Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
The Northern Healthy Foods Initiative’s (NHFI) vision is for people to define their own food systems to access healthy foods in northern Manitoba. Our goals are:
- to increase food security efforts at the community level
- to strengthen community-led development
NHFI supports local and regional projects that contribute to the development of culturally relevant, healthy food systems, while improving health and well-being. NHFI’s role is to increase access to food by working with communities and coordinating efforts aligned with the program's goals and objectives. Our strategic priorities are to:
- Strengthen strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts to support local food production and access. Partnerships are intended to increase community access to resources and opportunities, build on community development efforts, facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences and reflect the uniqueness of communities.
- Enhance support for local efforts, including strengthening community-led approaches that reflect cultural values.
NHFI is administered and managed by Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations and receives assistance and guidance with overseeing the initiative from the NHFI Management Committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from various Manitoba government departments and agencies, including:
- Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations
- Manitoba Agriculture
- Economic Development, Investment and Trade
- Environment, Climate and Parks
- Manitoba Health
- Education and Early Childhood Learning
Service Delivery Model
Food security projects are being delivered in northern and remote communities by community-based organizations known as NHFI partners. These include:
- Bayline Regional Roundtable
371 Flemming Dr. Box 108
Wabowden, MB ROB 1S0
Ph: 204-689-2598
Fax: 204-689-2355
Email: baylinerrt@outlook.com
Administrator: Carol Sanoffsky
Administrative Assistant: Donna Sanoffsky - Northern Association of Community Councils
Unit 20, 395 Berry Street
Winnipeg, MB R3J 1N6
Ph: 204-947-2227
Fax: 204-947-9446
Executive Director: Linda Payeur
Project Coordinator: Trinette Konge - Four Arrows Regional Health Authority
500-338 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0T2
Ph: 204-947-2397
Fax: 204-982-3359
Executive Director: Alex McDougall
Program Manager: Byron Beardy - Food Matters Manitoba
422 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 1R1
General Office: 204-943-0822
Fax: 204-943-0823
Executive Director: Rob Moquin
Program Coordinator: Demian Lawrenchuk - Frontier School Division
Leaf Rapids Education Centre
Box 670
Leaf Rapids, MB R0B 1W0
LR School: 204-473-2403
Fax: 204-473-8632
Program Coordinator: Brian Trewin
Communities in the North
The initiative targets communities in over 80 per cent of the province. These communities include First Nations, Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations communities and northern municipalities. You can find a full list in the Northern Food Prices Report and you can find a map that defines NHFI eligibility here.
Integral Partnerships
Partnerships and linkages with non government organizations are essential to the success of the initiative. Examples of these include:
- Health in Common
- Tides Canada Foundation
- Keewatin Tribal Council
- Perimeter Aviation Ltd.
- Via Rail
- Manitoba Hydro
- Thomas Sill Foundation
- Harvest Moon Society
- Regional health authorities serving northern Manitoba
- Green Action Centre
- First Nations and Inuit Health
- Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba.
- Healthy Together Now
Affordable Food in Remote Manitoba (AFFIRM)
AFFIRM reduces the price of milk, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits in eligible remote northern communities through a subsidy. The subsidy is provided to participating stores and each store is required to pass on the full subsidy to the customer by reducing the sale price of milk, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. For more information, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/healthyeating/community/affirm.html.
Indigenous Procurement Initiative
The objective of the Indigenous Procurement Initiative is to increase the participation of Indigenous peoples and suppliers in providing goods and services to the Manitoba Government. To that end, Manitoba Procurement Services Branch has introduced an Indigenous Procurement Initiative (IPI) to increase the participation of Indigenous businesses in providing goods and services to government. Please visit: www.gov.mb.ca/finance/psb/api/ab_proc.html.
General Contact
Northern Healthy Foods InitiativeManitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations
300 – 352 Donald Street
Winnipeg, MB | R3B 3H8
Phone: 204-792-8557