Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC) in Iqaluit has won the $100,000 iA Financial Group philanthropic contest for the Northern/Atlantic Canada region.
In addition, QCFC was awarded another $5,000 for the Coup de Coeur Award from the staff at iA Financial Group.
The award is based on an online voting system, held in November, and is for an organization whose employees demonstrate exceptional performance.
QCFC will use these funds in direct support for food access programming in Nunavut's capital, especially relating to country food and food sovereignty.
Typically, the organization serves between 350-500 meals a day, but also has a number of other programs that focus on country food, including a country food and bulk store set to open in the coming weeks; hiring and buying from local and regional hunters; hosting butchering and other food skills workshops; and creating opportunities for inter-generational exchanges aimed at keeping cultural food practices thriving.
“We are grateful for iA’s support for Qajuqturvik’s mission," said Joseph Murdoch-Flowers and Francine Doucet, QCFC’s co-executive directors. "The financial award is a welcome contribution to our activities. Further, it delivers a bold statement about the importance of addressing food security and cost of living issues along with reconciliation efforts supporting a thriving Inuit food economy,”
