Iqaluit food centre gets funding boost for expansion, renovation
Total cost of two-year project is just over $1M
Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre in Iqaluit has received funding to cover the cost of its two-year renovation and expansion program. (Photo by Livete Ataguyuk)
Updated Feb. 7 at 3 p.m.
An Iqaluit food centre received some welcome funding assistance this week.
The federal government has committed $235,000 through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency toward Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre’s two-year plan to transform part of its facility into a bulk food and dry goods store open to all Iqaluit residents.
The announcement was made Tuesday by federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal. Citibank Foundation Canada is also providing $670,000 in funding to the centre.
“This new space will include food options that can be purchased on a pay-what-you-can scale” to support people in need in Iqaluit, Vandal said in a news release.
“It will also support [the food centre’s] existing food programs and will improve access to good, nutritious food for all residents.”
The food centre’s co-executive director Rachel Blais said in the release that it’s “thrilled to open a new affordable bulk and country food store in Iqaluit.
“This initiative aims to expand access to nutritious food choices for all Iqalummiut, regardless of their income levels.”
Citibank Canada CEO John Hastings said the foundation’s contribution comes from the bank’s US$50-million “effort to improve food security around the world.”
Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre will spend $100,000 of its own money on the renovation and expansion project while Nunavut’s Department of Culture and Heritage is providing another $25,000, according to the release.
Note: This article was updated from an earlier version that incorrectly referred to Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre as a food bank.
Free hand outs for life if u live or come to Nunavut 😂
Why are you laughing at your own ignorant comment? Poverty isn’t a joke. It’s called a hand up, not a hand out.
Thank goodness for compassion!
How are you complaining about “free handouts” in an article about the opening of a new store?
.
Did you even try reading things before trying to make your bad jokes?
I’m not sure if you know this, there are thousands of food banks and soup kitchens across Canada, receiving ‘hand outs’ not only in Nunavut
How come we can’t get this in the other smaller community? Food is more expensive they iqaluit
Your Right You’re Communities Should Be Considered Equal To Any Other In North America.
Communities need to put in the applications and apply and come together in order to see successful and self sustainable programs like this in their own community. It’s possible! There is even an office to help get you started to start your own non-profit soup kitchen in your community. The only difference between Iqaluit and other communities is number of people and the different levels of capacity to start and sustainably run projects and effectively communicate and report back to funders. honestly its not like Iqaluit just gets handed these programs it’s actual people that are doing the work, we can all do it just need to find the right people to talk to.
Nunavut Association of Non-Profit Organizations
PO BOX 119
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0
info@nanpo.ca
867-979-0448
https://www.nanpo.ca/
Old Timer, It takes a community to create these things and make them happen. Like the Food Centre in Iqaluit, if you want this in your community geta group of people in your community together and start working together to make this happen. It was not handed to Iqaluit. A community group started this, and it has grown into what it is today. It is a lot of work, and a lot of effort. But you could have this in your community too if you work for it. There are no free hand outs. It take a lot of work.
GIMMMEE GIMMMMMEEE GIMMMMEEEE More free monies from our taxes that won’t be appreciated by those who cry poverty.
What’s your phone number? We can post it at the food centre and have everyone call you to thank you for “your” tax dollars and appreciate it.
Poverty Is A Fact In The Northern Communities.
Tax dollars that all you care about, how is it really impacting your life, are you struggling that you have to use the service that the article is about? People also donate food, and time to the food program. Maybe you should volunteer and tell them thank me the tax payer that makes it possible.
This is great news! Good to see a place to shop in bulk.
The only crying I see is coming from you
Getting food to the Arctic is an expensive proposition, both labour and freight costs. Maybe I’m missing something, but how will this addition be replenished? Through donations? A combination of sales and donations? Fed money? Sometimes Nunatsiaq articles leave you with more questions than answers.
There are even some good people from southern parts of canada donating food and clothing for families up north.