A rewarding day in Lachine for the CIP and Centraide

Members of the CIP (Collective Impact Project) and Centraide of Greater Montreal's teams had the unique opportunity to dive into the heart of Lachine's sustainable food system during an immersive visit on July 4. The day's rich discoveries gave participants a better understanding of the various workings and community initiatives that support food access in the neighborhood.

Setting the scene

Since phase 1 of the CIP, the Lachine partners have been working on its local food system, the Système Alimentaire Durable Lachinois (SADL). The Neighbourhood Roundtable and its partners have introduced several innovative initiatives to support food security and strengthen social cohesion. For their intensification phase, the neighborhood has decided to include educational success in their initiative to support young people and include them in the various stages of the project.

Duff-Court urban farm and 59 Saint-Pierre

The day began with active participation in community harvesting at the Duff-Court Urban Farm, where team members got their hands dirty and harvested berries and herbs for sale at the market. This hands-on experience was particularly instructive, highlighting the importance of cooperative work and local involvement (through the presence of volunteers, for example) in maintaining a sustainable food supply.

After the harvest, participants had the opportunity to explore the neighborhood and visit 59 Saint-Pierre, a transitional project still in development, where residents can use their proximity card to purchase a variety of harvest products. Proximity cards are offered free of charge to people experiencing acute food insecurity, enabling them to access fresh, local food, discover other markets in the network and support their families. These cards, representing amounts from $50 to $125, are accepted at Marché Saint-Pierre in Les P'tits Marchés de Lachine. The amounts deposited on the cards each month vary according to household size.

Les P'tits Marchés: A pillar of the community

In the afternoon, the teams took part in Les P'tits Marchés de Lachine, visiting the market in front of COVIQ (Comité de vie de quartier Duff-Court) that day. Held several times a week at different locations in the neighborhood, these markets play a vital role in providing residents with easy access to fresh, local food. Participants were able to observe first-hand how these initiatives contribute not only to healthy eating for residents, but also to strengthening community ties.

In conclusion, this visit profoundly enriched the team's knowledge and perspective of this growing PIC initiative. By working closely with local stakeholders, PIC and Centraide aim to play a growing role in promoting food security and community well-being in the neighbourhood.

We'd like to extend our warmest thanks to our Lachine community partners for their warm welcome and for sharing these wonderful moments with us!