It’s summer Farmers’ Market season!
In this newsletter, we’re sharing an overview of the action in our school kitchens and classrooms this year and including a tasty recipe to dress up your local seasonal harvest.
A big thank you to our volunteers, educators, caregivers, donors, and community partners for supporting Growing Chefs during the 2023/2024 school year. Your impacts have been profound on local kids, communities, and the Growing Chefs team. We could not do it with you!
School’s out for summer but we’re still bringing edible education to Vancouver youth with SOYL, Fresh Roots' summer youth program, and preparing for the upcoming school year so we can continue to serve nourishing food and edible education to B.C. kids and communities.
We hope you have a rad(ish) summer!
– Amanda & Jaydeen, Growing Chefs’ Co-Executive Directors
Student Chefs eating together at John Norquay Elementary School.
It’s easy to forget about school in the summertime, but here at Growing Chefs we’re hard at work preparing for next school year.
Donate today to ensure that our edible education programs continue to provide kids with opportunities to connect to nourishing food.
Creative Impact Spotlight: Barb’s Birthday Workout FUNraisers
What do birthdays, workouts, and Growing Chefs have in common? This year, our superstar volunteer, Barb Mackenzie, combined her passion for all three at her annual birthday workout with proceeds going toward our Adopt-A-Classroom program.
Read all about it on the Growing Chefs’ blog or check out the video:
2023/2024 School Year Review
The 2023/2024 school year marked big growth for Growing Chefs. We launched LunchLAB at John Norquay Elementary and we refreshed our Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program, making it even more accessible for students, volunteers, and educators!
Check out some of the highlights from our school kitchens and classrooms:
LunchLAB 2023/2024 School Year Review.
Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program 2023/2024 School Year Review.
In the News
School Food Programs in Canada: 15 Promising Cases
The University of Saskatchewan and the Coalition for Healthy School Food developed a report detailing Canadian school food programs that meet the diverse needs of communities. Check out page 15, where LunchLAB is featured as a model program.
Student Chefs serving their peers at LunchLAB Norquay.
Notable Visitors
The Government of Canada recently announced its National Food Policy and we celebrated this news in typical Growing Chefs style—by sharing a meal!
Our LunchLAB team welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, MP Terry Breech, MP Harjit Sajjan, School Board Trustee Victoria Jung, MP Parm Bains, and MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, to join in on the final LunchLAB service of the 2023-2024 school year at Lord Roberts Elementary.
Summer Recipe: Tangy Honey Vinaigrette
A highlight for kids from our Classroom Program is Lesson 2, where the students help us whip up a plate of fresh vegetables and our famous Tangy Honey Vinaigrette! The students learn how to use descriptive words to express their food preferences—they were big fans of the dressing, raving about its sweet and umami taste!
Tangy Honey Vinaigrette from the Growing Chefs Classroom Program.
We’re Hiring!
Student Chefs from LunchLAB Norquay holding sweet peppers.
Are you or do you know someone who loves to collaborate, has a passion for nourishing food and supporting food literacy? Do you enjoy connecting with people and are task driven?
Apply today to become our next Engagement Coordinator!
Chef Collaboration
Seared scallop dish from Hawksworth Restaurant.
Join Hawksworth Restaurant on Sunday, July 14th, for an exquisite dining experience as they welcome renowned Canadian chef, Jonathan Gushue, for an exclusive collaboration dinner. This exceptional event will showcase the culinary mastery of chefs David Hawksworth, Jonathan Gushue, Sylvain Assie, and Marissa Gonzalez.
A percentage of the evening's proceeds will be donated to Growing Chefs.
Thank you for supporting Growing Chefs this school year! We look forward to connecting in the fall, until then, we hope you enjoy the sunshine and delicious summer harvest.