As a community economic development conference, the planning team works to ensure that we purchase the highest quality food that supports our community in meaningful ways. This year, the Gathering will feature a delicious line-up of new and crowd-favorite foods & beverages that support local farmers, worker coops, sustainable growing practices, and provide employment opportunities to individuals with employment barriers.
For example, the committee will be purchasing salads from Wolseley Family Place, an organization that operates a catering business staffed by parents with multiple barriers to employment. Many of the catering staff are single parents who enter the program with additional barriers including: poor mental health, addictions, minimal job skills, and insecure housing. The program provides an on-site daycare, support staff, and workshops designed to build confidence and employment skills. Most participants build their confidence and skills within a short time and move on to secure meaningful employment or return to school. L’arche Tova Café provides employment training and work placements to persons with intellectual disabilities. The organization’s mission is to showcase the gifts of people with intellectually disability and they live this mission at their Transcona based neighbourhood café. Sandwiches from L’arche Tova Café are made with in-house baked bread and are prepared with love and care at the Café.
In addition, Some crowd-favorites include morning baking from Diversity Foods, homemade chicken fingers from Bodegoes, Hearty salads from Lunch Bell Bistro, dehydrated fruit skewers from Food for Folks, gluten free turnovers from Organic Planet, and Banack from Neechi Commons. The gathering provides vegetarian and gluten free options and uses compostable dishware.
The menu hasn’t been finalized but you can be sure that the food will be delicious.
Mark-Jan Daalderop Over the past decade, I have provided capacity building and/or leadership services to socially or environmentally missioned business and organizations. I have acquired certification and/or training in financial management, human resource management, project management, Lead Six Sigma process improvement, facilitation, board governance, running effective meetings, and evaluation.
