London Community Resource Centre

652 Elizabeth Street

London, Ontario

N5Y 6L3

(519) 432-1801

lcrc@lcrc.on.ca

Bringing together individuals, organizations and

          resources to foster community action

London Mayor presents award to LCRC Community Gardens Program

In the News

The London Community Resource Centre’s

Community Gardens Program was the recipient of

an award given by the United Way of London on

behalf of London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best

and the City of London’s Featured Community

Organization program, Sept. 21, 2009, during a city

council meeting at City Hall.

When receiving the award, Karen Darcy, Chair of the London Community Resource Centre’s Board of

Directors, Heather Thomas, Secretary, LCRC Board of Directors, and Linda Davies, LCRC Executive

Director, represented the LCRC.

The Community Gardens Program is partially funded and supported by the City of London. LCRC

board chair Karen Darcy expressed a deep gratitude to the city for its ongoing and continued

support, and thanked the United Way for selecting the LCRC for the award.

Working in collaboration with the City of London’s Parks and Recreation and Planning and Design

departments, the LCRC was able to add five new gardens to its flagship Community Gardens

Program. The program has seen tremendous growth over recent years and now includes 23 garden

sites in its citywide network, accommodating 597 plots hosting more than 450 gardeners.

Recent optimization of LCRC operations, including computerized automation and the expansion of

the organizations communication abilities, has ensured that the LCRC will continue to grow and

thrive. Online maps, current and relevant information on the LCRC’s ever-changing website is value

added in relation to the organizations commitment to serve the community.

The LCRC has been actively involved in the local food movement, which is exemplified by its

facilitation of the community gardens program. A recently launched collaborative LCRC pilot project,

Cook It Up!, that also emphasizes the need to eat fresh and eat local, provides valuable food safety,

selection and preparation information to the vulnerable target group of at-risk youth between the

ages of 13-18.

Other LCRC programs include Healthy Tidbits, Collective Kitchens, and the Community Food Advisor

program.

Heather Thomas (from left), Linda Davies, London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best and Karen Darcy.