UPDATE, April 4, 2023: The recruitment process is now closed and appointments will be made shortly. Stay tuned for announcements of the incoming members and meeting schedule. Thanks for your interest!

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Are you interested in becoming a member of the VFPC?

The City is now accepting applications from the public to join the VFPC for the 2023-2026 term. Applications are open until March 19th and available at https://vancouver.ca/your-government/apply-for-a-civic-agency.aspx .

Before applying, please review more information about the VFPC on this website and the City’s website. In particular, review the VFPC’s current Terms of Reference.

FAQs:

1. Who is eligible to apply? Please review information about eligibility requirements for membership here under “who we are”, and read more about the VFPC’s membership structure, which is informed both by “expertise” and “lived experience” here.
2. How long is the term? The full term runs from May 2023 – November 2026. Members will be appointed until December 31, 2024, at which point appointments are automatically renewable to the end of the term, and recruitment shall be conducted to fill any vacancies arising.
3. What will the VFPC be working on this term? VFPC members collectively determine their own work plan and meeting agendas with support from staff and elected liaisons. In the upcoming term, staff anticipate that members will have the opportunity to provide input and advice on a variety of food policy and programs, such as:
   • Neighbourhood food asset planning
   • Community plan development and implementation (eg: Rupert Renfrew Station Area Plan, Broadway Plan)
   • Response to Council directed priorities (eg: Placekeeping – Cultural Food Assets motion, UNDRIP Strategy Implementation)
   • Local Food Systems Action Plan implementation
   • Food waste prevention and reduction
   • And more.
4. How often does the VFPC meet, what is the time commitment? The VFPC generally meets once/month on a Thursday evening from 6-8:30pm. Beyond this, members spend an additional minimum of 3-5 hours/month preparing for meetings, monitoring VFPC-related email correspondence, and participating in sub-committees which may meet separately between the main monthly meetings. A member who is absent from more than two consecutive regular meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned and their seat will be offered to a new member.
5. What is the meeting format? In the upcoming term, we anticipate returning to in-person meetings held at City Hall. Meetings are open to the public and staffed by a City Clerk who record the official minutes for the public record.
6. Is there compensation? VFPC membership is a volunteer position. Members are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain meeting-related expenses and a light meal is provided for in-person meetings held over dinner hours.

We would greatly appreciate if you could circulate this opportunity to others in your community who may be interested.

If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact staff at foodpolicy@vancouver.ca