Ottawa CIty Councillors call for Community Gardens to be Exempt from COVID-19 precautions | Unpublished
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Shawn Menard's picture
Ottawa, Ontario
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Shawn is a passionate civic organizer, currently serving as the Public School Board Trustee for Capital Ward with a track record of voting against school closures and keeping neighbourhood schools accessible. He is currently the city councilor for Capital Ward (Ward 17). 

He was born and raised in Ottawa and has lived in Old Ottawa East and Old Ottawa South with his partner and young son.

Shawn is an ardent progressive who has always brought people together and formed broad based coalitions to improve the lives of people in Ottawa.

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Ottawa CIty Councillors call for Community Gardens to be Exempt from COVID-19 precautions

April 10, 2020

 

Dear Minister Elliott,

Multiple residents have contacted our offices to ask that community gardens be identified as an essential community food service and be exempt from the recent closure of recreational spaces. Community Gardens are not simply recreational spaces - many provide an essential function by supplementing residents’ diets, increasing access to more culturally appropriate food, making grocery dollars go further, and increasing local resiliency. At a time when people are being asked to minimize their visits to grocery stores, gardens provide an alternative source of high quality, healthy food. Many gardens also donate to food banks, supporting our most vulnerable residents.

Access to the outdoors also has proven links to mental health, which is essential in this time of crisis. Our office has been in touch with Ottawa Public Health, who have indicated that if the Province were to allow the opening of gardens later this spring, they would be prepared to provide guidance for their use, with express training for physical distancing and other techniques to minimize COVID-19 risks. Of note, both the City of Gatineau and the entire province of British Columbia has stated that community gardens are essential at this time.

We ask that you reconsider the designation of community gardens as a non-essential service and allow our residents to grow food in a safe, responsible manner under the direction of Ottawa Public Health.

 

Sincerely,

 

Shawn Menard

Councilor, Ward 17, City of Ottawa

 

Rawlson King

Councilor, Ward 13, City of Ottawa