Like 2021, 2020 will be an intense year to remember. In May, I returned to Montréal for about six weeks and eventually vacated my apartment there in late June. Our board also approved a three-year strategic plan that month, which was quite an accomplishment, given the global pandemic. We also hired a few talented new staff members and both ramped up and put to bed some major projects through the summer and early fall. For example, our exciting Sustainable Development Goals programming provides a horizon to 2030 to address organizational and personal long-standing priorities such as food (in)security, improved nutrition and the transition to more sustainable food systems. Our collective future depends on this being done right…

En fin d’été nous avons (re)déménagé à Ottawa, un projet en cours depuis longtemps. Notre maison, louée depuis huit ans, fut en assez bonne condition mais ce n’est jamais évident s’installer… le travail continue et nous espérons que le temps de fêtes sera un moment pour s’avancer un peu plus pour se sentir plus chez nous en 2022.

There were a few highlights this fall that make the last few months particularly memorable and rewarding. In October, I had the honour of being invited to speak at Think Elevate 2030 in Toronto on the topic of “Intersectionality of Food Security, Sustainability, and Public Health”. You can watch the video here. November was exciting with one of our team members being able to attend Cop 26 as well as Chef Rich Francis hosting an Indigenous fusion cooking class at George Brown College with the proceeds going to Food Secure Canada on November 22nd.

Un fait saillant du mois de décembre fut l’invitation de faire parti d’un panel sur le thème de “Nourrir l’humanité durablement” animé par Hélène Raymond dans la compagnie d’Alain Olivier et Alain Denault dans le câdre du Congrès de l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles du Québec. Vous pouvez visionner la vidéo ici après l’allocution de la Ministre Marie-Claude Bibeau.

Last but not least, it was a sad end of the year with the loss of my beloved father in law, the legendary Sadru Ahmed who left us in November. However, it was a privilege to know and be related through marriage to this great and honourable man. He will be missed but never forgotten. We also mourn the loss of others this year – friends, colleagues and other cherished souls. Let’s hope for a brighter 2022…