Langara College Providing Sustainable Food Options on Campus with Feed BC
Langara College is proud to be a partner in Feed BC, joining fellow post-secondary institutions to ensure sustainable food for now and future generations. Langara serves more than 23,000 students annually and employs a workforce of approximately 1,500 faculty and staff across three locations in Vancouver. As Canada’s pathways college, Langara believes in also setting the standard when it comes to supporting local food systems.
As part of the College’s Strategic Plan, sustainability is integrated across Langara’s core business functions, from academics to culture to operations. A 2021 Sustainability Culture Assessment confirmed that Langara students and employees want sustainability to remain a top priority for its leadership, and the College continues to pursue new opportunities while strengthening existing relationships in this area.
Through its food services provider Chartwells, Langara aims to achieve a minimum of 30% BC-based food expenditures by buying locally sourced foods and supporting local food providers. Students and employees can access safe, healthy, and diverse food options that not only reflect the global representation on campus, but also the dietary preferences of the population (e.g. Meat-free Mondays).
Langara is also home to many green spaces, including a fruit garden, a community garden with apiary, and two pollinator gardens that are used for educational purposes and to enrich the community. Visitors are welcome to immerse themselves in the environment and encouraged to pick-and-eat. Garden plots are open to and cared for by students, employees and neighbouring residents. One plot is dedicated for use by the Langara Daycare as a way for children to learn about where food comes from at an early age.
Some of Langara’s current local food suppliers and partners include Fresh BC, Windset Farms, and Farmers Fresh.