MISSISSAUGA, ON, - (TSX: MFI) Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the Centre") today announced the four recipients of the 2024/25 Maple Leaf Board Scholarships in Food Insecurity.
Masters candidates, Yanick Brunette from University of Ottawa; Sharra Fullersmith from University of Lethbridge; Sharita Henry from University of Victoria; and Destiny Otoadese from University of Alberta will each receive a $15,000 scholarship to support their research.
- Yanick Brunette's research will describe the role of social determinants and food insecurity on pregnant women's access, utilization, and effectiveness of perinatal nutrition care and services.
- Sharra Fullersmith will examine if and how food insecurity is tied to class status in Lethbridge, Alberta, and how perceptions of individual identities factor into the changing demographics of food banks.
- Sharita Henry's research will identify the determinants of food security within urban Black Diasporic communities in Canada and propose targeted interventions for community-led solutions.
- Destiny Otoadese will partner with a local community-based organization to investigate the food security status of the African immigrant population in Edmonton and explore barriers and facilitators of engagement in collective community gardening.
These scholarships honour the extraordinary contribution of David Emerson, Wallace McCain, Purdy Crawford, and W. Geoffrey Beattie as past Chairs of the Maple Leaf Foods Board of Directors. Each year, the Centre awards four scholarships to Masters or Doctoral students who are pursuing research that contributes to the body of knowledge on food insecurity in Canada. Candidates are selected based on their academic standing, contribution to filling research gaps, and quality of the submission, including feasibility and methodological rigour.
"The dramatic rise in food insecurity rates in Canada underlines the importance of changing the way we meet the needs of people experiencing food insecurity," said Sarah Stern, Executive Director of the Centre. "These research projects will help to expand our knowledge of the needs and opportunities for specific populations, including Black communities and pregnant people."
The Centre' is proud to support research that contributes to our understanding of barriers and interventions to achieve food security. Since the scholarship was introduced in 2020, 17 students have received research scholarships. For more information about the scholarship process, visit the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security.
Source : Newswire.ca