Wayne Roberts, PhD was chosen by Now Magazine, Toronto's leading weekly, as one of the city's leading visionaries of the past 20 years. Toronto, known across North America as "the city that works," is one of the leading centers of innovation in healthy public policy. Dr. Roberts, who coordinates the public health department's Food Policy Council and the city government's Food and Hunger Action Committee, is at the center of the action when it comes to food security.
Roberts is recognized as a leading authority in the fields of green economics and urban agriculture. Since 1992 he has chaired the Coalition For A Green Economy, an entrepreneurs' group that promotes the integration of jobs, health and environmental restoration. Since joining Toronto Food Policy Council in 2000, he, together with Susan Shepherd, worked as staff coordinator of the Food and Hunger Action Committee. Their action plan, The Growing Season, was adopted unanimously by City Council in March 2001.
The Toronto Food Policy Council is appointed by the city's Board of Health to "promote food security initiatives that foster healthy public policy, social equity, economic renewal and environmental sustainability." It has been in existence since 1991, and serves as an example of how citizen activists and local governments can turn creative tension into practical progressive policies. The Council acts as a catalyst for a score of urban agriculture, food security and Community Economic Development projects.
Dr. Roberts is the lead author of two bestsellers, Get A Life! How To Make A Good Buck, Dance Around The Dinosaurs and Save The World While You're At It and Real Food For A Change: How the simple act of eating can: boost your health and energy, knock out stress, revive your community, clean up the planet. Dr. Roberts has a Ph. D. in economic and social history.
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