LiveSmart Community Heroes

In Powell River we are very fortunate to have a local hero who has been an ardent champion of sustainability for many years. I am talking about Martin Rossander, a man who has led by example throughout his life.

Martin Rossander came to Powell River in 1948 and briefly worked at the mill. He noticed that there were quite a lot of materials that were considered waste and instead of seeing these things dumped, Martin got permission to salvage what he needed to build a couple of cabins on some treed land that he had bought in Westview. I think it is well worth noting that there are still plenty of trees on that land and Martin intends to put a covenant on his properties so that the trees continue to live there in perpetuity.

Martin is a strong believer in the value of trees and was talking about the benefits that trees provide to our environment long before this topic was even close to mainstream. He has told me that for many years he was considered a "crank" and his ideas were often rediculed by some of the more conventional members of the community. However, now that climate change is a mainstream topic, people are beginning to listen more carefully to what Martin is saying and he is quite amazed at how differently his ideas are treated now.

Along the way, Martin hosted a television program on Shaw cable, where the environment was the main topic and now, for the past few years, Martin is the host of "Beyond Survival", a radio program that runs each Saturday on JUMP Radio. Guest speakers are invited to air their views and ideas regarding sustainability, food security, community development and more.

Martin leads by example; he lives his values and walks the talk. He has devoted his life to bringing awareness to the people in the Powell river region - awareness that has contributed to the health and well-being of Powell River and its community members.

Sara Blum 103-5701 Willow Avenue
Powell River, BC, V8A 5S6

{From PR Peak, Wed, Oct 15, 2008}


Video of Caila Holbrook's speech at Martin Rossander's life celebration (22 June 2008).

Good to know the world is changing.

November CFAI E-brief‏

The Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI) is a health promotion initiative that has a goal of increasing community food security for all British Columbians. Community food security is attained when all residents obtain safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diets through sustainable food systems that maximize community self-reliance and social justice. The primary objectives of the CFAI are to increase awareness of food security, access to local and healthy food, food knowledge and skills, increase community capacity to address local food security as well as develop and use policy to support community food security. Food is a determinant of health. With funding from The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, implementation by the five Regional Health Authorities, provincial coordination by Provincial Health Services Authority and guidance from a multi-sector, provincial advisory committee – CFAI supports actions that build food security in BC communities.

Through our E-Brief’s we hope to disseminate important and impactful information that will engage, empower and propel our province to be food secure.

Contents

1. Food Security.
2. Uniting Around Food to Save an Ailing Town.
3. Michael Pollan urges the next President to "Eat the View!". 2
4. An NPR interview with Michael Pollan- Food as a National Security Issue.
5. Food for Thought and Action: A Food Sovereignty Curriculum...
6. Elections Toolkit on Food Security from BC Food Systems Network.
7. Q&A: World food prices.
8. World Food Crisis at Critical Juncture
9. The food crisis, by numbers.
10. How to Start a Community Garden.
11. Rooftop Garden Project.
12. Canada’s First Inland Distribution of Grain by Sailboat.
13. Food Safety
14. Ontario farmer convicted in raw-milk trial, seeks maximum penalty.
15. Food and Agriculture.
16. Rules on Bioengineered Animals- FDA to Release Guidelines for Stages of Genetic Modification.
17. Organic farming 'could feed Africa'
18. Food and Environment.
19. UK urged to slash food-related carbon emissions.
20. GLOBAL: Food wasted is water lost.
21. U.N. Says Biofuel Subsidies Raise Food Bill and Hunger.
22. Food and Health.
23. Dining through the decades.
24. Obesity is killing us!
25. Supermarkets 'Push Fatty Foods'
26. Gene 'links food and fertility'
27. Water and What Else?
28. Workshops and Courses.
29. Distance learning course Urban Agriculture Types January-April 2009.
30.Community Food Charters: What they are and when to use them- November 19th.
31. "Collaborate to Compete" Value Chain Workshop- November 26th and 27th.
32. Funding/ Requests for Proposals/Call for Papers.
33. New Horizons for Seniors.
34. The BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program.
35. Columbia Basin Trust Community Development Program.
36. Conferences.
37. Addressing Inequities in Health: The Role of Public Health- PHABC AGM, December 2, 2008 Vancouver, BC.
38. Food - Today, Tomorrow, Together: Ensuring Healthy Local Food for All Albertans January 29 to 31, 2009 in Edmonton Alberta.
39. Community Population Health Research November 12-14, 2008.
40. International Diabetes in Indigenous Peoples Forum Vancouver, BC.
41. International Eco Health Forum 2008 (Merida, Mexico)