As California farmers struggle with drought and other impacts of climate change, our ability to grow and access local food is becoming more important every year. World Community’s film series continues with the film Five Acres (30 min.) followed by a panel discussion with one of the filmmakers and local food activists from Nanaimo and the Comox Valley.

The Five Acre Farm in the Harewood area of Nanaimo has a long history of producing local food. It’s one of the last intact farms in BC’s first planned agricultural community. The history and future of this innovative agricultural project are portrayed in the film Five Acres, by Paul Manly and Laurie MacMillan. Manly comments “Through its important work on urban farming, restorative agriculture projects and employment skills training, Nanaimo Foodshare Society is helping build a healthy, sustainable and local food system while providing an inclusive work environment for individuals from vulnerable populations.”

Samuel Robins, Superintendent of the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company had some visionary ideas. In 1884, Robins purchased Harewood Estates, a large parcel of land between Nanaimo and the base of Mount Benson. He subdivided the area into five-acre lots and made them available to mining families as homesteads at affordable prices.

Executive Director of LUSH Valley Food Action Society, Maurita Prato says “I love what is happening with Nanaimo Foodshare Society, our sister Island Food Hub, the City of Nanaimo and the 5 acre farm. There is a lot to learn from this collaborative model of urban farming and community food security.”

Admission is by donation. Everyone is welcome. FMI: Janet (250) 337 5412

Following that there’s a film screening on Tuesday Dec. 3 – 7pm at NIC: Artifishal (81 min)

Artifishal is a film about people, rivers, and the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. It explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, possible threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature. Discussion to follow. Everyone welcome. Admission by donation

Our four-part series ‘Addressing the Climate Crisis: Activism, Adaptation, and Resilience’ continues on Tuesday September 17, 7 pm at Upper Native Sons’ Hall with a climate communications panel covering issues from personal health to collective political action. 

Betty Tate is a member of the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment and Comox Valley Nurses for Health and the Environment. She’s seen first-hand how climate change harms Canadians. Betty will describe the dual role health care professionals play helping the mental and physical well being of individuals and influencing policymakers to achieve better health for all.

Will Cole-Hamilton is a trained climate communicator with a background in law and business. Will is a core member of the communication team at Climate Caucus, a national network of mayors, councillors and representatives dedicated to action on the climate crisis. He’ll build on previous presentations to World Community, NIC, the Youth Environmental Action group and students at Queen’s University to describe how communities can effectively communicate with each other about climate.

Kai Nagata is Dogwood’s Director of Communications. Since 2007 Dogwood has been fighting to limit fossil fuel expansion. That’s placed the organization in the cross hairs of powerful corporations and governments who would like nothing more than for this issue to go away. Kai will illuminate how communities can come together to serve elected officials with notice that the days of inaction on climate are over.

Q&A to follow presentations. Admission by donation. Everyone welcome.

More info: David (Dogwood - 604 674-0996) or Janet (250 337-5412)

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Human beings have been altering the global landscape for thousands of years. But for the past 150 things have certainly intensified. Local landscapes has been transformed by logging, coal mining, agriculture, road building, industry and development. These altered landscapes are where the local impacts of climate change - flooding, erosion, and loss of biodiversity - first become evident. But these altered landscapes also hold the greatest potential for building resiliency. Kus Kus Sum, The Courtenay Estuary, Morrison Headwaters, Perseverance Watershed, Comox Lake –  these places are at the heart of our local climate story. 

Conservationists Tim Ennis, Jennifer Sutherst, and Meaghan Cursons will explore altered landscapes within our community and share how they play a critical role in understanding and responding to climate change. Through stories, photos and discussion they will illustrate how we can stitch these landscapes back together with the threads of adaptation, collaboration and hope. 

Join us to learn how you can participate in making a difference for our collective future. Everyone is welcome. Admission to the World Community series “Addressing the Climate Crisis” is by donation. Doors open at 630. Make time for conversation and connection before and after!