Food
We elevate and celebrate Canada’s culinary talent
- Over 100 of Canada’s best chefs are seen in front of the city’s business community annually and have the opportunity to challenge themselves in the competition
- The Next Generation is mentored - With our longevity comes unique opportunities for mentorship. For instance, Charles Part, the Ottawa gold winner in 2008, mentored Chef Yannick LaSalle to become the Canadian Culinary Champion over a decade later.
- The Next Generation is inspired - In 2009, Chef Rupert Garcia was a culinary student and he saw Chef Hayato Okamistu from Calgary win the national title. His dream, to one day win a gold medal and have a chance to compete at the Canadian Culinary Championship. Well this year he did, he won the Calgary competition in 2023 and was second place at the Canadia Culinary Championship.
We elevate and celebrate Canada's wine, beer and spirit industry
- As the largest exposition of Canadian wines, over 200 wineries, local breweries and spirit companies are seen in front of the city’s business community annually
We believe healthy food should be accessible to all Canadians
Food insecurity is a reality for many Canadian families and that's not right. We envision a Canada with healthy, just and sustainable food practices, and have chosen to support grassroots food organizations which are addressing food insecurity for youth in each city we stage an event.
Food Beneficiaries
An estimated 4.4 million Canadians are food insecure, including more than 1.2 million children.
Each of our chosen food beneficiaries touches this population and is as unique as this vast country. Some are:
- connecting chefs with kids, sharing knowledge about growing and preparing meals
- equipping kids with the powerful knowledge that they can grow food themselves – anywhere
- family programs that encourage families with kids to build connections and skills in the garden and the kitchen
- youth leadership programs that allow teenagers to learn about gardening, cooking and connecting with their community
- providing healthy meal programs for children and teens
We are supporting the great work of the following organizations:
Vancouver: Fresh Roots
Okanagan: Child Advocacy Centre
Edmonton: e4c Alberta
Calgary: Community Kitchen Calgary
Saskatoon: CHEP
Ottawa: ONFE – Ottawa Network for Education – School Breakfast Program
Toronto: Food Share
St. John’s: School Lunch Association
CCC Ottawa: ONFE and Boys and Girls Club Ottawa
Fresh Roots is honoured and delighted to be the charitable partner for the 2023 Canada's Great Kitchen Party in Vancouver. As a non-profit organization that works to cultivate engaging schoolyard farms and programs that catalyze healthy eating, ecological stewardship, and community celebration, this event aligns perfectly! We love that this event brings people together to celebrate Canadian culture and culinary excellence while supporting youth.
Alexa Pitoulis, Fresh Roots Executive Director
Sport
We celebrate those who
are leveling the playing field
for youth sport and play opportunities
Spirit North
Play Changes Lives.
Spirit North is a national organization using sport and play to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous youth, empowering them to become unstoppable in sport, school, and life.
Together with communities, Spirit North co-creates sport and play programs designed to help youth find the courage to take on any challenge, develop leadership skills, improve their health and wellness, and unlock their limitless potential.
Sometimes You Have To Go Outside To Discover What’s Inside.
We know that having a meaningful connection to the land is pivotal, and regular access to sport and land-based activity has the ability to improve physical, mental and community health.
We've seen the transformative power of Spirit North programs – youth becoming leaders, achieving academic success, and becoming vibrant, engaged members of their communities.
The children in the program were impacted in so many positive ways. It gave them a sense of belonging and confidence and they got to feel what it's like to succeed. Now they’re eager to try new things and not as afraid of failing.
Jackie McKenzie, Principal, Moricetown Elementary School, Witset First Nation
Where Confidence Knows No Bounds.
Spirit North programs are co-created and delivered in partnership with communities. In this way, programs reflect each community’s unique values, goals and strengths while respecting local knowledge, experience, and culture.
Together with communities we certify and employ community members as program leaders, support equipment ownership, host unique family and community engagement events, and provide trail building expertise and support.
Challenge Accepted
Spirit North programs are delivered to Indigenous youth in their own communities, overcoming common barriers to participation like geographic isolation and socio-economic limitations.
In the 2022-2023 season, over 13,000 Indigenous youth across western Canada, in 102 communities and 182 schools took part in Spirit North programs – and we’re just getting started.
Music
We celebrate Canadian
music and create
unforgettable moments
for guests
by featuring Canadian musicians at events and on trips.
MusiCounts
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, believes music adds possibilities.
The children and youth who could most benefit from the transformational power of music are the ones that are least likely to have access to it. MusiCounts works to make music education accessible, sustainable, and inclusive.
MusiCounts and Kitchen Party share the belief that through music, children and youth can unlock their potential, explore their creativity, and create strong social bonds. The sad reality is, consistent underfunding of music programming means many kids don't have access to this powerful resource.
Of the schools that seek MusiCounts' help, 60% report having an annual music program budget of less than $500. For many schools, their budget is $0. This means a grant from MusiCounts can represent forty years of funding at once, which can have a transformational effect on how kids experience music at school.
Want to see that impact in action? Hear from a teacher who has revitalized the music classroom in a high-needs community thanks to Canada’s Great Kitchen Party.
"With an instrument, I’m able to go to my happy place and release my feelings through music.".
Johnny, student at Cormorant Lake School, Manitoba
To date, over $1.2 million has been raised for MusiCounts by Kitchen Party. We are one of their top contributors and thousands of children now have music in their lives. The following 87 schools will have received grants up to $20,000 and in the spring of 2024 we will find out about another 25 schools across Canada which will receive instruments for their unique music programs (for a total of 112). If the average school has 400 students, that is a total of 44,800 who now have music in their lives. School instruments have a 10-15 year lifespan, so now the impact is felt by over 500,000 students!
To date, over 1.2 million has been raised for MusiCounts by Kitchen Party. We are one of their top contributors and thousands of children now have music in their lives. The following 87 schools will have received grants up to $20,000 and in the spring of 2024 we will find out about another 29 schools across Canada which will receive instruments for their unique music programs (for a total of 116). If the average school has 400 students, that is a total of 46,400 who now have music in their lives. The instruments have a ten-year lifespan so now the impact is felt by 460,000 students!