By Ivan Watson

For the Saanich B次元官网网址

On any given day, the professional production kitchen at Interurban campus is a vibrant hub of students and instructors preparing fresh and healthy food from scratch. With the sizzle of frying pans and the gleam of stainless steel counter tops, the kitchen is a top-notch Red Seal-certified facility for learning the essentials of professional cooking.

B次元官网网址淚 think people are always impressed when they come into our facility,B次元官网网址� says Culinary Arts chair Steve Walker-Duncan, who has spearheaded a 24-month partnership with Soup Sisters Victoria to produce fresh and healthy soups for the . B次元官网网址淭he community doesnB次元官网网址檛 normally get to see this kind of training facility from the inside. By working with the Soup Sisters charity weB次元官网网址檙e reaching out and inviting the community into the community college.B次元官网网址�

The first of the new series of monthly events on Jan. 24 was a huge success, as members of Harbourside Rotary Club each provided the money to cover the costs of ingredients, rolled up their sleeves in the kitchen and collectively produced 77 litres of healthy and hearty soup. The soup was delivered fresh that same night to the Victoria WomanB次元官网网址檚 Transition House and immediately frozen to provide a monthB次元官网网址檚 worth of nourishing soup for their clients. The Soup Sisters refers to this approach as a B次元官网网址渉ug in a bowl.B次元官网网址�

At the first event of the Camosun partnership, participants produced a variety of delicious soup flavours including cabbage roll with beef, chicken tortilla, Moroccan lentil, and apple, parsnip and brie. B次元官网网址淔ood connects us all,B次元官网网址� says Walker-Duncan. B次元官网网址淲hen people come together and sit around a table and break bread and enjoy food together, they break down all sorts of barriers.B次元官网网址�

Promoting healthy and violence-free relationships is a core value of the Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Transition House and food plays a vital role in that. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people when they arrive at our crisis shelter are not ready to start making full meals, and they are looking for comfort food and something that can be heated up and accessed easily,B次元官网网址� says Carol Bilson, Victoria Transition House community education and volunteer co-ordinator. B次元官网网址淭he soups are the perfect comfort food. Having a bowl of soup and being safe is a great feeling. This is a really great collaboration for us.B次元官网网址�

Soup Sisters volunteer Christie Ulmer agrees and invites individuals, community and corporate groups to sign up for an upcoming session. B次元官网网址淔or anyone thinking of participating, I would say that youB次元官网网址檒l be doing great work that goes directly to benefit your community and the soup that you make goes directly to the women and children at Transition House. The message they receive is that they are not forgotten at this time of crisis in their lives and that the community cares.B次元官网网址� The events are lively, fun and hands-on. B次元官网网址淲e welcome both individuals and groups. This is the perfect team-building evening for organizations and great for a group of friends. You get to have fun with your friends or colleagues, support a great cause and maybe even learn some new skills in the kitchen. How often do you get to participate in something special like that?B次元官网网址�

Since 1975 Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Transition House has provided a safe and welcoming emergency shelter, respectful counselling and helpful services for women of all ages, with and without children, fleeing domestic abuse. They offer an 18-bed shelter, 24-hour Crisis and Information Line as well as counselling and support programs for women, unique programs for older women, and specialized programs for children who witness abuse.

Soup Sisters was founded in 2009 in Calgary and currently has chapters in major cities around Canada and the U.S. In Victoria, the group charges a $55 participation fee per person to cover the expenses of ingredients for the soups, the venue, supervision, and chef support. This ensures that the finest ingredients possible are used every time for the soups provided to women, children and youth. Events are social evenings with lively conversation, chopping, laughter and warm kitchen camaraderie that culminate in a simple, sit-down supper of soup, salad, bread and wine for all participants. Each event produces approximately 150-250 servings of fresh soup that sustains Transition House with nourishing and nurturing soup each month.

For more information or to book a soup making event, visit the Soup Sisters Victoria website at or email: victoria@soupsisters.org.