excited about the oven and brainstorm with them about what could happen. Then find money (sponsor, grants, etc.) or create paid events to pay these people to run events down there. It’s also a good idea to approach potential partners who could provide ingredients for people to pick up to cook in the oven and partners who could run events at the oven. We partnered with Just Us! Cafe to provide us with dough for our public events and to sell it in their cafe so that anyone could quickly get high-quality pizza dough, any day of the week, to use in the oven. Here’s a list of events and partners that happened at the Front Street Oven in the first year: ● Pizza party after Mayor’s Bike Ride ● Acadia University Department Socials and BBQ’s - Business School, Community Development, Biology Department, etc. ● Wolfville Day Camps ● “Where to Cycle in Nova Scotia” Book Launch ● “Try it in Wolfville” - Free Wood-Fired Pizza Making ● Citta Slow Day in Wolfville (local apple turnovers and corn on the cob) ● Devour Food Film Fest Street Food Party (Make-Your-Own Beavertail fundraiser) ● Glooscap First Nations (making Luski Bread at the oven) ● Various learn-how-to-make events, such as “Pizza w Italian Grandmother” Safety/Liability One of the most important elements in running a community oven is that people feel comfortable and safe when using the space. This pertains to personal safety when using the oven and/or navigating the space, but also in regards to personal space and not feeling discriminated or harassed in any way. Running a community oven and inviting people into the space is a big responsibility and all aspects should be considered to make sure that people have a positive and safe experience. Have a protocol in place that gives direction if any sort of verbal or physical abuse occurs, as well as any sort of sexual harassment. It is advised to speak to a lawyer in terms of what sort of procedures should be followed to ensure that the community oven is safe from potential lawsuits. ● Train your volunteers on how to use the oven safely so that they can facilitate other users. ● Ensure people feel safe; both the participants and the volunteers. ● Have emergency numbers available onsite in case anything happens. ● Provide emergency procedures and make sure they are understood. Who is responsible? And for what? ● Have a ‘respect for all’ policy and make sure all volunteers adhere to the guidelines. Guide Original Author’s Contact Adam Barnett adam@frontstreetoven.ca Duncan Ebata duncan@frontstreetoven.ca Our sincerest thanks to United Church of Canada and Bedford United Church for making this guide possible and contributing thoughts and ideas. 14
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