| Settlement | Code | Population Size | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Area | 0 | Not Applicable | Relatively few isolated homes if any and sparsely population (i.e., a population density less than 100 people/km2) | Most of the Annapolis Valley, West Paradise |
| Hamlet | 1 | < 250 | Small cluster of houses, typically lacks a compact core, few if any businesses (Density typically 100-300 people/km2) | Centrelea, Paradise, Granville Ferry, Margaretsville, Round Hill, Tupperville |
| Village | 2 | 500-1,500 | Variable in size, villages may have a discernable but limited business centre/core; typically smaller than towns, less complex economically (often lack bank & have limited business diversity) and offer fewer services.Density typically 300-500 people/km2 | Lawrencetown, Aylesford, Baddeck, Cambridge, Falmouth, Pugwash, Canning, Port Williams |
| Town | 3 | 1,500-7,500 | Larger than villages, usually include a full range of businesses and services in an obvious commercial core; can support many amenities attributed to cities such as museums, universities, multiple financial institutions etc. Density typically 300-500 people/km2 | Middleton, Wolfville, Windsor, Pictou, Antigonish, Shelburne, Digby, Lunenburg (Chester,Tatamagouche, Weymouth) |
| Large Town | 4 | 7,500-30,000 | Full size mall/big box stores, franchises, transit emergent but difficult; Density typically > 500 people/km2 | Truro/BibleHill, New Glasgow, Glace Bay, Amherst, Yarmouth, Bridgewater, Kentville/New Minas, Kingston/Greenwood |
| Small City | 5 | 30,000- 100,000 | Cities are larger than towns and more densely populated. Frequently cities merge with, or incorporate surrounding areas and often the centre of power mainly rests in the cities not towns.Regional airport. Small transit system. | Sydney, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Red Deer, Nanimo, Lethbridge, Peterborough, Kamloops, Sault Ste. Marie, Prince George, Bellville, Fort Mac, Grand Prairie, North Bay, Brandon, Cornwall |
| Medium Size City | 6 | 100,000-300,000 | More robust airport, museums, Costco? Symphony; Medical School; Not uncommon to have population density > 800 people/km2 | Thunder Bay, Moncton, St. John's, Saint John, Saskatoon, Regina, Barrie, Kelowna, Windsor, Guelph, Kingston, Sudbury |
| Large City | 7 | 300,000-1,000,000 | Signficant Airport; Multiple Universities; Cultural center (ballet/opera); Large Business HQ; Attract more multicultural/diversity, Ikea? | Edmonton,Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec, St. Catharines–Niagara, Victoria, London, Kitchener, Halifax, Oshawa |
| Metropolis | 8 | >1,000,000 | Major League Sport Franchises, Large Interanational Airport; LRT/Subway: Typically much Higher density (>1200 people/km2) | Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa |
As discussed in The Resilience Imperative sustainable food solutions can be achieved by 'addressing critical connections between ecology, economy, and community.'(147,Lewis/Conaty; 2012) Though in the current reality of industrial food solutions dominating the economic system, advocates of the transition towards alternative land-tenure options are empowered by methods of diversifying production, distribution, and relationships with consumers. Numerous initiatives have evolved to encompass this undertaking at a local level, one of which is education streams to support learning alternative methods of resilient living. Learn more
"We use food as a vehicle to break social and economic isolation between generations and to strengthen and nourish our local community." - vision statement.
Collective supporting a number of strategies including a general store, meals-on-wheels, local/organic gardening and supporting Montrealers with accessible food resources and skill building sessions.
