CHIGAMIK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
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Midland – Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre (CSC CHIGAMIK CHC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new affordable community food market in Midland. The market called “Miijim Market,” meaning food market in Ojibwe, was developed to meet the need for healthy food at affordable prices.
Food insecurity affects four million Canadians and one in six children, according to PROOF, a food insecurity research group at the University of Toronto. We also know that 11 million Canadians have diabetes or pre-diabetes and one in 12 have been diagnosed with heart disease. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented through lifestyle, including healthy eating. Many people living on low income are disproportionately affected by diet-related disease and poor physical and mental health. The Miijim Market provides an opportunity for anyone in the community to have access to fresh, local foods including fruits and vegetables at greatly reduced prices. It’s also a place for the community to come together, socialize and take part in a variety of free food-based workshops.
“The Miijim Market directly addresses two major social determinants of health that we see over and over again at Chigamik – food insecurity and chronic disease due to poor lifestyle choices, says David Jeffery, Executive Director, CSC CHIGAMIK CHC. “Due to the rising cost of food prices and lower income, many people in our community struggle with barriers to accessing healthy food on a regular basis. We’re hoping the market will help alleviate some of these challenges, and ultimately increase the local availability of affordable, high quality and healthy foods for everyone in our community.”
Beginning on April 18, , the Miijim Market will be held on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Operation Grow located at 436 Bay Street in Midland.
For more information about the Miijim Market, please contact Alex King, Food Access Worker at Chigamik at 705-527-4154 x253.
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