ACC Adult Collegiate receives grant for Food Security Certificate

Yesterday, the Assiniboine Community College’s Adult Collegiate hosted a celebration to thank Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal (BNRC) for the generous Community Projects Grant awarded to introduce the community to their food growing initiatives.

Support for this project came from The Garden Network and Samaritan House. Just over $1100 dollars has been funded by BNRC Community Projects Program to date at the Adult Collegiate.

The funds were used to purchase indoor window boxes, growing lights, and supplies used for the Food Security (horticultural) Certificate Program. It’s designed to provide students with food related life-skills such as gardening, household food budgeting, as well as employment skills such as plant production.

“Through these efforts we hope to improve the community’s knowledge of gardening, convey the importance of community involvement, the general healthy eating strategies of our population, and enrich the community as a whole,” said Nancy Chiupka, an instructor at ACC’s Adult Collegiate.

The purpose of this project is to increase food security of students studying at the Adult Collegiate and to teach practical skills for increasing community food security.

“With the addition of window boxes, students will be able to grow and harvest their own greens through the winter months,” said Chiupka. “In addition, the students will learn life skills and make connections within the community.”

Students at ACC’s Adult Collegiate come from Brandon and surrounding communities, many of whom have families and are single parents. Students ranges from 19 to 64 years old with around 20 per cent identifying as First Nations, Metis or Inuit, and 6 per cent identifying as a newcomer to Canada.