Episode Summary
One in four Canadians experience food insecurity, and in Vancouver, 30% of food bank clients are employed full-time.
In this episode, John Nicola sits down with David Long, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank to explore how the GVFB has transformed itself from a traditional food bank into a modern distribution model focused on fresh food, operational discipline, and long-term impact.
You’ll hear:
• Why Canada has enough food, yet millions still face food insecurity
• How the Greater Vancouver Food Bank increased fresh food distribution from 20% to 80%
• Why David Long believes food insecurity is a solvable problem
• How an entrepreneurial mindset is helping reshape the response
• The connection between nutrition, health outcomes, and community well-being
• How surplus food can be preserved, processed, and redistributed at scale
• How food inflation and an aging population are reshaping demand
• The partnerships and infrastructure needed to build the food bank of the future
This episode explores how innovative thinking, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships can help address one of Canada’s most pressing social challenges.
Want to explore this topic further? This podcast episode is based on a written article that dives deeper into the ideas discussed here.
Looking for ways to support one of Canada’s most pressing social challenges: you can Donate or Volunteer.
Episode Featured on:
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Disclaimer
This material contains the current opinions of the author, and such opinions are subject to change without notice. Any mention of third-party products, services, or organizations on the podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.
