By Centre for Local Prosperity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2025
We are proud to announce the addition of Justin Cantafio to our team as Director of Policy. Justin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Centre for Local Prosperity that will allow the Centre to continue developing strategies and networks as we support the growth of local rural economies in Atlantic Canada.
Justin Cantafio is a food sovereignty and relocalization advocate, non-profit leader, public speaker, consultant, and Nuffield Scholar currently based in E’se’katik, Mi’kma’ki (Lunenburg, Nova Scotia). He is the Co-founder and President of Canadian Farmers’ Markets, Canada’s national farmers’ market association, and a founding member of the World Farmers Markets Coalition. Justin is a founding member and current President with the Halifax Regional Food Hub and a founder and current Director with the Atlantic Food Action Coalition. Prior to joining the Centre for Local Prosperity as Director of Policy, Justin served as the Executive Director of Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia for over seven years. He’s also been a fishmonger, worked extensively in the realm of institutional procurement, and lived and worked on small-scale organic farms across Canada as part of his master’s degree.
“I’m beyond thrilled to join the Centre for Local Prosperity as its new Director of Policy. This is an incredible opportunity for me to dive deeper into exploring the implications of relocalization and community wealth building in Atlantic Canada. One of my first tasks in this new role will be to grow and leverage the Atlantic Food Action Coalition’s network, connecting with and surfacing leaders throughout Atlantic Canada to build a shared framework and roadmap for relocalization, food sovereignty, and a just energy transition in our region’s food system. Our hope is to compile a suite of tools and levers that will inform policies alongside future community-based projects. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to contribute to stewarding this important work!”
The Atlantic Food Action Coalition (AFAC) is a “network of networks” that connects organizations working on food at a systems level. Formed in 2023 as folks built on the work of the Dig-In Summit co-hosted (with AFAC) by the Centre for Local Prosperity in 2022, AFAC amplifies the impact of these networks at the regional and national levels. With Justin leading this project, this initiative will launch a community-led just energy transition in Atlantic Canada, by centering food sovereignty and relocalization and fostering deeper connections between organizations.
We are excited to have Justin and his extensive expertise and leadership in food system networks join our team as we continue to mobilize around re-localization and community wealth building in Atlantic Canada.
For Inquiries please contact
Nike Baneberry
Communications Coordinator
Centre of Local Prosperity
nike@centreforlocalprosperity.ca