Submission ID 130713
| Issue/Objective | Food insecurity in Canada is a deeply uneven spatial phenomenon shaped by broader social, health, and community contexts. While national and provincial statistics capture overall prevalence, they often obscure localized inequalities and lived realities. This study examines geographic relationships between food insecurity and three interrelated indicators: sense of community belonging, self-perceived health, and food bank utilization at the aggregated dissemination area (ADA) level. It aims to identify spatial patterns that can inform more equitable, place-based policy responses. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Using GIS-based spatial analysis, this study integrates data from Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and Food bank Canada Hungercount survey at the ADA level across Canada. Analytical methods include relationship maps to visualize co occurring patterns of food insecurity and associated social and health indicators. Statistical analysis is conducted using Generalized Linear Regression (GLR) to assess overall relationships at the national scale, followed by Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to identify spatial non stationarity and place specific variations. These workflows allow analysis of how relationships differ across ADAs and move beyond one size fits all interpretations. |
| Results | Findings reveal substantial spatial heterogeneity in the relationships among key indicators. In some ADAs, high food insecurity coexists with strong community belonging, suggesting localized resilience alongside hidden deprivation. In other areas, high food insecurity paired with relatively low food bank use indicates potential systemic barriers such as limited-service accessibility, stigma, or misalignment between community needs and charitable food provision. These patterns highlight that food insecurity does not manifest uniformly across communities. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The results demonstrate that food insecurity cannot be fully understood or effectively addressed in isolation from social cohesion, health perceptions, and place-based service environments. By analyzing these indicators simultaneously, this study exposes inequalities often masked by aggregated statistics and simplified policy narratives. The findings underscore the value of small-area, equity-oriented spatial analysis in informing targeted interventions, improving service alignment, and advancing accountability in addressing structural drivers of health inequity. This approach supports more nuanced, community-centered food policy and planning. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Khoaja Khaled Food Banks Canada Richard Matern Food Banks Canada Khoaja Khaled Food Banks Canada |
