Following successful student advocacy to the university by the UOSU in 2024-2025, the Healthy Plates project was launched. A collaboration between the University of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) and the Bruyère Health Institute’s Ottawa Neighbourhood Study (ONS), it’s a year-long, campus-wide study to better understand and address student food insecurity.
We invite you participate in a focus group about about your experiences with food access, financial stress, and support services on campus. As part of the Healthy Plates project, a uOttawa team led by Drs. Claire Kendall and Katherine Moreau is hosting discussion groups fall. Groups will be led by trained PhD students and are available in French and English. The focus group should last around 90 minutes.
As a token of appreciation for your participation, you will receive a voucher to be redeemed for a free box of fresh produce delivered right to your home. Participants may opt to receive a $25 gift card to the grocery store of their choice instead.
We understand that this topic can be difficult for some and are committed to facilitating focus groups that respect your dignity and privacy. Sessions will be held online, and you do not need to turn on your camera or use your real name on Zoom.
When you sign up through the link above, you will receive an invitation to participate and sign up for a session offered.
We seek to offer various focus groups, including groups for international students & francophones.
For Indigenous students interested in participating in a focus group with other First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, a session will beheld at the Indigenous Resource Centre in late October. Look out for a newsletter from uOttawa Indigenous with more details.
For more information about the focus groups, please refer to the Information Letter.
The first phase of the project identified the experiences of graduate students as an area where more knowledge was needed. In collaboration with the Graduate Student Association (GSAÉD), we are asking masters and PhD students to participate in a survey about their experience accessing and affording food to help us create a food secure campus.
The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer. At the end of the survey, you can enter a draw to win one of five $150 gift cards to a grocery store of your choice as a token of appreciation for your participation.
For more information, please refer to the Information Letter.