The principles of Slow Food's mission are centred around celebrating food, its producers and consumers. Each year a global conference is held in Turin, Italy to share and collaborate to bring the mission of Learn more
For the average farmer, they do not have the time to go to the markets of their choosing to conenct with community members over the life story of the bag of carrots they so desire. That time can be better spent harvesting, washing, planning, or living a life away from the field for a moment. A solution to this is the distribution mechanism called a food hub, which allows for the marketing and sales component to be managed by a third party. Learn more
As entrepreneurial owned restaurants continue to thrive, they impact the wellness fabric of community in multitudinous ways. The menus have the power to make use of local produce, the regular customers become a life-long food family, and the recipes which knit everyone together continue to nurture productive nostalgia for the placemakers who keep the restaurants alive. Learn more about Riverhouse Cafe (Athabasca)
Learn more about High Level Diner (Edmonton)
Farmer's markets are only a meeting location, not a time-saver for the farmers who populate them. For the price-conscioue consumer (everyone these days it seems), this can reduce the amount spent on an individual item in some senses, however compared to a grocery store the price seems inflated. The logic behind the food hub economics is that the end return back to the farmer is greater, due to keeping the distribution stream out of the hands of larger corporate channels. Learn more
This community group is committed to supporting individuals who have gardening knowledge share with others as they learn how, using common land and shared resources. They also promote harvesting techniques called 'gleaning' which allows for a minimized end food waste, as produce originally passed over is collected by those who are able to make use of these seconds in the kitchen. Learn more
The innovation to resolve issues of food desertification has recently inspired effective solutions of distribution as one way to bring food to the people who might not otherwise be able to access healthy resources. By using a modified city bus, the areas of the city which can often not manage to access healthy food options, is then able to feel connected to local food communities, and others who are excited to reach health goals.
Learn more about Halifax, NS Mobile Market
An initiative proud to be Nova Scotia local, though not uncommon around the world, the telling of food stories is the most powerful and emotional connection to place. By enabling a community to help fix its own issues, the sccess remains rooted in community as well, giving it the staying power to remain long-term. This project features individuals from all over Nova Scotia, and often identifies immigrants who were able to contribute to their new homes by tending to gardens and sharing recipes, as a way to connect with new neighbours as much as it is also about finding a way to use skillsets from home. Read more Food Stories
“Ecological farming arose as a response to a reality that smacked us,” he continued. That reality was the collapse of the Soviet Union. “They were difficult years. We had to produce food somehow, somewhere.” - said Juan José León, an official at the [Cuban] Ministry of Agriculture
Learn more about Cuba
"The community assets approach starts with what is present in the community concentrates on the agenda-building and problem-solving capacity of the residents stresses local determination, investment, creativity, and control" (MSU Best Practices Brief ) Using Food Charters, community knowledge, and visions of a better future food system, community members and nutrition professionals collaborated to produce this helpful resource to assist low-income groups out of impoverished lifestyles one meal at a time.
Learn more
One of the greatest ways to connect with the places of food production is to keep them together in one handy resource managed by passionate individuals. These serve as centres for innovation - disseminating information in both directions, farmer to table, table to farmer. The questions raised by producer and consumer can be addressed on this common ground to enable both sides to reach their goals of a healthier, sustainable way of life moving forward. CSAs, job opportunities, resource sharing, and community events are all brought together by such focused groups. Learn more about local organic communities
The emerging movement of resilience in urban design and rural nurturing of food systems is critical to ensuring longevity of communities. This philosophy applies many facets of community placemaking as it is rooted in thoughtful applications of creativity and resourcefulness. The food movement requires a continuation of age-old skills for preservation as much as it encourages new innovation. Resilience is about finding a way for these to cohabitate as they support growing communities. This strategy places the control back in the household, rather than in corporate solutions. It keeps costs low, as well as ensuring the knowledge of maintaining food systems stays alive in communities for generations.
Explore this conceptUrban advocacy legend Jane Jacobs spoke out about the importance of retaining the power of place when making design and policy decisions. The concept of placemaking has since been a pillar of academic research and, more importantly, in policy design, implementation, and assessment. Jacobs was a citizen who noticed elements of her New York City urban streetscape were being negatively impacted by the emptying of sidewalks in favour of automobile usage. She expressed concern in the form of advocacy, using literature and public speaking as empowering tools for the average citizen. Because of this work, she has ensured the fundamentals of communities are considered when implementing urban policy.
Explore this conceptWhile food production is being continuously innovated, a recent development in local food economies is the idea of a supportive food hub to nurture local economic development and support distribution methods to empower community sustainability. The powerful linkages possible with food hub networks can be a game changer for small-scale farmers who need to devote the majority of their time to the production of food, not marketing themselves out. Food Hubs are often located in urban centres, and therefore serve as a fundamental linkage to sustain rural economies through urban distribution.
Explore this concept
