People in the Niagara Region of Ontario have a York University Faculty of Education alumna to thank for the healthy, reasonably priced food options regularly available to them.
Pamela Farrell, currently an assistant professor at the Werklund Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary, earned her BEd at York University in 2007, the first step in a journey of lifelong learning in the field of education that eventually led her to found GROW, Canada’s first community food literacy centre based in Niagara Falls.
Farrell, a native of Switzerland, met her Canadian husband while she was in London and originally came to Canada through the Youth Mobility Program. She began working for EY Canada in human resources, which included adult learning and diversity training.
“EY was ahead of its time with regard to diversity, and I learned about inequity in the workplace and in hiring, something that transferred to education,” Farrell said .
Her husband inspired her to pursue her interest in education through York University.
“York University’s BEd program was transformational; it makes you think about your own learning and is very introspective and reflective. You consider how learning resonates with your own experience and values. I’m not sure that any other program requires you to think about your own experiences and how they affect your principles, as well as how you learn and how others learn.”
The BEd program also emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, a belief that Farrell embraced. She pursued further studies and has since acquired an MEd from Australia’s University of South Queensland and a doctorate in education from the University of Calgary. She is currently pursuing an MA in Educational Leadership from Harvard University.
Where does GROW fit into this picture, one might ask? It grew out of Farrell’s doctoral dissertation, given her specialization in language and literacy. When Farrell came across the term food literacy, she decided to explore the term from a literacy perspective.
“People often approach food literacy from a health and nutrition point of view, but what does it really mean?” Farrell asked. “You need to understand the social context behind literacy. Everyone has food literacies, but they look different across cultures, and some people can’t act or do what they like to do with food.” {GROW defines food literacy and skills as the interconnected information, knowledge, relationships, capacities, and sense of agency, together with the social, cultural, and physical environments, that support healthy eating and informed food choices.)
Through her research, she discovered that many “low-income people have rich food literacy practices, but no access to healthy foods and fresh vegetables.” In addition, she found that only 25 per cent of food-insecure population used food banks and when they do, “they might get three days’ worth of food that isn’t culturally or nutritionally appropriate. Her research illuminates a stark public health crisis; persons with disabilities, especially women, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity.
While living in Niagara, she decided to use this research to make an impact in the community, and in 2020, created a concrete way for the community to access healthier food. Its low-cost market in Niagara Falls provides fresh produce, dairy, and meat, as well as dairy and meat alternatives to community members living on low incomes. The program is supported by grants, program partners and runs with the assistance from volunteers.
“GROW provides food access in a dignified way,” Farrell said. “There’s no prescribing, and we’re not shaming you; we’re just providing access. We know you can cook, so here are the ingredients.”
To meet demand in Niagara, in 2024, GROW added an electric mobile market truck, GROW-on-the-GO, to its programs in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Working with partners throughout the region, GROW-on-the-GO travels daily to locations throughout the region that are identified as food deserts – urban areas with no affordable grocery stores. As GROW-on-the-GO completes its second year of service, Farrell and her team will conduct a formal evaluation of the new addition to determine how it can serve the community better.
“GROW-on-the-Go is Pam’s vision brought to life,” said Lindsay Krahn, the mobile marketing program manager for GROW. “It was her idea of how we could expand in the region without needing more bricks and mortar.
“Pam really brings a unique perspective to this work. She is so involved in the research side of things, but is also dedicated to the practical component. She is really dedicated to this work.”
Farrell, who now oversees GROW from Calgary, says it’s all about education.
“When I think about my own philosophy of teaching and learning, it’s critical to have the literacy to understand our neighbours, our food systems and how the world works.”
Story by Elaine Smith, special contributing writer
