Urban Bounce

Food banking is seen by many as a solution to hunger. But what would real food security in Canada look like? This week, I explore the question: What’s the problem with food banking? Drawing upon a recent interview with Trevor Hancock, a public health physician and father of the health promotion paradigm in Canada, we problematize the notion that charity can achieve the systemic change needed to address food insecurity.

In May 2019, two years ago, my mom, Patricia Ballamingie, and I visited Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. On this week's episode of Urban Bounce, we talk about some of the social innovations from each country that stood out to us, from Finland's baby boxes to Denmark's cycling infrastructure.

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Los Angeles has opened COVID vaccination eligibility to all citizens over the age of 16. But there are still barriers to accessing vaccination appointments. I sat down with organizers from two grassroots volunteer groups — Get Out The Shot LA and VAXIE — who are working to ensure all members of their communities are able to get vaccinated. These advocates are the definition of neighbours helping neighbours. 

Thank you to this week's guests, Liz Schwandt and Calista Vassios.

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Listen to Urban Bounce on Anchor: anchor.fm/urbanbounce

Get Out the Shot Los Angeles: www.gotsla.org

VAXIE: vaxie.info

Food forests are often considered the ultimate gardens — once established based on permaculture design principles, these forests become self-sustaining, capable of nourishing communities with very little labour. Today I'm speaking with Shelley Lambert, a Chief Food Forester at the forefront of establishing food forests here in Ottawa, and Celeste Lomax, an organizer of the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Browns Mill Urban Food Forest: www.facebook.com/urbanfoodforestatbrownsmill

Celestial Care Solutions: www.celestialcaresolutions.org

Just Food Community Farm: www.facebook.com/JustfoodOttawa

In this episode of Urban Bounce, I speak with organizers from Free Transit Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton. We discuss how reimagining Canada's public transit systems has implications beyond just transportation: it would change the way we plan our cities; help to address issues of police carding on buses and trains; and create a cityscape accessible to everyone, regardless of whether or not they own a car.

A huge thank you to this week's guests (in order of appearance): Herman Rosenfeld, Jasmine Mohamed, Josh McEvoy, and Sol Bobier.

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Free Transit Toronto: www.freetransittoronto.org

Free Transit Ottawa: www.freetransitottawa.ca

Free Transit Edmonton: www.freetransitedmonton.ca