Executive Summary
The Prince Rupert Community Food Action Plan (2025–2030) is a community-driven roadmap to build a more just, resilient, and locally grounded food system for Prince Rupert and the surrounding region. This plan emerges from years of research, community engagement, and partnerships, reflecting the deep knowledge, values, and priorities of the people who live and feed their families here.
Food insecurity is a persistent and growing challenge in Prince Rupert, where many families face high food costs, limited access to traditional foods, and systemic barriers rooted in colonial policy and geographic isolation. Recent data shows nearly one in three Indigenous households in the region experiences food insecurity. Yet, amidst these challenges, the community holds powerful tools for transformation, including strong relationships, intergenerational knowledge, grassroots leadership, and a growing commitment to land-based food systems.
This draft plan outlines a coordinated approach to improve local food access, support Indigenous food sovereignty, strengthen school and community food infrastructure, and promote climate-adaptive growing practices. It builds on the work of community members and local partners, including Ecotrust Canada, the City of Prince Rupert, School District 52, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society, and others who are piloting programs, sharing knowledge, and reimagining what food justice looks like on the North Coast.
Key actions in the plan include:
- Expanding school-based food infrastructure by building greenhouses, enhancing school, community, and home gardens, and integrating locally grown produce, local fish and seafood, and traditional foods into school meal programs, in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s Feeding Futures guiding principles.
- Growing community-based greenhouse and food production capacity to increase access to fresh, affordable food for underserved groups and the broader community.
- Launching a seasonal weekly market in partnership with the City of Prince Rupert to connect residents with local growers, harvesters, and food producers.
- Creating opportunities for Indigenous land-based learning and cultural food access through school gardens, food forests, and by supporting culturally relevant foods in schools, in collaboration with community partners.
- Developing infrastructure for a North Coast Food Hub by establishing shared processing, storage, and distribution facilities – including a new school district commercial kitchen available for community use – to strengthen the local food economy and improve regional food access.
- Advancing community-led food policy and climate adaptation strategies at the local level, while contributing to broader efforts to address fisheries policy and support school-based access to traditional foods, and developing educational workshops to enhance community food literacy.
This plan is not just about food; it is about connection, resilience, healing, and systems change. It uplifts the knowledge and priorities of those most impacted by food insecurity, including Indigenous families and youth, and supports culturally appropriate food initiatives, land-based learning, and community-led solutions. By creating space for collaboration, innovation, and relationship-building, the plan lays the groundwork for a more just and sustainable food future on the North Coast.