More than a Meal: Lessons from two “Right to Food” Models
An online session hosted on March 12, 2026, showcased two holistic and community-driven models — the Alex Community Food Centre in Calgary, and Rock Soup Greenhouse and Food Bank in Wetaskiwin. Both organizations aim to address food insecurity and poverty through dignity, inclusion, and systemic change.
The Alex Community Food Centre (CFC), is a program of the Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary which started in 1973 and offers comprehensive wraparound care to low-income Calgarians. Their food model is built on three main pillars:
Food Access: This pillar acts as a keystone and includes free drop-in community meals three times a week and the Fresh and Fair Community Market. The goal is not just to appease hunger but to offer an invitation to see what else is possible at the centre.
Food and Garden Skills: The centre offers free, all-ages programming on cooking and urban growing to build capacity for members to "eat with dignity" and take control of their health. They highlighted the immense support they receive through their volunteer program, which helps support the work they do. Participants act as mentors and learners, building skills, capacity, connection and community. Staff estimate 70% of volunteers are community members who are accessing supports or engaging in The Alex’s programs.
Education, Civic Engagement and Community Action: This pillar houses advocacy work, including a 12-week community action training program for peer advocates. These advocates, who are community members themselves, help others navigate systems and can empathize with folks to reduce the stigma and shame that so often is felt when asking for support. The Alex has also partnered with the United Way for a 5 year project to provide resources and activities in 6 different neighbourhoods to bridge gaps and provide resources locally to meet people where they are at.
The Alex emphasizes a "dignity and community first" approach, always working towards creating a welcoming environment, and providing social supports that preserves a community atmosphere; ensuring people aren’t made to feel like “clients”, but part of a community and that The Alex should serve as more of a hub rather than a service provider space.
“Food doesn't just mean food. It's a means to share culture, tradition...it’s a means to build connection. It's a means to express love…and a tool to build community.”
- Bernadette Lumugdang, Senior Program Coordinator; The Alex
While supporting Calgarians in food access, capacity building, and wrap-around supports, the Fresh and Fair Community Market & Refillery creates a holistic access point for affordable and nutritious fresh food. They highlighted some of the foods available, including lentils, greens, beans and honey, of which 90% is grown locally within Alberta or Saskatchewan, and the relational approach between The Alex and local growers who support the market.
“It's an exciting part of our week where we see people excited and engaged with the purchasing of food for their lives…So our whole approach is [that] we care where the food comes from…and the economic participation — where we’re developing relationships with and we care about our growers”.
- Leanne, Fresh & Fair Market & Refillery Coordinator; The Alex
Based in rural Alberta, Rock Soup Greenhouse and Food Bank was co-founded by a single father, Craig Haavaldsen, inspired by his own experience at a traditional food bank that left him "embarrassed", “humiliated”, and “angry”, but ultimately led to the formation of Rock Soup, which provides a different kind of food access model. Some of the highlights of their space include:
Dignified shopping: Instead of receiving pre-packed hampers, members use shopping carts in a store-like environment where they "shop in a way that makes sense" to them and are encouraged to come in on a weekly basis. Children are welcome to come in with their family to explore the space as well. Art adorns the walls and symbols of safety and inclusion are visible throughout.
Low-barrier access: No one is turned away, and so it has become a haven for those barred from other services, including Newcomers, folks with disabilities, unhoused community members, and members of neighbouring First Nations. The space, including their four seasons greenhouse and boutique, is entirely wheelchair accessible.
Sustainability: most of the space has been built with and equipped through repurposed or donated materials.
Completely volunteer-run.
Providing items beyond food - highlighted that Rock Soup has provided between $60,000-$80,000 worth of menstrual products and other household items, such as laundry soap.
Craig describes mutual aid organizations such as Rock Soup as an "act of protest" against failing systems that are hurting those most vulnerable:
“Food is something we should all be able to touch. Should be something we should all be able to access and it should be something that is from us for us”.
Systemic Advocacy and Challenges
Both organizations highlight the tension between addressing urgent and skyrocketing needs of community and working toward long-term systems change. Both highlighted the need for coordinated support and advocacy for policies that address the root causes of food insecurity—specifically advancing essential income supports like the Grocery & Essentials Benefit and disability benefits, while also championing Indigenous food sovereignty. In the meantime, models such as Rock Soup and The Alex showcase spaces that are championing dignity, community, inclusion, volunteerism and food sovereignty:
“Sometimes the system can be really overwhelming and all these emergent things are happening and it's very difficult to find hope at times…but hearing community members and their experiences and the work they've done in the past and are continuing to do… it makes it easier to connect and [encourage them] to join in whatever capacity people might have”.
- Leanne, Fresh & Fair Market & Refillery Coordinator; The Alex
This session was one of numerous sessions hosted to mobilize knowledge from the community to inform the work of the Food Security and Food Justice Edmonton Collaborative (FSFJE) supported by the City of Edmonton Community Safety and Well-Being Grant, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).