[BCFSN] The BCFSN is a "Tides project"?

[linda DESORMEAUX]

I've attended The gathering twice only in the past, but the BCFSN has marked me in a profound way. There are few days in the year where I don't make food- or environment-related choices rooted in what I've learned, or been exposed to, at The gathering, through workshops and while chatting at meal time. (The list-serv too is awesome.) It's a grassroots powerhouse working on the front lines of food policy and rights, dedicated to quality food for all. You, the women (mostly!) and men of BCFSN, are an inspiration, as you aim to do what is needed to feed people, the most noble of tasks. This is done in a respectful, friendly, loving and inclusive way.

So...I checked the BCFSN website just now, and I was concerned when I read the very first line of the home page: 

"BC Food Systems Network (BCFSN), a project of Tides Canada, works to create healthy, just and sustainable food systems in British Columbia by strengthening connections, nurturing capacity, and supporting joined-up food policy at all levels." 

I've been on a few boards and I understand the need to get funding to survive. I've even been on a board that accepted money from Tides. It was a means to an end for us. I personally wouldn't trust Tides "too much". And I know all about the bad rap Tides got from Harper & co. I guess they do some good things, but I'm not convinced it's always for the general good. This especially hit home when I found out they sponsored a conference on Aquaculture (see below). Sorry, I'm not into fish farms, whether they're in the ocean or on land. I am into wild salmon, period! 

When our organization accepted money from Tides, we made it clear we would never be their mouth piece and our decisions were always based on our own guidelines, on what we as an organization thought was right. If I recall correctly, we never even mentioned we got funding from them in any public document. We are now committed to being a crowd-sourced organization so that we don't have to bow to funders' demands. In my opinion, if/when the sh*t hits the fan, it's the BCFSN's grassroots quality that will allow it (and us!) to survive, not its funders, so I hope that aspect never changes.

If possible, I'd like to hear from the board if and how the decision-making process of the BCFSN board has been affected by having Tides as a funder? Thanks for your time.
ld


Begin forwarded message:

>> Aquaculture Canada 2015 Intro
>> Intro	Program	On-site Registration	Preparing Presentations	Sponsors	Company Showcase	Students	Social Events	Accommodations	Tours
>> Location:	Nanaimo, BC
>> Event Dates:	31/05/2015 - 03/06/2015
>> Status:	 
>> Aquaculture Canada 2015: Blue Revolution 2.0,
>> 
>>  Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo, BC, May31st to June 3rd, 2015. 
>> 
>> As consumption of farmed seafood surpasses that of captured wild seafood for the first time in global history and we look to feed a population that is estimated to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, “Blue Revolution 2.0”, the theme of this year’s conference, is the next generation of Canada’s aquaculture revolution.  Aquaculture Canada 2015 will provide the opportunity to hear about and discuss recent advances in aquaculture science and practice that will contribute to food security and sustainability for the future.
>> 
>> For Product sponsors please see the social events page here.
>> 
>> Platinum Sponsors
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>   
>> 
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> Diamond Sponsors
>> 
>> 
>>        
>> 
>>  
>> Aquaculture Canada 2015 Tours
>> Intro	Program	On-site Registration	Preparing Presentations	Sponsors	Company Showcase	Students	Social Events	Accommodations	Tours
>> To sign up for any of the tours please contact Joanne Burry via email at jmburry at nl.rogers.com (except for BC Salmon Farmer's Association Tour No. 5)
>> 
>> PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION FOR EACH TOUR THAT YOU ARE SIGNING UP FOR
>> 
>> 1. VIU DEEP BAY MARINE FIELD STATION TOUR
>> 
>> Delegates will enjoy a scenic one hour bus ride to Deep Bay where t hey will visit the Vancouver Island University Deep Bay Marine Field Station (www.viudeepbay.com).  The Field Station is located on the shores of Baynes Sound, BC’s most important shellfish growing area.  
>> 
>> The Deep Bay Marine Field Station supports both pure and applied coastal and marine research activities related to: sustainable shellfish aquaculture development; preservation of coastal ecosystems; and inter-disciplinary projects involving local communities. The Field Station is open to the public in order to educate about important issues related to sustainability of coastal communities.
>> 
>> The Station hosts viewable wet labs for aquaculture research, aquaria of showcasing marine biodiversity, touch tanks, education facilities and a culinary teaching facility all within one of the greenest buildings in Canada.  Visitors will receive a guided tour of the Facility, its systems and current programs at the facility including the Next Generatio n Shellfish Hatchery Project commencing in 2015.  Refreshments will be provided.
>> 
>> Tour Schedule Notes
>> Tour Date:  Sunday May 31st
>> Departure Time (Victoria Island Conference Center): 12:30pm
>> Return Time: Approximately 6:30pm 
>> Cost: $30 per person 
>> Includes transportation (1hour each way), 2hr tour of facility, trip to farm site and lunch.
>> 
>> To sign up for this tour please contact Joanne Burry via email at jmburry at nl.rogers.com
>> 
>> Aquaculture Canada 2015 On-site Registration
>> Online registration closed on May 15th. After this date no refunds willl be given and no social event tickets will be available. 
>> Registrations will be accepted on-site at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo, BC from May 31st to June 3rd. The on-site registration fee covers all presentations, special sessions, workshops, posters, and health breaks.
>> 
>>  
>> Member registration on-site fee	$495
>> Non-member registration on-site fee	$595
>> Student member registration on-site fee	$315
>> Student non-member registration on-site fee	$365
>> 
>> Tour Contact Information
>> Contact:  Brian Kingzett (Station Manager): (250) 740-6399; email: Brian.Kingzett at viu.ca
>> Site Address:  370 Crome Point Road, Bowser, British Columbia, V0R 1G0
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> *LandWatch is a private listserve used by its participants for educational/informational purposes. It is not a "newsletter" or "publication." 
> *To subscribe to landwatch, a current landwatch member must send a message to the list manager <dlrubin at telus.net> with a recommendation.
> *To unsubscribe, send an email to: dlrubin at telus.net 
> 
> 1. Please do not send large attachments as this adds to the cost of hosting landwatch.
> 
> 2. Use Landwatch for conveying information about (BC's) environmental and land-use issues (e.g. campaign alerts, enviro-news, discussion, etc.).
> 
> 3. We encourage the forwarding of published news stories to other listserves, facebook and so on. If there are personal comments originating from LandWatch members included in an email then please delete these statements or get the permission of the LW author(s) before forwarding their personal commentary with the story.
> (Also, it is good net courtesy to scrub all unnecessary email addresses from the forward.) 
> 
> 4. Please keep all communications useful, thoughtful, and respectful.

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