Foodlink Receives Great Grants Award from Ontario Trillium Foundation

Author: Katie Rabinowicz

Posted: November 9, 2009

Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario

Local Non Profit Acknowledged for Ground Breaking Work

Foodlink Waterloo Region was recently named as one of the winners of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s prestigious 2009 Great Grants Awards.  The awards recognize charitable and not-for-profit organizations that have had an exceptional impact in their communities.  The recipients were selected from over 4,000 groups from across the province.

Specifically Foodlink was the recipient of the Chair’s Award for launching the Buy Local! Buy Fresh! campaign and connecting consumers, local farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants through the program.  Foodlink is recognized as a pioneer of the local food movement and works directly with more than 152 farms in the area and has shared its resources, expertise and BLBF brand with ten other regions across Ontario.

Foodlink Waterloo Region exemplifies excellence, innovation and leadership in building healthy, vibrant communities. It is one of seven 2009 Ontario Trillium Foundation Great Grants Awards recipients who were recognized recently at a ceremony in Toronto.  “Great Grants Award recipients are remarkable organizations that have had a profound impact on the communities they serve,” said Ontario Culture Minister Aileen Carroll. “The work of these committed volunteers and staff continues to enrich the fabric of their neighbourhoods, their communities and the province of Ontario.”

Foodlink’s Executive Director Peter Katona and Board Chair Trevor Herrle–Braun attended the awards ceremony in Toronto on November 5.  “It is a true honour to win the award and be recognized as a leader in building a sustainable healthy local food system, said Katona.

According to Trevor Herrle Braun, “This is a testament to the fact that Foodlink has been able to build real  opportunities for local farm families while at the same time increasing consumer confidence and access to local food.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation grants funding to approximately 1,500 organizations each year.  The Great Grants Award recipients were selected from among some 4,500 groups that received OTF support between April 2005 and December 2008. Â  In 2006 Foodlink received a $162,500 grant over three years for broad organizational support to continue its work in developing a healthy food system.

Foodlink’s award winning projects include the annual publication of a Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map; a new comprehensive local foods website www.foodlink.ca; a Taste Local! Taste Fresh! Culinary Showcase and a branding campaign, in addition to providing ongoing community education, networking and customized marketing services.  Since 2002 Foodlink has been committed to putting more local food on more local plates while building sustainable business relationships that make locally grown food more viable to produce and easier to obtain.

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For more information please contact:

Peter Katona, Executive Director, Foodlink Waterloo Region, 519-513-8998; katona@foodlink.ca OR Anna Contini, Project Coordinator , Foodlink Waterloo Region, 519-513-8998; acontini@foodlink.ca