Rachel McAdams, Toronto, promote Food and Water First

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Published on Thursday, 24 October 2013 14:48

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Filmmkaer Jason Van Bruggen, camera operator Brian Smith and historian Stuart Henderson film a short video supporting the Food and Water First campaign. Actress Rachel McAdams is also featured in the video.

 

 

Canada’s largest city and one of the nation’s biggest stars have joined the campaign for Food and Water first.

Rachel McAdams, star of The Notebook, Mean Girls and Wedding Crashers, visited the Honeywood area in August to film a short video promoting the need to preserve Ontario’s farmland.

“Farmland and water are our most vital resources. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to survive,” McAdams explains in the video.  

Jason Van Bruggen, a filmmaker and volunteer with Food and Water First, said McAdams spent about two days in north Dufferin County filming and visiting local farmers.

“She is someone who is deeply concerned with that topic,” Van Bruggen said. “It’s a natural alignment.”

The London, Ont.-born actress joins North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) chair Carl Cosack, local farmer Dave Vander Zaag and Chef Michael Stadtländer of Eigensinn in the video.

“I was just hoping it draws attention to the topic and gets people to take the pledge and think about that issue more closely,” Van Bruggen said.

NDACT is leading the charge for the Food and Water First Campaign, an effort to change policies that allow rezoning that compromises food and water sources.

NDACT was created with the mandate to stop the Highland Companies' quarry plans in Melancthon as well as influence change to the province's Aggregate Resources Act (ARA).

With the quarry application withdrawn, the group is now focusing on ensuring legislation exists to protect Ontario’s edible assets.

Earlier this month, Toronto city council voted to relay its support for the campaign to the premier and ministries of agriculture, rural affairs and municipal affairs and housing.

“I thought it would be important for Toronto to take a stand. … We don’t live in bubbles,” said Toronto Coun. Josh Matlow, who tabled the motion. “Even though one might live in the heart of Toronto, it doesn’t mean we’re disconnected from the region around us.”

While political boundaries separate Toronto from Dufferin County, Matlow stressed the importance of working together within the region.

“We rely on protecting our natural and agricultural lands for the future success of the many millions of people who live in our area,” Matlow said. “We’re interdependent.”

Throughout the fight against the mega-quarry, and the Food and Water First Campaign, signs of support have popped up in Toronto businesses and on residents’ lawns. Matlow said he isn’t surprised Torontonians have joined the cause.

“Many residents recognize the connection between the success of our urban land with protecting our agricultural land,” he said. “I thought it was incredibly impressive how successful a grassroots campaign became. It’s quite remarkable in fact.”

He added the province must hear Toronto’s viewpoint on protecting farmland.

“With the strength of the voice that we have, it’s important the provincial government hears our voice on this too,” Matlow said.

“That’s why I thought it was important that we became a Food and Water First City.”

To watch the Food and Water First video, visit http://vimeo.com/77280156.

By Bill Tremblay
Published in the Orangeville Banner, Oct. 24, 2013