Protecting Our Food Producing Lands: Central Saanich 2014 Municipal Farmland Challenge

Agriculture advocates, Central Saanich Councillor announces 2014 Municipal Farmland Challenge

by Chef Survival Challenge

Greater Victoria, BC—Advocates for agriculture in the Capital Region and Central Saanich Councillor Zeb King have partnered to announce the 2014 Municipal Farmland Challenge.

Prospective candidates for municipal office are invited to attend the Seventh Annual Chef Survival Challenge at Madrona Farm in Saanich’s Blenkinsop Valley on Sunday, September 7 to publicly take a pledge to protect the region’s arable land and participate in a fun farm-style competition.

“With the recent weakening of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) by the provincial government, the November 15 municipal elections are particularly important for the protection of farmland and food systems within the Capital Region,” says Zeb King, who sits on a council in a community where debates over appropriate land use and development run deep.

“Municipal land use bylaws, Official Community Plans and the Capital Region’s Urban Containment Boundary shape land use in the region and determine whether or not urban sprawl will be allowed to intrude further into our region’s finite and fertile arable land.”

Councillor King, Chef Survival Challenge and agriculture advocates are therefore issuing the following 2014 Municipal Farmland Challenge to prospective candidates for municipal office, to assist voters in identifying candidates who share a commitment to protecting the region’s arable land. The challenge involves:

(1) Attending Chef Survival Challenge 2014 and bring 5 new friends/family to the event

(2) Turning soil and planting a row of crops in a fun farm-style competition;

(3) Taking the following Municipal Farmland Pledge publicly on the podium at Chef Survival Challenge 2014: “As an elected official, I pledge to support protection of the Capital Region’s supply of arable land in decisions on land use and Agricultural Land Reserve exclusions, municipally and regionally.”

Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Chef Survival Challenge to sign up for the pledge, while members of the public and media are invited to the Seventh Annual Chef Survival Challenge to join in fun and watch the candidates complete the challenge, at Madrona Farm, 4317 Blenkinsop Road on Sunday, September 7, 2014 from 12 Noon to 5pm.


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MEDIA RELEASE

August 24, 2014 For further information, contact:

Zeb King, Central Saanich Councillor, 250- 508-4645

Nathalie Chambers, Chef Survival Challenge, 250-893-4505