Richmond’s ongoing agricultural land debate has seeped beyond the city’s borders, and three Richmond farmland advocates and mega-mansion opponents are taking their perspective to a City Conversation presentation at Simon Fraser University this week.
On Thursday, Coun. Harold Steves, Richmond Food Security Society executive director, Anita Georgy and community activist, Jack Trovato are leading a discussion as part of SFU’s City Conversations series. The trio will discuss the productivity of Richmond’s soils, climate change’s effect on food security and the city’s current home size regulations.
“The ultimate goal is to help people get the information they need to participate actively in the Ministry of Agriculture’s consultation process on the Agricultural Land Reserve,” Georgy told the Richmond News.
For Georgy, the province can play a key role in protecting B.C.’s farmland.
“In order to ensure consistent application of rules, the province can step in and make their guidelines mandatory, which would be a real benefit to the whole province,” she said.
Following their presentation, listeners will have the opportunity to ask questions, offer opinions and make observations.
Georgy hopes this will offer individuals the chance to participate in an open dialogue, “rather than just have everyone write their letter to the editor or speak for five minutes at council.”
“What’s emerged is that everybody supports farmers…they’re our superstars,” she said, adding that opinions simply differ on the best way to show that support.
For more information about Thursday’s talk, visit the SFU City Conversations website.
When: Thursday, April 19 at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: SFU Vancouver at Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings St., Vancouver) in room 2270
