08/15/2024
đź“ŁIMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTđź“Ł
The City of Charlottetown has decided to deny the site-specific exemption for the community fridge on Connolly Street.
What does this meanâť“
Three years ago, we spoke to various city officials in the Planning and Heritage Department, Charlottetown Food Council, environmental health, and multiple community groups, and we conducted a public survey to research and identify whether a community fridge would be suitable. After receiving all approvals, we moved forward to implementing the project after over ten months of work.
Despite getting approvals from the City of Charlottetown over three years ago, the City determined in February that the community fridge structure is not in line with the zoning for the parking lot.
So, a site-specific exemption application was required to be submitted to continue to keep the fridge at the location. The City of Charlottetown denied the site-specific exemption application for the community fridge on Connolly Street on Tuesday. This means the fridge must be removed from the parking lot within 30 days.
We understand that this brings about difficult emotions and challenges for everyone.
There are a few things to clarify.
Food insecurity affects each person differently. People may stock up to survive and out of the fear of running out. It will take time to heal together as a community, and we must be compassionate and continue supporting one another. A community fridge is just a temporary fix to fill the gaps and meet the community’s needs by providing dignified access to surplus foods. So, this fridge has existed to leverage community resources like the Food Bank and Soup Kitchen and not to replace them.
The issue of overdose and addiction has also come up during this process. But the issue of overdose and addiction is a much larger issue, and it is not exclusive to the community fridge. This issue has existed in Charlottetown and across PEI longer than the community fridges. For instance, the Methadone Clinic had been in the neighbourhood for many years, even before the fridge was installed. Drug addiction and overdose is a growing problem and one that is not unique to the areas directly beside the community fridge.
More needs to be done to address food insecurity, poverty, overdose and addiction at the systemic level by all levels of government.
Lastly, the space is used by hundreds of people daily. The amount of donations we have received has increased, but fridge use has also increased. Despite it being used so frequently, volunteers and community members have and continue to keep the fridge and surrounding areas clean to the best of their ability. Everyone is responsible for keeping the space clean and tidy.
What is nextâť“
A meeting will be held for anyone interested in discussing the next steps on
đź“… Monday, August 19,
⏰ 6:30 pm
đź“Ť Jack Blanchard Hall.
This is an opportunity for folks to discuss the next steps. All are welcome!
If the community identifies a need for this fridge at the meeting, we require the City and the appropriate folks to suggest and secure a new location to ensure the fridge will be in a space that allows for its use of accessing food in a dignified manner.
