$48,045 to Improve Food Security in Schools in Bedford and Cowansville

Cowansville, October 13, 2026 — The MRC de Brome-Missisquoi is announcing $48,045 in financial support for the Centre d’action bénévole (CAB) de Farnham and Pleins Rayons to implement a pilot project aimed at improving food security among young people in schools in Bedford and Cowansville.

The Food Security in Schools project, funded through the Pacte Brome-Missisquoi, will provide healthy meals and snacks to students experiencing food insecurity. The project will run over two school years, from September 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028.

Three schools at the heart of the pilot project

The first participating schools are Monseigneur-Desranleau School and Premier-Envol School in Bedford, as well as Heroes’ Memorial School in Cowansville.

A collaborative, local and sustainable project

Developed through collaboration among community organizations, schools, municipalities and health-sector partners, the project will give young people better access to healthy food while supporting their well-being and academic success.

The CAB de Farnham and Pleins Rayons will prepare meals in their kitchens, recruit volunteers and coordinate deliveries with the schools. Some of the food will come from the Brome-Missisquoi food waste reduction initiative and surplus produce from local farms. This approach will help reduce food waste and strengthen the local circular food system.

A project with room to grow

Following the pilot phase, the partners hope to increase the number of meals served and assess the possibility of expanding the model to other schools in the region. They will evaluate factors such as the number of students reached, service continuity and the organizations’ ability to meet the needs identified by schools.

“This project clearly demonstrates the strength of collaboration in our region. By bringing together community, educational and institutional partners to address a very real need, we can make a direct difference in young people’s daily lives and contribute to their success.” — Sylvie Beauregard, Prefect of the MRC de Brome-Missisquoi

The Pacte Brome-Missisquoi: addressing regional vulnerabilities

The current iteration of the Pacte Brome-Missisquoi provides the MRC with a tool to support initiatives that improve living conditions and strengthen the social safety net throughout the region. It supports projects led by non-profit organizations (NPOs) that address priority issues, including:

• Food security;
• Homelessness;
• Transportation;
• Access to community and social services;
• Anxiety and psychological distress, particularly among young people;
• Access to services and inclusion for English-speaking individuals and immigrants.

Four projects supported since 2025

Since 2025, the MRC de Brome-Missisquoi Council of Mayors has awarded $205,445 to four projects addressing priority needs and improving access to essential resources and services across the region. Supported initiatives include:

• Community food vouchers at public markets, which improve access to fresh produce for individuals and families at the markets in Sutton, Knowlton and Frelighsburg;
• Social geriatrics, which focuses on training community sentinels and supporting vulnerable older adults to help them remain at home and promote positive, inclusive aging;
• Support services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, including a day centre, a warming and cooling centre, and short-term accommodation.

About the Pacte Brome-Missisquoi

The Pacte Brome-Missisquoi is a fund designed to support impactful projects that help reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and address the factors that make people in the Brome-Missisquoi region vulnerable. Funding applications must be submitted by non-profit organizations.

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