HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA – November 2, 2020 – The Halifax Innovation District and Davis Pier today announced a new initiative to help improve food security in Halifax.
Community members and organizations interested in developing and testing new ideas to address food insecurity are invited to participate in the Food Security Innovation initiative. This includes, but is not limited to, restaurants, farmers markets, schools, food banks, cultural centres, student groups, and community organizations.
“Despite strong economic growth, Halifax is one of the most food insecure cities in Canada with 1 in 6 households not having access to nutritious, affordable food,” said Wendy Luther, President and CEO of the Halifax Partnership. “Through the Halifax Innovation District and Halifax Innovation Outpost, we are excited to launch this initiative with Davis Pier that will support individuals and community organizations in advancing ideas and solutions that will create lasting change in Halifax’s food system.”
From November to February participants will work with the Halifax Innovation Outpost and Davis Pier to develop concepts and prototypes that can be tested with their communities. This is a free program intended for organizations who work at the local level and directly engage with people experiencing food insecurity.
“We firmly believe the energy and knowledge needed to transform our food system lies within communities themselves,” said Mike Davis, Managing Director of Davis Pier. “We’re excited for this opportunity to collaborate with organizations and individuals by providing support to the innovation process and helping them to further develop their concepts and bring them to life.”
This is the first pilot project of the Halifax Innovation Outpost’s Social Innovation initiative – supported by Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax Partnership and the Province of Nova Scotia – which aims to address a key social challenge in alignment with the municipality’s poverty reduction strategy, as well as community plans and initiatives.
Individuals and organizations can learn more about, and express their interest to participate in, the program on Halifax Partnership’s website. Responses will be accepted until November 16.
Media Contact:
Krista Juurlink
Communications Advisor
Halifax Partnership
kjuurlink@halifaxpartnership.com
902-223-9170
Halifax Partnership/Halifax Innovation District
Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development organization. The Partnership drives and accelerates economic growth by selling and marketing Halifax to the world, helping businesses reach their full potential and tracking Halifax’s economic progress. With private, public, and post-secondary Investors and partners. Halifax Partnership is leading the advancement of the Halifax Innovation District – with support from the Province of Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Municipality and in collaboration with public, private and post-secondary partners – to increase the number of viable startups and scaleups in Halifax and to strengthen our city’s innovation ecosystem. Learn more at www.halifaxpartnership.com and www.halifaxinnovationdistrict.com.
Davis Pier
Davis Pier is a professional services firm that provides innovative solutions to complex government and social challenges. With locations in Halifax, Toronto, and Charlottetown, our team consists of strategists, designers, technologists, project managers, analysts, and change managers. We work with organizations in Canada and internationally to deliver the services necessary to improve society and the lives of others by designing, planning, and implementing lasting change. Through Pier Labs, the firm’s social innovation outpost, we work with government, community organizations, post-secondary institutions, charities, foundations, and private sector organizations to conduct research and innovation on complex societal issues impacting the wellbeing of Canadians. The firm’s success in supporting these complex projects resulted in Davis Pier receiving the 2020 Halifax Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award. Learn more at www.davispier.ca.
