Prince Albert Catholic School Division Launches National Food Initiative

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division has taken significant steps to address food insecurity among its students by initiating a three-year engagement on the new National School Food Program (NSFP). During a recent board meeting, the education board voted in favor of this initiative, which aims to enhance food options and programming in local schools.

Lorel Trumier, the Education Director, emphasized the pressing issue of food security. “Food security is always something that’s top of mind in our world around us,” she stated. Trumier highlighted the growing concern for children facing food shortages, noting that an increasing number of students are experiencing food insecurity.

The NSFP, which has been established through an agreement between the provincial and federal governments, will complement the existing Child Nutrition Development Program. On August 25, 2023, the division received confirmation of an allocation of $98,385 from the NSFP. Trumier explained, “There was a federal provincial agreement that’s been struck and what it meant is additional dollars to support and enhance food options and programming in our school division.”

As the division continues to finalize its plans for utilizing the funds, Trumier reiterated the importance of addressing food security. “We want to serve as many children as we can with the dollars that we have,” she stated, referring to the funding as “good news” that would alleviate pressure on their operational budgets.

Funding allocations for the NSFP are based on projected enrolments for the 2025-2026 school year. The current allocation of $98,385 is an estimate and will be adjusted once enrolments are finalized on September 30, 2023. A formal funding agreement, along with criteria for the use of the funds, will be distributed in September.

This new initiative will work alongside other funding sources, including a $95,000 Child Nutrition Grant and a $40,000 partnership with the Catholic Education Fund. Additionally, the division will receive $40,731 in grant funding aimed at expanding school food infrastructure, a commitment announced last year.

Trumier also provided an update on the funding increases from the Child Nutrition Grant. For the 2025-2026 year, the division is set to receive an additional $2,000 compared to last year, bringing the total from the provincial Child Nutrition Fund to $94,971. This marks an increase of $2,766 from the previous school year, reflecting the growing costs of food.

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division’s proactive approach to addressing food insecurity among students reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals, thereby supporting their educational experience and overall well-being.