Northern Healthy Foods Initiative

The Northern Healthy Foods Initiative’s (NHFI) vision is for people to define their own food systems to access healthy foods in northern Manitoba. Our goals are:

  1. to increase food security efforts at the community level
  2. to strengthen community-led development

NHFI supports local and regional projects that contribute to the development of culturally relevant, healthy food systems, while improving health and well-being. NHFI’s role is to increase access to food by working with communities and coordinating efforts aligned with the program's goals and objectives. Our strategic priorities are to:

  1. Strengthen strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts to support local food production and access. Partnerships are intended to increase community access to resources and opportunities, build on community development efforts, facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences and reflect the uniqueness of communities.
  2. Enhance support for local efforts, including strengthening community-led approaches that reflect cultural values.

NHFI is administered and managed by Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations and receives assistance and guidance with overseeing the initiative from the NHFI Management Committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from various Manitoba government departments and agencies, including:

Service Delivery Model

Food security projects are being delivered in northern and remote communities by community-based organizations known as NHFI partners. These include:

  • Bayline Regional Roundtable
    371 Flemming Dr. Box 108
    Wabowden, MB ROB 1S0
    Ph: 204-689-2598
    Fax: 204-689-2355
    Email: baylinerrt@outlook.com
    Administrator: Carol Sanoffsky
    Administrative Assistant: Donna Sanoffsky
  • Northern Association of Community Councils
    Unit 20, 395 Berry Street
    Winnipeg, MB R3J 1N6
    Ph: 204-947-2227
    Fax: 204-947-9446
    Executive Director: Linda Payeur
    Project Coordinator: Trinette Konge
  • Four Arrows Regional Health Authority
    500-338 Broadway
    Winnipeg, MB R3C 0T2
    Ph: 204-947-2397
    Fax: 204-982-3359
    Executive Director: Alex McDougall
    Program Manager: Byron Beardy
  • Food Matters Manitoba
    422 Notre Dame Avenue
    Winnipeg, MB R3B 1R1
    General Office: 204-943-0822
    Fax: 204-943-0823
    Executive Director: Rob Moquin
    Program Coordinator: Demian Lawrenchuk
  • Frontier School Division
    Leaf Rapids Education Centre
    Box 670
    Leaf Rapids, MB R0B 1W0
    LR School: 204-473-2403
    Fax: 204-473-8632
    Program Coordinator: Brian Trewin


Communities in the North

The initiative targets communities in over 80 per cent of the province. These communities include First Nations, Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations communities and northern municipalities. You can find a full list in the Northern Food Prices Report and you can find a map that defines NHFI eligibility here.

Integral Partnerships

Partnerships and linkages with non government organizations are essential to the success of the initiative. Examples of these include:

Affordable Food in Remote Manitoba (AFFIRM)

AFFIRM reduces the price of milk, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits in eligible remote northern communities through a subsidy. The subsidy is provided to participating stores and each store is required to pass on the full subsidy to the customer by reducing the sale price of milk, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. For more information, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/healthyeating/community/affirm.html.

Indigenous Procurement Initiative

The objective of the Indigenous Procurement Initiative is to increase the participation of Indigenous peoples and suppliers in providing goods and services to the Manitoba Government. To that end, Manitoba Procurement Services Branch has introduced an Indigenous Procurement Initiative (IPI) to increase the participation of Indigenous businesses in providing goods and services to government. Please visit: www.gov.mb.ca/finance/psb/api/ab_proc.html.

General Contact

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations
300 – 352 Donald Street
Winnipeg, MB | R3B 3H8
Phone: 204-792-8557