Food is our connection
We strive to strengthen health, belonging and food sovereignty in Iqaluit utilizing the power of food, tradition and community.

Building Community
through food

The Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre is a hub of food culture in Iqaluit. Through our charitable work we aim to build community, food skills and awareness.

OUR WORK

Food Insecurity in the North

Access to good, healthy food is a basic human right. QCFC works to improve food access, food skills and advocacy in Iqaluit and Nunavut as a whole, one meal at a time.

Food costs are over double the national average

Over half of households in Nunavut are food insecure

Only 1/6 of daily calorie intake in Nunavut comes from local country food

LEARN MORE

Our Programs

Access to healthy, affordable food has been a challenge for Nunavummiut for many years and it remains a public and political concern. We provide varied programming that addresses the many root causes of food insecurity.

Daily Meal Service

Join us for lunch! We serve a hot, fresh meal to the public between 12pm and 1pm seven days a week. Everyone is welcome!
Our menus are created by a Registered Dietitian and aim to be nutritious, filling and, of course, delicious. As much as possible we aim to incorporate local country food, which includes Arctic char, ring seal, narwhal, polar bear, and whatever else our hunters provide. For more information, contact us below.

Culinary Skills Training

Through our 3-month full-time program, we assist underemployed Iqalummiut in finding the professional and life skills needed to reach their goals. Participants work alongside our kitchen staff and learn how to work in a commercial kitchen, all while receiving a wage. If you would like to be a participant, please fill out our application form.
If you are an employer looking for skilled labour, please contact us to arrange an internship.
This program is borne of our desire to address the root causes of food insecurity, the main cause being poverty. While our community benefits from an abundance of jobs, 15% of the community lives on social assistance due to numerous barriers to employment. Our aim is to break down those barriers and provide participants with a path to meaningful work, financial stability and independence.

Kids Cooking Club

We help build elementary school students’ cooking skills, food knowledge, and confidence in the kitchen. They learn safe food handling, kitchen safety, knife skills, and how to follow a recipe.
The eating habits we develop as children often stay with us for the rest of our lives, so fostering a positive relationship with food at an early age is key to individual food sovereignty. Many children begin the class without ever having tried certain foods and leave with a new collection of favourite foods. Plus, they have the skills to share these with their families! If you are interested in enrolling your child, please contact our Food Skills Coordinator.

Cooking Club

Once a week we are happy to offer a safe and encouraging environment where community members can create community connections, learn new cooking styles and techniques, and build confidence with cooking and choosing healthy food.

Everyone is welcome!

Our community is low on third places (where people connect with the wider community outside of their home and work circles), especially in the evenings, so having a place to socialize, learn and have fun at no cost is an important part of the community’s social fabric. The Club starts at 17:30 on Wednesdays and no registration is necessary - we just ask that you not come late! For more info, contact us.

Healthy Food Box Program

Want a box of fresh fruit and vegetables every two weeks? You can order them through our online store (or contact us) for pick-up at our facility every other Saturday.
The selection varies each time but generally consists of staple vegetables and a selection of fresh fruit. We prioritize items that are organic, fresh and local, depending on the season.

How you can help
The support we receive from our community is important and has an direct impact on hundreds of Iqalummiut on a daily basis. You can help us in the following ways: 
CONTACT US
DONATE
volunteer

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