Helping Peter McKee Community Food Centre Promote Healthier Food Choices

Food Depot Alimentaire is receiving a $150,000 grant from the Medavie Health Foundation to help the Peter McKee Community Food Centre provide a community-based approach to healthy eating in an effort to prevent longer term chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.

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The funding will support the centre’s community teaching kitchen – to be named the Medavie Community Kitchen – in educating individuals and families on food skills that will positively impact their food choices and eating behaviours, both of which contribute to healthy eating and chronic disease prevention. The kitchen will also serve as an engaging space where citizens and community partners can work together to inspire change and empower others.

Quick Facts

  • Food insecurity is a condition where people lack reliable access to food that provides the energy and nutrients they need to live a healthy, active life. Just over 10 percent of New Brunswick residents live in ‘moderately’ or ‘severely’ food insecure households.*
  • Research shows that people who experience food insecurity also tend to report poor or fair health; poor functional health/inability to perform key activities due to health problems; long-term physical and/or mental disabilities that limit activity at home, work or school; multiple chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes; major depression; and a perceived lack of social support.*

“The goals of the Peter McKee Community Food Centre align with the Foundation’s support of programs that help people live their best lives. Improving access to healthy food choices and teaching people practical, hands-on skills that promote healthy eating will help reduce risk factors for chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. We look forward to seeing the teaching kitchen and the centre become a vital part of our community.”

Bernard Lord, CEO, Medavie

“We are thrilled to receive the generous support of the Medavie Health Foundation as we undertake phase four of the Peter McKee Community Food Centre. The teaching kitchen will serve to complement our Community Garden as a much-needed resource for individuals and families to not only have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, but to learn how to properly handle and prepare nutritious foods. We look forward to working together with the Foundation to provide and promote healthier food choices in our region.”

Dale Hicks, President, Food Depot Alimentaire

Our Mission is to Improve the Wellbeing of Canadians.

Medavie is a health company that oversees Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie Health Services. Together, we’re bringing Canadians better health and access to care.