October 2020 – Parry Sound will have a new hub for healthy eating with a community oven project at the Mary Street Centre. The project received a boost with a $4,000 grant from District 6 Parry Sound of RTOERO.

The community oven is a joint project of the Parry Sound Food Collaborative, which includes, among others, Harvest Share, Mary Street Centre, Community Living, Community Gardens, the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, Parry Sound Health Unit and interested community groups.

The oven will be located on the lawn of the Mary Street Centre. It can be used to produce locally-sourced food, for the centre’s food and nutrition programs, bread baking days, community pizza parties, downtown business events and private rentals.

“This project will improve the lives of seniors and other community members who are socially isolated and food insecure,” says Judith Arai, President, District 6 Parry Sound, RTOERO. “It will also be a meeting place, centred around making and sharing food.”

Local tradespeople and businesses will provide additional equipment and support as needed to build and complete the project.