By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The regional district has adopted a bylaw that will see gas tax reserve funds go towards renovating the community hall kitchen in Oliver.
The Oliver Parks and Recreation Society is applying for a food infrastructure grant, which promotes a more sustainable food system in Canada.
The Society’s goal is to improve local food security by adding more space and updating equipment in the kitchen. They also want to address cultural food preparation requirements.
The cost share ratio will be a maximum of 75 per cent from the government and a minimum of 25 per cent from the applicant. The Town of Oliver is being asked to contribute $25,000 towards this grant. Area C is being asked to cover $35,000. The $60,000 will allow for a maximum grant application towards the total cost of $240,000.
On Monday, Diane Vaykovich, corporate officer for the Town of Oliver, recommended that council support the application.
She noted the renovation project will address two specific food system components: processing and consumption. This includes cooking/baking, canning/preserving, smoking, and drying.
Vaykovich said the Society is considering educational and rental opportunities . . . “offering more events where people from all cultures and income levels gather together to share/eat food.”
She noted the kitchen will be fully renovated with the purchase of new equipment including refrigerator, freezer, dehydrator and steam canner.
Parks and Recreation Manager Carol Sheridan said many features of the kitchen are coming to the end of their lifespan, so they need to replace the old appliances with more energy-efficient ones.
She noted the renovation will result in more food production for the community and more educational programming to promote food security. For example, people will learn how to cook and preserve food.
Sheridan said they also need to address space issues in the kitchen, noting they really need additional space to prepare food.
“You can only have four people in the kitchen (right now),” she told town council.
She explained the renovation project stems from the Oliver Food Action Plan.
