Food Not Bombs Peterborough, a grassroots group in Peterborough, Ont., has been serving free meals to those in need for nearly 19 years. The group originally served in the lobby of City Hall in 2005 before moving to Confederation Square in 2011. The meals consist of food donated by farms, grocers, and other community organizations. However, the city recently issued a no trespass notice to the group twice for failing to have a permit, citing a 2019 Parks and Facilities bylaw that bans tenting and offering food in public parks. Food Not Bombs considers their work a protest against war, poverty, and environmental destruction and argues that protests in Peterborough do not require permits.
City council approved an amendment to the bylaw that would allow Food Not Bombs to bypass the permit requirement. The amendment allows city staff to grant and revoke exemptions for specific activities in Confederation Square. Additionally, there was a change from administering tickets to issuing fines for anyone in contravention of the bylaw. Fines are $500 for the first day of a contravention and increase to $750 for each subsequent day of breaking the bylaw for activities conducted without a required permit or exemption. Food Not Bombs expressed concerns about not being able to challenge the fines in court as they could with a provincial offences order.
During the discussion on the bylaw amendment, council voted against a motion to defer the matter for further consideration. Mayor Jeff Leal expressed a desire for more time to define the activity in Confederation Park but ultimately felt confident in the council’s decision. Food Not Bombs volunteer Myles Connor expressed gratitude for the city’s work and public support during the issue. He emphasized that the organization advocates for everyone who follows them, not just for themselves. Food Not Bombs plans to resume their work on Monday without worry about receiving a trespass notice.
The amendment to the bylaw has allowed Food Not Bombs Peterborough to continue serving meals to those in need at Confederation Square without the need for a permit. The group views their act of sharing food as a protest against unjust civic priorities. The city council’s decision to amend the bylaw and allow exemptions for specific activities in the square has addressed the concerns raised by the group. Food Not Bombs will continue to rely on donations from farms, grocers, and community organizations to provide meals on Mondays.
The change from administering tickets to issuing fines for contraventions of the bylaw has created new concerns for Food Not Bombs. The group worries about the ability to challenge the fines in court, as they could previously with provincial offences orders. Despite these concerns, the volunteers are grateful for the city’s support and for the opportunity to continue their work without fear of receiving a trespass notice. They view their actions as a form of demonstration and advocacy for their cause and hope to inspire others to stand up for what they believe in. Mayor Jeff Leal is confident in the council’s decision and believes that the local approach to resolving the issue is the right way forward. Food Not Bombs will return to serving meals on Monday, thanks to the amendment to the bylaw that allows them to continue their work without the need for a permit in Confederation Square.
