Editor’s Note: We’re profiling organizations and individuals who have benefited from the support of the Medavie Health Foundation. This includes the Greater Shediac Community Garden and other organizations dedicated to creating long-term solutions to food insecurity in communities.

During the pandemic, it is estimated that one in seven Canadians are living in a food-insecure household^[1]. That makes it more critical than ever to improve access to fresh, healthy, local foods.

Community-led sustainable food systems do just that and more. Over the past year, and across Canada, these systems have demonstrated their health, economic, social and environmental benefits. That’s because when people engage in a local food or agriculture system, they see improvements in their social and physical wellbeing, as well as their environment and local economy.

This is why Medavie supports the Greater Shediac Community Garden and other community kitchen, farm, and garden initiatives, through the Medavie Health Foundation.

Located in southeastern New Brunswick and founded in 2011, the Greater Shediac Community Garden works to strengthen food security in the region. The community garden, was initially created when three volunteers wanted to provide the local Vestiaire St-Joseph Food Bank with fresh produce. What started as a 500-square-foot root vegetable garden has, a decade later, evolved to include over 200 gardening beds, a learning centre, meditation garden, children’s garden and a 2,000-square-foot root vegetable garden.

The community garden’s latest addition is a greenhouse and teaching kitchen, made possible, in part, with funding from the Medavie Health Foundation, and donated through the United Way Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick. The new structure will extend the growing season and provide the community with more space to develop their food and gardening skills. The community garden offers a variety of on-site and virtual educational workshops, equipping their 300+ members with the skills to start seeds, tend gardens, harvest produce and preserve seasonal crops.

Through our Foundation, Medavie is proud to support more than 60 organizations across Canada like the Greater Shediac Community Garden in their missions to help people lead healthy lives, either through active living or by improving access to healthy food. Empowering communities with the resources to live healthy, active lives aligns with Medavie’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of Canadians.

To learn more about the Medavie Health Foundation and how it partners with organizations to support healthy living initiatives, adolescent mental health, and post-traumatic stress, read about Our Community Impact.

^[1]https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/201216/dq201216d-eng.htm