​2022 - 2023

A 2022/2023 pilot study invested $3 million in grant funding to non-profit organizations to deliver nutrition programs in partnership with school authorities.

 

Despite an additional 43 schools and 2,868 students served under the pilot, the pilot was ended and returned to the previous model for the 2023/2024 school year. Noted drawbacks of the pilot included the restricted delivery of a province-wide School Nutrition Program by a single non-profit organization, and the preference of school authorities to retain control over funding and decision making. 

 

2024

The Alberta government committed to an additional, one-time $5 million grant to expand the province’s school nutrition program for a total of $25 million invested.

 

The funding was provided through regular funding channels, with encouragement for each school district and school board to partner with community organizations to meet the food needs of their students. An estimate of 58,000 students in participating schools benefit from the school nutrition program. 

 

Meanwhile, the Federal commitment of $1 billion over five years for a National School Food Program, creating an opportunity to expand school food programming across the country.

 

2025

In March, the Government of Alberta ratified the Canada-Alberta National School Food Program, investing more than $43 million in federal funding over the next three years in addition to existing provincial support. This funding supplements the $20 million provided annually by the Government of Alberta. 

 

2026

In June, Canada launched its first National Food Security Strategy, further strengthening the environment surrounding school food and food security. Together, these developments reflect long-term commitment to strengthening school food and food security across Canada and provide an important opportunity for Alberta to continue building on this momentum.