Engaging children and youth and bringing student voice into school food programs
June 4
10:40am – 12:00pm
Room 518A
Students have powerful voices. As school food programs are developed and expanded across Canada it’s important for students to be able to tell decision-makers at all levels what kind of programs they want and to be a part of growing these programs whether that’s giving input on menus, growing, preparing or serving food in their school programs or envisioning new projects and infrastructure. Join this conversation to hear powerful stories of student engagement, access evidence, and take away actionable strategies to make sure that children and youth are a part of redesigning their food systems at school.
Access the presenters’ slides here:
Bio:
BRENT MANSFIELD teaches Edible Education as a specialist teacher at Lord Roberts Elementary in the Vancouver School Board. He is the co-founder of LunchLAB, an educational lunch program that is a partnership with Growing Chefs, which provides students with hands-on, cross-curricular learning around food literacy. Brent also works with the Coalition for Healthy School Food, both nationally and in co-founding the BC Chapter, to advance the best school food programs, promoting student voice and involvement, opportunities for curriculum aligned learning around food literacy, and ensuring all students are nourished and ready to learn.
FATIMA DA SILVA is best known as the driving force behind Nourish Cowichan, a successful initiative to provide equitable school food programs in the Cowichan Valley. Her commitment expands far beyond school food programs, she brings her roots to everything she does. Born and raised in Mozambique, Fatima moved to Portugal in 1985 and consequently to Canada (Quebec) in 1987 & Vancouver Island in 1990. She co-founded Nourish Cowichan in 2016.
ALAN MACDONALD is a master gardener and middle school teacher. He was a Farm to School grant recipient in 2016 and initiated a salad bar program at his school for three years. He and his students have been a volunteer workforce at their local foodbank garden since 2012. In 2022, as the result of a class assignment four years of advocacy, a large geodesic greenhouse and teaching kitchen were installed at Alan’s school. He continues to develop units that incorporate food literacy and sustainable design, while honouring student voice.
KAREN BEREZOWSKY is an educator at Northumberland Regional High School and the staff advisor for the Karma Closet. She supports student leadership while fostering strong partnerships with community donors, local businesses, and school-based programs. Karen has helped guide the Karma Closet’s growth from a small lunch initiative into a comprehensive, stigma-free support system providing food, clothing, and hygiene products to students. Her work centres on student wellbeing, food security, and creating school environments where basic needs are met so learning can thrive. Karen brings a systems-level perspective grounded in daily practice, collaboration, and student voice.