How to Host anEat Think Vote

Event

a Toolkit

Welcome!

Welcome to the Eat Think Vote Team

● So you are thinking of hosting an Eat Think Vote event in your community? We’re here to help!

● The Eat Think Vote toolkit is a valuable how-to guide on hosting a successful event in your community.

● Together you and thousands of Canadians across the country will make food a priority in the upcoming federal election.

● Thank you, your help is essential!

Why organize an Eat Think Vote event?

● To personally meet your candidates and show that you and people in your community care about food

● To unite your voice with individuals and organizations across the country advocating for a national food policy

● To make food a major election issue.

Eat Think Vote Events

WHAT?Serving food with a message – engaging candidates and citizens on national food policy issues while enjoying a community meal!

WHEN?Between July and October 19th.

HOW?Keep reading this guide to find out!

What makes an Eat Think Vote Event?

1. Offer food

2. Invite all candidates

3. Invite your community

4. A clear, united message

5. Following up with us

Food as catalyst

Food brings people together

• Eat Think Vote events invite federal candidates and citizens to share a meal and discuss food issues. The events can be picnics, barbecues, or meals at a food bank.

• First decide what kind of event you want to host, small or big: a tasting at a farmers market, a breakfast in a school cafeteria or sharing a meal in a community center ...

• Your choice of food can carry a message or be the catalyst for a great conversation about food. It’s up to you!

• Ask food markets, neighborhood restaurants or local farmers if they are willing to donate food. Don’t forget to acknowledge their contribution at the event!

• If you have costs (food, rental, etc.) don’t hesitate to pass around a donation box during your event. Participants often appreciate the opportunity to contribute.

[EAT]Food sourcing

Invite candidates

• We want to hear from all political parties. No matter who is elected, we want politicians to know Canadians in all ridings are passionate about national food policy and food issues.

• Once you have a vision, get informed on the candidates availabilities and give them advance notice - at least two weeks.

Invite candidate from all parties

• Download here a template letter to send to your candidates.

• Who is my MP? • Which electoral riding am I in? • Who are the candidates in my electoral

riding? • Find my MP’s Twitter handle and other

social media accounts.

Connect with your federal candidates!

Invite your community

● The goal is to have a time and place for your community to meet candidates.

● Resources are always tight, integrate Eat Think Vote into already planned events or find partners locally to co-host your event.

● The more you are, the merrier!

Partner locally

• Your Eat Think Vote event can be open or closed - it doesn’t matter. Getting people around the table who care about food is the important part.

• Candidates will come to events of 10, 20 or 100 people. They want to meet you and other voters.

• Download here a template letter to send to your community.

Invite your community

A clear, united message

• Across Canada we will all repeat the same key message: that Canada needs a national food policy.

• Our members and allies have chosen 4 key Canadian food issues to focus on. Each of these is an important part of a national food policy.

• Select all four, or the one issue that matters the most to you and others in your riding. Why are these issues important to you and your community?

• Print off and share the materials on key issues with candidates and people attending the meeting.

A clear, united message

• Download our media tools if your need a media advisory, press release or example of an op-ed.

• Print and share material on the key issues with the candidates and participants. This will help move the conversation forward. You can even send them in advance.

Communicate with the media

• Select a facilitator that introduces the event, keeps track of time and takes questions

• Download an example of script to introduce your event.• Introduce the Eat Think Vote campaign and each

candidate attending the event• Offer the candidates the opportunity to explain their

views and whether they are willing to sign the pledge. Don’t forget to give them an equal amount of time.

Facilitate the event

• Make sure you leave space and time for questions and answers by the community and why food is important to you and others in your riding.

• Don’t forget to have someone taking notes!

Follow up

• Have a table with some documents is accessible or where you can collect participants’ email.

• Be sure to encourage the candidates to sign our online candidates’ pledge during the event, and participants to sign the petition.

• We want to hear from you! What happened? What did the candidates say? Report back to us and share your story!

• Take pictures, it’s a great photo opp!

Sign on and follow up

Other tips and resources

Your check-list☑ Contact your partners and volunteers☑ Decide the format and date of the event. ☑ Select a venue and your food sourcing ☑ Let your candidates know there will be an event☑ Sign up your event on our website. Here is how!☑ Outreach to community partners and volunteers☑ Invite the community and all political candidates☑ Give your local and provincial media a heads up !☑ Print and send out material on the key issues ☑ Host the event! ☑ Follow up with our national team and campaign coordinators by filling this form.

Share the word before, during and after your event:• Re-use and adapt our press release

Facebook / Google + / Twitter#EatThinkVote

#Jemangedoncjevote@FoodSecureCAN

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Get the word out!

• Make Food Matter Advocacy Resource• Real Food Challenge• INTRAC Advocacy and Campaigning

Course Toolkit• Toronto Youth Food Policy Advocacy

Toolkit

Other resources

1. Template of letter for your community2. Template of letter for you candidates 3. How to register your event 4. Media tools 5. Example of script to introduce event6. Template of poster for your event7. Print-friendly document to collect petition

signatures8. Follow up questionnaire

Index of resources

Our Eat Think Vote campaign coordinators are here to support you!

Quebec, Atlantic Canada & Northern Territories➢ Hugo - hugo[at]alimentationdurable.ca

Ontario, Prairies & BC ➢ Derek - eat.think.vote[at]gmail.com

Questions? Contact Us