Student nutrition program exhibited for MPP

By Ron Giofu

The Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP) was highlighted to Essex MPP Anthony Leardi during a visit last week to a local elementary school.

Leardi visited Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School last Friday morning to hear details of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP). He was joined by school officials, as well as Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) superintendent of education Kelly-Ann Bull and OSNP supervisor of community relations Danielle Findlay.

After watching an exercise routine in a primary classroom, Leardi went to the school’s gymnasium where he was entertained by members of the school dance team. Following that, the Progressive Conservative MPP pushed a cart with food to classrooms where children loaded up on healthy snacks such as oranges, cheese, vegetables and milk.

Findlay said they were “excited” to have Leardi swing by the school last Friday. Finlay said not only is student nutrition helpful towards keeping students healthy, but has other benefits as well. It has led to higher grades and an improved sense of community, she indicated.

Food insecurity is a reason for some of the need, but Finlay added it’s also a matter of children growing, students having long bus rides in some cases to get to school and being active when they get there.

There are 93 schools and over 29,000 students in Windsor-Essex County from across all four local school boards participating in the OSNP program. What the schools acquire with funding is based on need, she said, and they can either purchase food directly through the program or use the funding to purchase food themselves at local grocery stores.

“We’re hearing across the region schools are having increased challenges,” she said, noting increasing food costs is another of those challenges.

“We’ve all seen it at the grocery stores,” Findlay added. “Imagine (schools) feeling that every day times hundreds of students. It’s very challenging for them to keep up.”

Schools are doing “a fantastic job,” said Finlay.

Leardi said he has heard about issues about student nutrition through his wife Jackie, who is a principal in the French Catholic school system. He added the province is happy to be a partner in the OSNP program.

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