav is a new and young farmer from Mississauga, ON. She founded Shade of Miti, a food and climate justice organization. Rav rents land in Caledon, ON, where she specializes in growing South Asian vegetables such as bitter melon, okra, fenugreek and eggplants.  

Rossen Lee (she/her) 

Title: Networking Co-Lead at Toronto Youth Food Policy Council 

Rossen is a food security advocate and social researcher originally from Attiwandaronia/Hamilton, Ontario. She moved to Tkaranto/Toronto in pursuit of an education, career, and youthful adventures. As a city girl through and through, Rossen is in love with the beauty, people, and potential that she is certain actually does exist in Toronto. Her focuses include youth empowerment, enacting a universal basic income system, and increasing social connectedness within communities. An avid nurturer, Rossen hopes to encourage others to be resiliently tender.

Facilitators

Carly Hayes (she/her)

Title: Ottawa Food Policy Council Member 

Carly Hayes is a Global Health policy analyst, a member of the Ottawa Food Policy Council and formerly the Research and Education Lead for the Food Secure Canada Youth Caucus. Originally from the farming region of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, she discovered her interest and passion for food justice during her master’s degree studying international food policy and food security. Since then, she has conducted two international food research projects and coordinated international consultations on sustainable agriculture, and has developed and produced a podcast for the Food Secure Canada Youth Caucus, exploring issues at the intersection of food and youth across the country. Carly is a recipient of the Ontario Community Changemakers’ grant from 880 Cities, with which she is using to support the groundwork to create an Ottawa Youth Food Policy Council. 

Amélie Neault (she/her) 

Amélie Neault is the administrative coordinator at the Atelier (Social Innovation Workshop), a non-profit organization based in Ottawa and an inclusive bilingual space for collaboration, training, knowledge-sharing, and support for social innovations. She holds a master degree in Agroecology and she is specifically interested in food systems that are sustainable and just for all. She has worked across the food supply chain, which broadens her perspective and understanding on the various sub-parts that create food systems.