Annual Report 2023

Guided by our new strategic framework and clear mission/vision, 2023 was a busy year for Food First NL. We started new projects, released reports and recommendations, hosted webinars, held presentations, popped up, planned, convened, collaborated, and so much more.

Our 2023 Annual Report highlights this work. It groups our programming under our four strategic pathways: Advocating, Organizing, Taking Action, and Valuing People. We also reflect on what the right to food looked like in 2023 — a year when food insecurity continued to rise across the country.

Explore Our Work In 2023

Reflections

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Food First NL, thank you for your continued engagement with our work. Daily, we rely on that engagement to make progress toward our mission of advancing the right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2023 was a heavy year — I saw that weight settle onto the shoulders of our team, our partners, and all the communities we work with.  And yet, we found hope… Hope, above all, in the commitment of people across the province to change.

Last year, we adopted a new mission, “To advance everyone’s right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador.” Take a look at 2023 through a right-to-food lens and look ahead at the possibility for transformation in 2024.

Funders

Catherine Donnelly Foundation

Center for Local Prosperity

City of St. John's

Common Approach to Impact Measurement

Community Food Centres Canada

Community Foundations of Canada

Farm Credit Canada

Food Secure Canada

Government of Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development

  • Department of Health and Community Services

  • Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

Isaac Operations

Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security

Memorial University of N.L. Public Engagement Accelerator Fund

Medavie Foundation

Northpine Foundation

Nourish Leadership

Pretty-Woodrow Foundation

Private Donors

Staff

Current

Joshua Smee, Chief Executive Officer      

Ashton Lane, Finance and Administration Manager  

Sarah Ferber, Program Manager     

Heather Reid, Communications Coordinator    

Kim Budgell, Finance and Administration Coordinator

Alison Bennett-James, Program Coordinator      

Ashley Byrne, Program Coordinator    

Laurel Huget, Program Coordinator

Richard Butt, Program Coordinator

Sarah Crocker, Program Coordinator

Dana Marshall, Regional Food Animator

Leah Vatcher, Regional Food Animator

Les Perry, Regional Food Animator

Samantha Young, Regional Food Animator

Kerrin Rafuse, Communications Assistant

Madi Hynes, Program Assistant

Rasheed Ature, Program Assistant

Outgoing

Carla Saunders, Program Coordinator

Jill Elson, Regional Food Animator

Emily Alexander, Program Assistant

Pam Anstey, Program Assistant

Sierra MacNeil, Program Assistant

Board of Directors

Current

Carolann Harding, Chair

Andre Myers, Vice Chair

Greg Noseworthy, Secretary

Brian Butt, Treasurer

Jamie Jackman

Janine Woodrow

Prem Nijhawan

Melissa Caravan

Florence Gushue

Ivan White

Deborah Coombs

Outgoing

Darryl Legge