Canada’s 5th Community Food Centre launches in Winnipeg on March 13!
March 5, 2015
Winnipeg has a new place where people can come together to grow, cook, share and advocate for good food for all. On Friday, March 13, the NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre will officially open its doors to the public with a ribbon-cutting and community celebration.
Developed in partnership between NorWest Co-op Community Health and Community Food Centres Canada, the NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre (@NorWestCFC) is the first of its kind in Western Canada. It is the fifth Community Food Centre in Canada, and joins four existing centres in Ontario (including The Stop in Toronto) and developing centres in Dartmouth and Calgary in working to increase access to healthy food in low-income communities and providing respectful spaces where food builds physical and mental health, hope, and more connected communities. Community Food Centres Canada aims to build 12 Community Food Centres by 2017.
The NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre will provide the diverse and multicultural population of Winnipeg’s Inkster neighbourhood with a much-needed community space where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather around healthy food. Many Inkster residents struggle with unemployment, poverty, chronic disease, food insecurity and social isolation (see Fast Facts below). The Community Food Centre will provide people of all ages with greater access to healthy food through free community meals, and an affordable produce market and outdoor bake oven; will increase food skills through community kitchens and gardens and food education programs for kids; and will engage the community through peer advocacy support, community action, and volunteering opportunities. The Centre will extend the existing primary care and social services currently provided by NorWest Co-op Community Health.
“Food is something that connects us all. Our beautiful new Community Food Centre is a dignified space where the community can truly come together. Through the power of good food, we can build health, hope and connection in Inkster,” says Kristina McMillan, director of the NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre.
“The NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre will be a positive and transformative force in this community, and we are thrilled to be working with such a knowledgeable and respected partner to bring it to life,” said Nick Saul, President and CEO of Community Food Centres Canada. “Through this and other Community Food Centres, we’re striving to make a coordinated investment in preventive, community-building solutions that address seemingly intractable problems of hunger, poor health and social isolation in new and innovative ways.”
The NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre was made possible through core support from CFCC and funding from local government, private foundations and individual donors. Follow this link for a photo gallery of the space.
