Sustain Ontario is the outcome of a two year process led by the Metcalf Foundation bringing together groups working on food and agriculture issues in Southern Ontario. Participants in the discussion led by the Metcalf Foundation identified a need for collaborative policy and advocacy work at the provincial level. In 2009, Sustain Ontario hired its first director and has since been served as the unifying voice for food and farming interests across the province. In 2015, after a period of strategic visioning, Sustain Ontario becoming an incorporated not-for-profit organization. As a not-for-profit, Sustain Ontario has the freedom to take action as an independent organization, with the ability to provide additional member benefits such as advocacy, that we wouldn’t have been able to do as a full charity.
History Highlights
- In December 2016 Sustain Ontario’s Networks identified initiatives they wanted to focus on. The networks cooperated with student researchers throughout 2017 to create policy position papers, in order to identify gaps, set direction and strength the Ontario food system.
- In 2016 Sustain Ontario launched the Sustainable Food Enterprise Network and the Food Justice Network
- In 2016 Sustain Ontario launched the Food Initiatives Greenhouse, an online resource sharing library.
- In 2015 Sustain Ontario officially becomes an independent not-for-profit
- In 2013, Sustain Ontario launched the Ontario Edible Education Network, bringing together students, educators, community groups, parents, farmers, food businesses, and administrators to facilitate efforts to get Ontario’s children eating, cooking, growing, and learning about local, healthy sustainable food.
- 2012-13 Growing Good Food Ideas Videos launch at Queen’s Park in 2013 with the Premier of Ontario
- Recommendations are developed for the Local Food Act in 2012
- Development and advancement of the Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy (OFNS) in 2012
- Sustain Ontario launches Vote ON Food campaign in 2011 that urgespolicymakers in Ontario to support local food legislation
- Publication of Menu 2020: Ten Good Food Ideas for Ontario in 2010
- 2010 marks the first Bring Food Home Conference : Connecting Ontario Farm and Food Networks
- In 2009 Sustain Ontario hires its first Director and expands its mandate from Southern Ontario to province-wide
- Sustain Ontario is formally incorporated in 2008
- In 2007 Working meetings convened by the Metcalf Foundation to explore the possibility of a cooperative, integrated network with the goal of transforming food and agriculture and a system-wide level
Annual Reports
Governance Documents