Food industry leaders bloom at new Global Kitchen for Social Change

From: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

News release

The Government of Canada invests in new commercial community-use kitchen, supporting Canada’s next food industry leaders

August 25, 2020 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – ACOA

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of a safe, sustainable food supply for all Canadians. The Government of Canada is committed to giving businesses and communities the tools they need to be part of the economic recovery and emerge stronger than before. Innovation and supporting the future of the industry is essential to making this a reality for agenerations to come. This is why the government is working closely with community-based producers and organizations, such as Hope Blooms, that will not only make our food supply strong and sustainable, but also create entrepreneurial opportunities for youth in the agri-food sector.

Hope Blooms is a social enterprise that engages youth in socio-economically challenged areas of Halifax. It offers safety support networks, social innovation, and agri-food based social entrepreneurship opportunities to youth by helping them grow a variety of herbs, which they use to produce and sell dressings and teas. This positive environment has long-lasting impacts on youth and helps them break the cycle of poverty.

Federal support to the Global Kitchen for Social Change

Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, today announced a non-repayable contribution of $250,000 to Hope Blooms towards its Global Kitchen for Social Change.

The new 3,000 square-foot commercial community kitchen will complement the existing Hope Blooms garden and greenhouse, which are well established in the Halifax area. The new building will provide youth with the resources and space they need to create their agri-food social enterprise initiatives as well as enable Hope Blooms to diversify its product offerings, build new sales relationships and identify new innovative sales approaches. Newcomers and community members who have started their own food-related social enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures will also have access to the kitchen.

Today’s announcement is further proof of the Government of Canada’s commitment to Canada’s food and beverage-based businesses – helping them not just survive, but thrive. Initiatives like this one will help Canadians develop the skills they need to ensure that the food sector continues to play a major role in Canada’s economic prosperity for years to come.

Quotes

“The food and beverage sector is a crucial part of Atlantic Canada’s economy, supporting thousands of good jobs and creating opportunities across the region. This important investment from ACOA will help Hope Blooms and its clients not just survive, but thrive. Our message to them is clear: we’ve been here for you with immediate measures, we’re here for you as our economy reopens and we’ll get through this, together. We’re working with you to support good, local jobs and help Atlantic Canada’s economy come back strong.”

-        The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA

“Hope Blooms truly represents the heart of Halifax communities. Jessie Jollymore and her team of aspirational youth leaders have worked hard to produce great-tasting, sustainable products in an ethical and socially responsible way. By partnering with Hope Blooms, the Government of Canada is taking steps to ensure we have well-prepared, young food industry entrepreneurs while helping them break down some of the barriers they face growing up in high-risk communities – letting their ideas and abilities shine and helping them achieve their dreams. To quote a Hope Blooms graduate, ‘Beauty and brilliance do not know a postal code’.”

-      Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax

“Through Hope Blooms, we have experienced that with an empowered and supportive environment, youth can be their own agents of change. Our new global kitchen for social change will give youth from diverse ethnicities the resources and space to create social enterprises while empowering them to envision their own future careers – all while giving back to their community.”

-         Jessie Jollymore, Executive Director, Hope Blooms

"Our motto is "when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." I have experienced this so much in my 10 years at Hope Blooms; from learning to grow food to giving back to the community and growing a social business from the ground up at 11 years of age. I have seen first-hand how my actions can positively impact myself and my community around me."

-        Kolade Kolawole-Boboye, Youth Leader, Hope Blooms 

Quick facts

  • This project will help Hope Blooms youth, who received United Nations (UN) recognition last year, measure their outcomes as 2019 UN Ambassadors for teaching Sustainable Development Goals

  • Four Hope Blooms youth have received their Organic Master Gardener Certification, the youngest in Canada to receive this credit

  • Currently, 12 Hope Blooms graduates are undertaking university or college degrees and 10 youth are on track to attend post-secondary school next year – all of which are the first in their families to reach this level of education.

  • Hope Blooms youth hold and participate in food literacy and cooking skills training workshops, monthly community suppers and free soup deliveries to seniors in the community, prepared from produce grown in the Hope Blooms gardens.

  • The funding announced today is provided through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development and facilitates economic innovation.

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Contacts

Stay Connected

·        To find out more about our programs and services, please visit the ACOA website

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Contacts

Alexander Cohen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic
Development and Official Languages
alexander.cohen@canada.ca

Lori Selig
A/Communications Director, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-266-7477
lori.selig@canada.ca

Jessie Jollymore
Executive Director
Hope Blooms Youth Social Entrepreneurship Ventures Inc.
902-405-2830
jessiejollymore@gmail.com

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