Jun 28, 2017

• The Ed Bloos Memorial Award: Brent Palmer, Director of Stakeholder Engagement of the Mustard Seed in Victoria, BC – A pioneer in food banking with a career spanning over three decades. Mr. Palmer, has dedicated his life to The Mustard Seed, one of BC’s first food banks and has been active at the provincial and national level. Brent was pivotal in facilitating working relationships between municipal, provincial and national level organizations, knowing there is power in working together.
• Excellence in Food Banking - Medium Size Food Bank: Airdrie Food Bank, Airdrie, AB – For the building of a new food bank that better enabled them to become a hub for smaller, rural banks .This also created more space for the multiple programs which are run out of their organization. They are an excellent example of understanding the needs of their region and providing help in the targeted ways required.
• Excellence in Food Banking: Large Size Food Bank: Central Okanagan Food Bank, Kelowna, BC – For amalgamating area food banks, resulting in a stronger, healthier organization. This project put territories aside to work for the greater good of the Central Okanagan, knowing that they would be stronger working together, towards a common goal of relieving hunger.
• Food Bank Innovator Award: The Mississauga Food Bank, Mississauga, ON – For combining aquaculture and hydroponics to raise fish and grow fresh greens to distribute to their local agencies. This endeavor exemplified the ability of food banks to come up with cutting edge and forward thinking solutions to every day challenges.
• Provincial Innovator Award: Food Banks Alberta, AB – For their emergency response to the wildfires in the Wood Buffalo region of Alberta, in May 2016. The provincial association showed its ability to think on its feet and problem solve with the immediate needs of its people as the underlying mission.

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