Push is on for all kids in B.C. to get free, healthy lunches
Staff at George Jay Elementary school in Victoria were busy preparing a free, nutritious lunch on Tuesday for about 30 kids. It’s food for kids who otherwise might go without at lunch.
The school’s principal, Sarah Winkler, says the lunches are an important part of the day for many children.
“Being able to provide a healthy lunch for as many kids as need it -- everyday -- just changes their outlook tremendously,” said Winkler Tuesday.
The meals are funded by the province -- with money set aside in this spring’s budget. It’s a program providing $214 million over three years for school districts across B.C.
“It is first time ever in the history of British Columbia that we are investing this kind of money into a school meals program,” said B.C. Education Minister Rachna Singh.
Green Party MLA for Saanich North Adam Olsen applauds the funding, but is pushing to expand it -- to include free lunches for all kids across the province.
“By destigmatizing the environment... kids are not being identified unnecessarily and everybody has a chance to learn,” said Olsen.
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Healthy School Food points out B.C. is leading the way amongst all provinces in funding lunches. Debbie Field, who heads up the national group, says it’s campaigning for Ottawa to contribute to school lunches across the country.
“We’re advocating that Canada join the other G7 countries -- and most of the developing countries in the world -- in having a cost shared program between levels of government,” said Field.
With the cost of food soaring, staff at George Jay Elementary predict the number of children benefiting from a free healthy lunch will hit 80 kids soon. They say they can accommodate that need based on how much the district has given them. They also emphasize the impact on the kids is striking.
“Their readiness to get to learning happens when we’ve fed them -- so we can’t get to learning if we don’t have full tummies,” said Winkler.
Singh says she welcomes federal support, and adds providing more provincial funding for school food isn’t off the table.
However, the province is awaiting feedback from the districts at the end of the three-year project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.