METRO launches the first METRO Shared Kitchen in Montérégie

Longueuil, June 1, 2026 — METRO, in collaboration with its long-standing partner Food Banks of Quebec, is proud to announce the opening of the ninth kitchen in the METRO Shared Kitchens network in Quebec. Operated by the organization Initium, this facility is the first in the network in Montérégie.

Located in Longueuil, this METRO Shared Kitchen aims to support the development of community mental health services through the collective kitchen project Pas plus fou qu’un autre!. This initiative will offer educational and interactive cooking workshops in a safe and inclusive environment, where participants, guided by a qualified facilitator, will learn to plan and prepare simple, nutritious meals. The project will help meet essential food needs, strengthen autonomy, reduce social isolation, and promote social reintegration.

“Thanks to METRO’s support, the Pas plus fou qu’un autre! collective kitchen will help meet essential needs while fostering social inclusion, mutual support, and the well-being of the people we support on a daily basis”, said Mélanie Lajeunesse, Executive Director of Initium.

METRO is investing nearly three million dollars in the first two editions of METRO Shared Kitchens, including more than $79,000 for the installation and operation of the kitchen at Initium.

“We made sure to develop a project that genuinely responds to the needs of the community. We are very proud of this tangible initiative, which allows us to create a lasting legacy in the communities where we operate and brings our purpose to life: Nourishing the health and well being of our communities,” said Marie Claude Bacon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, METRO.

Meeting the needs of the community sector
The sharing of space, human resources, and equipment among organizations, as well as funding to build new professional kitchen facilities dedicated to various types of culinary programs, enables community sector organizations 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 third edition of METRO’s Shared Kitchens is already underway. The selected beneficiary organizations will be announced in the coming weeks.