METRO and Food Banks of Quebec unveil the second kitchen of METRO’s Shared Kitchens network

BOISBRIAND, March 24, 2025 - METRO, in collaboration with its long-time partner Food Banks of Quebec, is pleased to announce the unveiling of the second kitchen in the METRO’s Shared Kitchen network, within the organism Service d’entraide Le Relais in Boisbriand.

Thanks to this new METRO’s Shared Kitchen, Le Relais will be able to accommodate other organisations and groups to offer culinary education workshops or collective kitchen groups. This new installation will limit food waste, promote access to healthy, nutritious food through innovative various programs, create a sense of belonging within communities and provide a resource for those feeling isolated.

"We are very enthusiastic about starting a brand-new workshop program in our new premises. The improvement of our kitchen space marks the beginning of a valuable collaboration with local organizations that work with the citizens of Boisbriand. Gathering in our METRO Shared Kitchen will promote the creation of a supportive community where everyone contributes to the well-being and individual growth," says Véronique Bouchard, General Manager, Le Relais, Boisbriand.

“Our goal was to develop a program that concretely responds to local needs. METRO’s Shared Kitchen enabling organisations working to combat food insecurity to receive funding so they can build collective gathering places where different community groups can come together. We are very proud of our collaboration with Food Banks of Quebec in creating a tangible project for their food banks, allowing us to create a legacy in the communities where we operate, and bring to life METRO’s purpose to nourish the health and well-being of our communities,” says Marie-Claude Bacon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, METRO.

Meeting the needs of the community sector

Sharing facilities, personnel and material resources, as well as funding to build new professional kitchen infrastructures dedicated to different types of educational cooking programs will able the community organisations to better meet their needs.

“We know that the lack of resources and infrastructure remains an obstacle to the development of this type of program for our members. The funding will have a major impact in the affected communities, as organizations will now be able to do more for their beneficiaries. The enthusiasm shown by our network demonstrates the need for these types of facilities in Quebec,” says Martin Munger, Executive Director, Food Banks of Quebec.

The second edition of METRO’s Shared Kitchens is already underway, with the call for projects now open to the province's BAQ network. The call for project proposals ends on March 31. The selected beneficiaries will be announced in the summer.