Thesis Defence: From seeds to actions: Addressing Food insecurity among low-income families in Kelowna

Sandamali Kanchana Jayakody Arachchige Dona, supervised by Dr. David Geary, will defend their thesis titled “From seeds to actions: Addressing Food insecurity among low-income families in Kelowna” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Global Studies theme.

An abstract for Sandamali Kanchana Jayakody Arachchige Dona’s thesis is included below.

Defences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences.

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Abstract

The rising cost of food in Canada is exacerbated by external factors, such as trade barriers, including U.S. tariffs on Canada, which increase food insecurity among low-income families. In mid-sized cities such as Kelowna, the situation is further complicated by rapid population growth, an aging demographic, the impacts of climate change on local food production, and an increasing reliance on the global market. This study examined two research questions: how the City of Kelowna understands and conceptualizes food security, and what actions and approaches are implemented to address food insecurity among low-income families. And how do community organizations collaborate with the City of Kelowna to address food insecurity among low-income families, and how do these collaborations support food sovereignty? This study employed a qualitative research approach, utilizing two main data collection methods. Primary data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with two sets of participants: municipal staff and community actors. Secondary data were collected through document analysis of official plans, reports, and other relevant publications from the City of Kelowna. The data from both sources were then analyzed using a thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the City of Kelowna lacks a dedicated policy, plan, or strategy for food security, treating it as a peripheral concern addressed indirectly through other areas like agriculture, housing, poverty reduction, and climate change. Collaboration between the city and community actors was inconsistent and fragmented, in contrast to the strong networks among community organizations. This research found that the nature of collaboration between the city and community actors ranges from no collaboration to indirect support and, in some cases, to active partnerships in which the city acts as a ‘convener’. This research advocates for stronger coordination among municipal and community actors in order to address food insecurity among low-income families.