In fall 2023 Ancoura was excited to receive funding from Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund to conduct a community kitchen project for Ancoura residents. And then in the spring of 2024 we received a second grant from Employment and Social Development Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program that enabled us to continue the community kitchen classes with a particular focus on “seniors helping seniors,” removing barriers to aging in place, and improving long-term physical health in a sustainable way.
Classes took place from November 2024 to March 2025 at St. Basil’s Church and the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. Both programs offered residents opportunities to learn and practice daily strategies for budget management and food shopping, and to improve their cooking skills and knowledge of nutrition. At the same time, classes reinforced self-confidence, autonomy, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. Everyone had input to favourite recipes and a turn at prep work. As well, participants got to connect socially every session, building relationships while preparing and enjoying a meal—complete with leftovers, cooking utensils, spices and other goodies to bring home!
During the second phase, we included volunteers and residents aged 50+ and involved a nutritionist. She demonstrated how simple adaptations could transform favourite recipes into healthy and nutritious meals that help to combat illnesses commonly associated with aging—such as hypertension, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes and liver disease.
High points included a resident who was emboldened to contribute to the Thanksgiving celebration typically prepared by her housemates and baked an apple pie; another learned to broaden his culinary tastes; another expanded the group by frequently bringing a friend. One of our recent residents got to experience the joy of cooking for the first time in several years and prepared a meal alongside his new house mates. The broader Ancoura community also got to enjoy samples of the group’s cooking skills at our November Annual General Meeting, December Holiday Party and February Mid-Winter Celebration—featuring healthy appetizers and an amazing banana cake!
As a crowning touch, Ancoura’s Jayne Rooney applied her publishing experience and artistic skills to compile a colourful cookbook of recipes with tips adapted for this project. Cookbooks are being distributed not only to participants but to all residents. Special orders accepted!
Our community kitchen projects were modeled after an initiative called Cuisinons Ensemble provided by Le Mûrier in Montreal and further informed by research done by the North Bay and Parry Sound District Health Unit.
Ancoura sends much gratitude to the following:
- Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund
- Employment and Social Development Canada New Horizons for Seniors Program
- Janet Moss, proprietor of Cafe Deluxe, who makes cooking fun, practical, and tasty. Janet provided ingredients and prepared “goodie bags” of condiments, and gifted essential kitchen tools to participants.
- Suzanne Schaller, holistic nutritionist and enthusiastic home cook who demonstrated healthy recipes and contributed health tips to the class’s cookbook.
- Virginia Hodgson, MSW, RSW, Ancoura’s Resident Support Manager who contributed to everything from grocery shopping to leading classes to transporting residents.
- Jayne Rooney, Ancoura’s Office Administrator, whose resourcefulness and driving force enabled us to complete these projects on time and within budget!
- South Nepean Community Health Centre for its generosity and staff support.
- St. Basil’s Church and the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa for their constant support and the use of their facilities.
- Columbus Club, Council 485 for its unwavering generosity.
A big thanks to participating residents as well— for their enthusiasm and willingness to showcase their achievements. You make it all worthwhile.
