Iqaluit's soup kitchen gets new name, outlook

The Iqaluit Soup Kitchen is getting a new name, a new outlook and some new programs, in the hopes of helping residents in Nunavut's capital help themselves.

The Quyuqtivik Society, which runs the soup kitchen, is changing its name to the Iqaluit Food Centre.

The society wants to get more use out of the building besides just serving one meal a day, said Wade Thorhaug, the society's secretary.

"We've always been aware that the soup kitchen model is an ineffective Band-Aid solution," he said.What we want to do is move towards capacity building, skills building and give people the capacity to make great food for themselves."

He says there are plans for cooking classes, guest lecturers on food security and community kitchens.

"These kitchens where you can, where people would get together, bring in some ingredients, cook some food together. And then take what they made home with them. It's just a way for people to get together to exchange skills and have some fun together."

The goal is to make the food centre a place for the whole community, not just the disenfranchised, said Thorhaug.

He said the society is also in desperate need of board members.