Chloe & Kaum
VFR: Chloe and Kaum, tell us about yourselves. Before Vancouver Food Runners, what were you up to and what drew you to working with VFR?
Chloe Leslie (Program Manager): Prior to VFR, I worked for the YM-YWCA of Vancouver Island. Through this position, I was able to spend some time working and volunteering with the Y's Young Moms Program, which offers safe and stable housing to young women and their children. Being in this space allowed me to learn about many aspects of community support, including food security. When I decided to move back to Vancouver, I was immediately drawn to VFR's mission and commitment to supporting the city's residents.
Kaum Kulatilake (Program Coordinator): I wanted to work with Food Runners because it sounded like an interesting role filling a particular niche and need in the city. I have always wanted to work in a role where I can build connections and help people who help people, and this role at VFR struck me as a chance to do both. I'm very lucky right now that I can say I build relationships for a living because relationships and connection have always driven my actions.
VFR: What are some of your favourite things to do in Vancouver? Tell us about a place in the city that's special to you and an activity that you like to do here in Vancouver, as we are so grateful to live, work, and learn on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples.
CL: There are so many things I like to do in Vancouver! I love spending time in my neighbourhood (Grandview-Woodland) and checking out the local breweries, coffee shops, wine bars, and new restaurants. Additionally, I love to take the ferry over to Bowen Island or the Sunshine Coast for the day to spend some time outdoors. I also enjoy spending time at Grandview Park. In the summer, I like to hang out there in the evenings as there are often folks playing music, and it's a great spot to watch the sunset. I like to grab a pint of ice cream from Dolce Amore on my way.
KK: My favourite thing about Vancouver is that there's lots to do! I really love walking around the city and exploring the gems in this city, be it urban spots or natural beauties. I find myself thinking about how fortunate I am to live in legit one of the most beautiful places in the WORLD! For me, a special place in this city is the Urban Farm in the DTES (beside the Astoria Hotel). I started volunteering there over a year ago through the DTES Neighbourhood House; the farm was the first place in this city where I felt belonging and as I find new places where I am wanted and accepted, I find myself going back there to get my hands in the dirt and my face in the sun (or rain).
VFR: Let's talk about food! Please share some of your favourite places to grab a bite to eat.
CL: I have MANY favourite places to eat in the city! A few of my favourites are LIVIA, Oca Pastifico, Hanai, Pepino's, and Dachi. For cheaper eats, I love Chancho Tortilleria and Sal Y Limon.
KK: I love to cook! Donald's Market is my go-to grocery store now and it has everything I could ever need – like okra and oyster mushrooms and eggs! The first place I found in Vancouver with my own eyes (rather than being taken by a friend or through google) was Gusto in the Olympic Village Square: great pizza, great mousse! So many great spots to still discover.
VFR: Let's get to know you better! Tell us about one of your personality traits that helps you out on the job with Vancouver Food Runners.
CL: One of my favourite parts of my job is being able to connect with all the amazing people who work with our nonprofit partners. I’m definitely a “people person,” so I like to go meet the folks who are running all of the incredible programs that VFR supports. The world of food security in Vancouver is quite small, so I love to feel like I am part of a community that is working towards a more equitable city.
KK: I'm very curious and love to learn. I naturally want to earn general knowledge on a wide spectrum of topics and processes, which is great because my role requires that I have a finger on each pulse-point of the organization. I enjoy chatting with the volunteers and learning from their experiences out on food runs, and I like to know the details around each of our food donors, and I'm super interested in what programs our nonprofit partners run. This curiosity helps me to do my job better, because running logistics is a puzzle where knowing enough about each piece is very helpful.
VFR: As you have learned more about food waste, food (in)security, and sustainability, what issue has stood out to you that you want others to know more about?
CL: An issue that has stood out to me is the lack of policy at the city level around food “waste” for businesses, especially large grocery stores. Vancouver does not have any laws or policies that require grocery stores and other food businesses to donate their viable surplus food to organizations. As such, we are incredibly grateful to all the businesses that we work with, and we wish that the city would develop incentives for all food retailers to donate their excess food and products.
KK: This is a complicated question with a complicated answer, but simply put, I want others to know there are organizations like our community partners that are doing so much good work in the city, so if anyone wanted to do something to contribute to food security, sustainability, housing, access to education, etc, there's work being done that anyone can join and support. I think I used to feel a lot more hopeless about the state of the world, but since I started working with VFR my eyes have opened to the vast number of groups and individuals who dedicate their time to making their communities and realities more livable and pleasant. There's a lot that needs to be done for "the state of the world," but there's a lot being done that anyone can get involved with, too!
VFR: The weather is starting to get warmer (although it’s still pretty wet these days!). What are your plans for this summer?
CL: I am hoping to spend some time on the East Coast of Canada. Additionally, I am planning on spending some time in the Okanagan and in Manitoba where my family lives.
KK: I have so many plans for this summer! I hope to farm a lot and learn more about and from the plants. I hope to expand my ever-growing collection of hobbies by trying out many activities. I also hope to lean even more into my existing activities like dancing, hiking, and cooking. I have only been camping once or twice, so if it's in the cards, I'd like to go camping for fun; and I'm really stoked to wear as many fun summer colours and floral prints as I can!
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