Over the past year, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) and the Land to Table Network of the North Okanagan (L2T) have collaborated with the Regional District of the North Okanagan (RDNO) and local stakeholders to prepare a 5-year development plan for the BX Ranchlands parcel at 4122 East Vernon Rd.
The BX Ranchlands site is a valued community resource for agriculture, recreation, and conservation. The objective of the draft plan is to maintain community access while supporting ecological well-being and encouraging agricultural opportunities for local farmers and growers.
The broader community is now invited to learn about the draft plan and provide feedback. Anyone with a connection to the BX Ranchlands or an interest in its development is encouraged to attend the BX Ranchlands Open House on May 12th, at 4122 East Vernon Rd, from 3 – 7 pm. ISFS and L2T will give tours of the site, share the draft plan and collect community input.
Information and an online survey are also available at: https://landtotablenetwork.com/bx-open-house/.
ISFS and L2T will use the collected input to revise the plan and provide an updated version to the RDNO for consideration in the summer of 2022.
“Working closely with the RDNO and the local community, the BX Ranchlands development plan is an opportunity to further the Institute’s mission to engage in multidisciplinary applied research and knowledge mobilization, education and training activities in support of a sustainable food system in the Okanagan bioregion. We are excited to present the draft plan and look forward to ongoing collaboration with partners in the future.” - Dr Kent Mullinix, Director, Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at KPU
“As a regional food system network, Land to Table is dedicated to working with our partners to create a socially and environmentally just and resilient local food system. The BX development plan is a step in relocalizing our food system that emphasizes community empowerment and collaboration” - Liz Blakeway, Network Director, Land to Table Network of the North Okanagan
“Electoral Areas B and C purchased this parcel of land in January of 2021 to ensure it stays in public hands and is used in ways that benefit the community. Now is your opportunity to learn about the planning we’ve done so far and share your thoughts on the proposed path forward,” – Bob Fleming, Electoral Area B Director, RDNO.
“We are proposing a unique plan that we believe will benefit the community with ecological protection, new local agricultural opportunities, and space for the next generation of farmers to get hands-on learning experience,” said Amanda Shatzko, Electoral Area C Director, RDNO
About ISFS
The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is a leading institute for applied research and knowledge mobilization in sustainable, community-based farming and food systems development. They are being increasingly recognized in BC and beyond for their work on advancing regenerative farming practices and building more sustainable communities through robust local-regional food systems. They have drawn on this knowledge and experience to work with RDNO, L2T and the North Okanagan community on a proposal for a 5-year development of agriculture research and education programs on the BX Ranchands.
Website: https://www.kpu.ca/isfs
Social: https://www.facebook.com/ISFS.KPU
https://www.facebook.com/kpufarmschools
https://youtu.be/zFPVd9yET2A
https://twitter.com/isfs_bc
About Land to Table:
The North Okanagan Land to Table Network (L2T) is a growing network of people and organizations from across the North Okanagan who support the L2T vision - to build a thriving, healthy and resilient regional food system. In collaboration with our network partners, we work to strengthen the local food system through projects like the development of the BX Ranchlands Agricultural Park.
Website: https://landtotablenetwork.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landtotablenetwork
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landtotable