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Vancouver Sun
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver council reinstates funding for school meal programs
Vancouver council will reinstate full funding for school meal programs after a unanimous vote of support on Wednesday. The motion, from councillors Peter Fry and Rebecca Bligh, came after council reported earlier this month that it was reducing funding for school food programs from $320,000 in 2024 to $162,500 in 2025. This decision was made based on an expectation that the provincial and federal governments had agreed to increase funding to school food programs. However, according to Fry, the provincial and federal government funding model meant the Vancouver School Board would not receive enough to bridge the gap. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim shared an emotional memory of his mom being arrested for shoplifting due to the family's food insecurity. 'I would see the fear in my mom's face,' Sim said. 'It is a real thing and make no mistake about it, as long as I am Mayor of the City of Vancouver regardless of whose responsibility it is, kids and families experiencing food insecurity will have my support.' Sim added an amendment to the motion asking the Ministry of Education to provide a 'clear explanation' about how food funding is distributed across B.C.'s 60 school districts, 'including how the socioeconomic status index is calculated and applied to ensure that Vancouver is receiving its fair share of federal funding. Since 2014, the city has provided $320,000 from its annual operating budget to support 3,500 meals each weekday through various programs, including the Food4Schools lunch program, which subsidizes meals to 258 students across 17 schools. In March 2025, the B.C. government entered into an agreement with the government of Canada through the national school food program, which provides about $39 million over three years in additional school food program funding. Fry said that the funding was allocated using a formula based on socioeconomic status for each school within the district. This 'needs assessment' model 'can inadvertently exclude some individuals who may not meet strict eligibility criteria but still face food insecurity,' said Fry. With a file from Denise Ryan dcarrigg@
The Province
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Province
Vancouver city councillors look to reinstate funding for school meal programs
The city's funding of school meal programs is a small investment for a big reward, says councillor who wants the funding reinstated after cuts 'We would like to reinstate the funding so kids don't go hungry,' said Vancouver city councillor Pete Fry. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Councillors Peter Fry and Rebecca Bligh have introduced a motion asking the City of Vancouver to reinstate its funding for meal programs in the school district. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Since 2014, the city has provided $320,000 from its annual operating budget to support 3,500 meals each weekday through various programs, including the Food4Schools lunch program, which subsidizes meals to 258 students across 17 schools. Earlier this month, the city announced a reduction in its funding from $320,000 in 2024 to just $162,500 in 2025, citing 'significant budget pressures' and anticipation of 'substantive funding' from the province. However, Fry said, 'It has become apparent that the province is not providing the level of funding that was expected.' In March 2025, the B.C. Government entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada through the National School Food Program (NSFP), which provides approximately $39 million over three years in additional school food program funding. But Fry and Bligh are concerned that the way the province is allocating the money will leave gaps impacting kids in Vancouver. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There was an expectation that this new funding from the feds was to be distributed by the province and replace the funding the city of Vancouver was providing, but the province had a different funding model in mind.' Fry said that the funding will be allocated using a provincial formula socioeconomic status index for each school within the district. The 'needs assessment' model 'can inadvertently exclude some individuals who may not meet strict eligibility criteria but still experience food insecurity,' said Fry. Shortly after the city announced their cuts to the Vancouver School District meals programs, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Nicola Wealth announced a joint donation of $170,000 to make up the shortfall and support the continuation of the Food4Schools program. 'We are very grateful that Nicola Wealth and the Food Bank are doing this,' said Fry, but he said it's important to ensure the city's funding is reinstated, and continues on a long-term basis. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A meal program for Vancouver students that had lost more than half of its city funding will receive a massive one-time donation to ensure students facing food insecurity will continue to be fed. From left to right, John Nicola of Nicola Wealth, CEO David Long of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Vancouver School Board Trustee Victoria Jung, and Vancouver City Coun. Rebecca Bligh post for a photo at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) in Vancouver, B.C., April 16, 2025. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG 'We would like to reinstate the funding so kids don't go hungry,' said Fry. 'I see a lot of hungry kids in my neighbourhood Strathcona, and that contributes to kids struggling in school. It's about concentration and focus on schoolwork, and when you are hungry, it's a lot harder.' According to the 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey, only 22.1 per cent of youth ages 12 to 17 report consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. While it is not normally the responsibility of municipal governments to fund school lunch programs, Fry believes it's important to keep what was already in place to ensure no child is left hungry. 'We want to position young Vancouverites to do the best they possibly can, and improve their lives and living as best as we can. In the grand scheme of things it's a relatively small investment for the City,' said Fry. The motion goes to council on May 7. dryan@ — With Vancouver Sun files Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Whitecaps News
Vancouver Sun
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver city councillors look to reinstate funding for school meal programs
Article content Councillors Peter Fry and Rebecca Bligh have introduced a motion asking the City of Vancouver to reinstate its funding for meal programs in the school district. Article content Article content Since 2014, the city has provided $320,000 from its annual operating budget to support 3,500 meals each weekday through various programs, including the Food4Schools lunch program, which subsidizes meals to 258 students across 17 schools. Article content Article content Earlier this month, the city announced a reduction in its funding from $320,000 in 2024 to just $162,500 in 2025, citing 'significant budget pressures' and anticipation of 'substantive funding' from the province. Article content Article content However, Fry said, 'It has become apparent that the province is not providing the level of funding that was expected.' Article content In March 2025, the B.C. Government entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada through the National School Food Program (NSFP), which provides approximately $39 million over three years in additional school food program funding. But Fry and Bligh are concerned that the way the province is allocating the money will leave gaps impacting kids in Vancouver. Article content 'There was an expectation that this new funding from the feds was to be distributed by the province and replace the funding the city of Vancouver was providing, but the province had a different funding model in mind.' Article content Fry said that the funding will be allocated using a provincial formula socioeconomic status index for each school within the district. Article content Article content The 'needs assessment' model 'can inadvertently exclude some individuals who may not meet strict eligibility criteria but still experience food insecurity,' said Fry. Article content Article content Shortly after the city announced their cuts to the Vancouver School District meals programs, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Nicola Wealth announced a joint donation of $170,000 to make up the shortfall and support the continuation of the Food4Schools program. Article content 'We are very grateful that Nicola Wealth and the Food Bank are doing this,' said Fry, but he said it's important to ensure the city's funding is reinstated, and continues on a long-term basis. Article content Article content 'We would like to reinstate the funding so kids don't go hungry,' said Fry. 'I see a lot of hungry kids in my neighbourhood Strathcona, and that contributes to kids struggling in school. It's about concentration and focus on schoolwork, and when you are hungry, it's a lot harder.'
