Strengthening Local Food Systems in Prince Rupert
The North Coast Food Hub is a community-led initiative on Coast Ts’msyen Territory in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. It aims to make fresh, local food more accessible and affordable by growing produce in school and community greenhouses, hosting a weekly market, supporting local food processing, improving distribution networks, and advancing supportive food policies.
Rooted in food justice and Indigenous food sovereignty, the Food Hub responds to urgent needs in a region with the highest child poverty rate in British Columbia (22.7%) and persistent barriers to local food production. This collaborative project brings together schools, Indigenous partners, local government, and community organizations to create a food system that reflects the values, strengths, and priorities of the North Coast.
What We’re Doing
- Establishing three school-based greenhouses, producing 9,600-28,800 lbs of food annually for school meal programs, vulnerable populations, and a local markets
- Hosting a community market
- Developing a local food distribution network, improving access to fresh food for at least 1,000 individuals, including students, Elders, and low-income families
- Equipping School District 52’s commercial kitchen to support the addition of fish in school meal programs from local harvesters
- Delivering educational programming on food production, cooking, processing, and nutrition
- Strengthening the local food economy by creating employment, supporting local growers and harvesters, and building sustainable infrastructure
Who Will Benefit
This project aims to benefit everyone across Coastal Ts’msyen Territory, Prince Rupert, and the North Coast of BC, including:
- Indigenous community members, including Elders
- Indigenous youth
- School District 52 students (64% of whom identify as Indigenous)
- Low-income families and seniors
- New immigrants
- Local growers, harvesters, and food vendors
- Non-Indigenous community members
Why it Matters
Prince Rupert’s food security challenges are distinct and deeply rooted in its geography, climate, and a long history of colonialism and extractive capitalism that have worked together to erode food sovereignty and justice. Built on rock and muskeg with no arable land, the closest viable farmland lies 142 kilometres up the Skeena Highway in Terrace. As Canada’s rainiest and cloudiest city, outdoor growing is exceptionally difficult. Despite being a coastal community, residents struggle to access affordable, locally harvested seafood due to corporate control of fisheries and the closure of local processing facilities.
The North Coast Food Hub is designed to transform these challenges into opportunities through a school-centred approach to food production and distribution. By integrating greenhouse food production with distribution and policy advocacy, the project builds a system that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and promotes Indigenous food sovereignty.
Project Timeline
Start Date | June 2025
Projected Length of Project | 5 years+
The Project’s Collective Leadership and Partners
The North Coast Food Hub is led by a collaborative team including representatives from Ecotrust Canada, Metlakatla Development Corporation, School District 52, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society, and the City of Prince Rupert. This partnership builds on years of community development efforts, working to ensure that the project is responsive to local needs, culturally appropriate, and collectively stewarded.
Ecotrust Canada Project Leads
Dianne Villesèche (Program Manager, Food Systems, Ecotrust Canada)
Jenn Meilleur (Director of Programs and Impact, Ecotrust Canada)
How It’s Funded
This project is made possible with funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and facilitation from the Public Health Association of British Columbia and Food Banks BC. Learn More
Funding will be allocated for greenhouse infrastructure, soil procurement, food processing equipment, staff salaries, programming costs, and administrative expenses across participating organizations.
Sustainability Plan
The North Coast Food Hub is designed for long-term impact. Sustainability will be achieved through:
- Revenue from food and compost sales and programming
- Institutional partnerships with schools and community organizations
- Cooperative funding and in-kind support from partners
- Ongoing training, mentorship, and local capacity-building
- Reinvestment of generated revenue back into the food hub
Our Food Systems Work
This initiative builds on years of food security work by Ecotrust Canada in the North Coast region of BC. Our Food Systems program has grown from pilot projects and community engagement led by the North Coast Innovation Lab, focused on creating community-driven solutions to complex local food challenges.
Contact
Dianne Villesèche | dianne@ecotrust.ca