Resetting the Table in Castor, Alberta

Sasha
Friday, May 4, 2012 - 11:05am

*This blog post is part of a series profiling various communities, individuals and organizations who have been using the People’s Food Policy in their amazing work. Please share what you've been doing with the PFP and contribute your ideas here.*

by Kathleen Charpentier, FSC Steering Committee member, Castor, AB

Folks, out here in Alberta we are in Conservative Country. Kevin Sorenson, my MP for Crowfoot Region got approx. 22,000 votes in the last election, 1000 to the NDP, 1000 to the Green Party and so few to the Liberal there was no count….just so you can get a feel for the political landscape. My neighbor was Kevin’s campaign manager in the last election and for some time now I have been asking that he bring my MP to the farm so that he can witness something other than the big agribusiness model. (Understand that Kevin also farms only about an hour from where I live, completely different views on how to grow food.)

The meeting unexpectedly happened!!!
 
My husband and I were out in our abattoir blasting away with the hot steaming water, cleaning up when who should appear but Kevin S (MP) and Norman (neighbor). We then, had ourselves a Kitchen Table Talk. (What was to be a twenty minute visit turned into an hour and a half.) What I became present to as the four of us shared ideas was how important it is that a space of listening be created. The sharing of conversation was rich and fruitful. I realized, I take the language and understanding of creating local food system for granted and that in fact for Kevin S it seemed all new. We talked about the People’s Food Policy Project and Growing Food Security in Alberta. He left with Resetting the Table and promised to read it on the plane. As he left, he requested an invite to our Celebration Farm Day in June and I’m taking him up on it.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2012/05/09 - 4:15pm.
What a great story! The more we can do this - be open to making these kinds of connections of bridges rather than barriers - the better. Great to note that thing about the language we use. We need to be aware that others may not understand our terms or terms of reference - and make it easier for them. Great work.

Submitted by Tammyphilip on Thu, 2016/08/04 - 6:23am.

It was really nice to read and know about others food experience. Me and my family always enjoy having variety tasting foods and the happiness a good meal gives us is too big. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Amsterdam Tours

Submitted by sheeraz on Thu, 2020/02/13 - 3:25am.

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