Mission Statement
The Bells Corners Community Garden (BCCG) is dedicated to fostering food security, sustainability, and community engagement through urban gardening. We grow fresh, nutritious vegetables to support local food banks and ultimately neighbours who need access to healthy food.
By cultivating a shared space for learning, collaboration, and environmental stewardship, we empower our community to connect, grow, and give back.
Growing good food!
At Bells Corners Community Garden (BCCG), we believe that access to fresh, nutritious food is a right, not a privilege. That’s why we are dedicated to growing healthy, homegrown vegetables to support our local food bank and ensure that families facing food insecurity have access to fresh, wholesome produce.
Our efforts span across three key locations, each playing a vital role in producing food for donation, as well as our aspiration for a future community garden:
1. OLP Catholic School Garden: Engaging young minds in the joy of gardening, this school-based initiative teaches students about sustainability while contributing fresh vegetables to the food bank.
2. Maple Hill Allotment Garden: A bigger space where our passionate volunteers work together to grow abundant produce, maximizing our impact on food security.
3. Front-Yard Garden: A shining example of community generosity, this space transforms a shared, private front yard into a thriving vegetable garden dedicated to feeding those in need.
4. A future community garden: Our goal is to establish a community garden to give families who do not have the space at home an opportunity to cultivate their own food.
Whether you volunteer, donate, or support in other ways, your involvement makes a difference. Come help us at the garden!
Growing community!
Food has the power to bring people together—not just at the table, but in the garden, the kitchen, and the community. By connecting like-minded neighbors, local organizations, and businesses, we are building a stronger, more food-secure Bells Corners—one seed, one meal, and one partnership at a time.
To tackle food insecurity in our community, we are leading four key initiatives:
1. Collaborating with the FAMSAC Food Bank: We grow fresh vegetables and donate them directly to the food bank, ensuring that families in need have access to healthy produce.
2. Farm-to-table Initiative: Through this initiative, we will prepare free, nutritious meals for families experiencing food insecurity.
3. Partnerships with stakeholders: We are collaborating with businesses, schools, community members, and other groups to amplify our impact and reach more families.
4. Volunteer engagement: We can’t do it alone! So we’re proud of the community of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds that are helping us.
Together, we can champion food security in Bells Corners—not just by growing food, but by growing a stronger, more connected community. Join us in making fresh food accessible to all!
Partnerships
With every seed we plant and every harvest we share, we are not just growing vegetables. We are growing hope, resilience, and community support. That’s why we’re looking to engage partners—neighbours, community groups, businesses, and organizations—who share our commitment to ensuring vulnerable neighbours in Bells Corners has access to fresh food. Here’s how partners can help:
1. Fund or sponsor our activities: In-kind donations, materials, and funds are essential in keeping gardening costs down, allowing us to support families who struggle to afford fresh food.
2. Volunteer at our BCCG garden locations: Through volunteer support, your involvement helps expand our capacity to grow more food for those who need it most.
3. Support our food bank donations: Help us grow and donate fresh produce to ensure families in need have access to healthy, locally grown food.
4. Contribute to our Farm-to-table Initiative: Partner with us to transform fresh garden harvests into nutritious, complimentary meals for families facing food insecurity.
We believe that food security is a challenge best tackled together. That way, we can create sustainable, community-driven solutions to address food insecurity. Help us make a difference by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word.
Meet our BCCG Board of Directors
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Joan Wright
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Joan’s professional mantra is “People and Partnership, PR the ‘Wright’ Way! “ She is a serial volunteer, who loves to give back while bringing her communications experience to her community work.
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Kenneth Rosehart
VP, GARDEN OPERATIONS & FOUNDER
With a focus on efficient garden management, volunteer coordination, and maximizing harvests, Ken is committed to ensuring that fresh, nutritious produce reaches local families in need.
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Diane Watson
DIRECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
A dynamic senior hi-tech leader, program and project management expert, and passionate community champion, Diane brings her strategic expertise and heart for service to the BCCG.
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Sasha-Gay Lobban
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Sasha-Gay is a an award-winning journalist who works in communications. She is an author of the book “Finding Your Network: Navigating Change and Re-discovering Self.”
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Christine Anderson-Brown
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Christine is a human resources leader with a wealth of experience in Ottawa and Jamaica. She is committed to giving back, and does volunteer work with organizations such as World Skills.
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Sharon Hollingsworth
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
A current vice president with the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Sharon has a long and rewarding career in education. She is a champion of community work with a keen focus on vulnerable families.
— Diane Watson, Partnerships Director
“I’m excited to be cultivating meaningful collaborations that strengthen our BCCG mission. I love it because we’re not just growing a garden together—we are growing a stronger, more connected community. By forging partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community members, we can expand our reach, enhance our resources, and ensure that fresh, nutritious food is accessible to those who need it most.”
