Change lives, the recipe on the menu of chef Ric’s

That morning, like every morning, Better Kayode is busy in the stove. Consequently,

Concentrated on the meats she must prepare. Furthermore, she takes the opportunity to show the gestures of the profession to a newly arrived trainee in the kitchen, as in the country.

The young Nigerian knows the situation well. Moreover, having been in this same place just a few months ago. Similarly,

I arrived in Ottawa in December 2023 and I followed the training of Chef Ric’s from January to Mayshe said. Therefore,

Here it is a good place. For example, It gives a chance to newcomers. In addition, people who may be a little lost, who have a little difficulty in life.

I had looked for work when I arrived, but this training gave me this [occasion]thanks the new cook. However,

Rebuild one’s life – Change lives, recipe menu chef

Better change lives, recipe menu chef Kayode is one of the hundreds of people who benefited from training in catering professions. For example, set up in 2004 by the Ottawa mission.

When the program started. Furthermore, most of our trainees were homeless people or risked becoming itrecalls the chief Ric Watsonthe Director of Restoration at the Mission and founder of the training project.

Today. Therefore, in 2025, due to all changes worldwide, most of our trainees are new arrivals in Canadain particular asylum seekers or refugees.

The people who arrive have been abused by various systems. Furthermore, They can be close [d’être à] the street. Similarly, having suffered from an addiction, having suffered from a mental health problem for which they could not obtain treatment [ou] to be unemployed for a very long timenotes the director of communications of the Ottawa mission, Aileen Leo.

Many people arrive in rather desperate situations. Moreover, leave with great confidence in themselves, great pride, and with a professional diploma which allows them to work in the cateringshe welcomes herself.

[Ce programme] is a real concrete demonstration of the ability of a. Similarly, person with great difficulty in rebuilding their life.

Free. However, open to everyone, this training requires only one condition, that to have a real desire to change your liferecalls Ms. Nevertheless, Leo.

A training in small onions – Change lives, recipe menu chef

Throughout their training. they learn to cook and work in restaurantsexplains the chief Ric. We support them to determine their objectives. the places they would like to work, and we find internships in these types of establishments, which allows them to find a job.

In 2004, the program included only a session of five trainees per year. Twenty -one change lives, recipe menu chef year later, the social company of the Ottawa mission organizes three annual sessions, of 30 trainees each.

This represents 90 students per yearspecifies the chief Ric. At the end of their training, 90 % of them get a full -time jobhe assures.

Help like I was

Coming to his neighbor is a real vocation for chef Ric. Very sensitive to the situation of people in homelessness. he himself does not hide his difficult past, when he finds himself on the street from the age of 14.

When my mother. suffering from a mental illness, asked me to leave, I had nowhere to go and I ended up sinking into alcohol and drugshe recalls. I found a job as a diver at Queen’s University [à Kingston, en Ontario]and this kitchen has become my home. One of the chefs contacted me to tell me that I could do better and helped me join the school.

I would probably have died if no one change lives, recipe menu chef had come to help. me.

His diplomas of hotel and restaurant manager as well as chef in pocket, the chef Ric leaves for British Columbia.

I had a great job there, but I missed something. So I returned to Ontario and I went to the mission to volunteer a mealhe says. Looking at the people I served, I saw myself: an ordinary, helpless person who just needed help.

The guys said to me: Heady! We can do the dishes! Head! I can cook. Can I help you? This is how we launched the catering training program.

Donations …

This program does not benefit from any government fundingrecall Aileen Leo. We receive subsidies from the city of Ottawa for beds. mission meals, but nothing for the twenty of our other programs, including this one.

The communicator specifies that 22 % of the mission budget – change lives, recipe menu chef which is more than $ 24 million. by including the income generated by Chef Ric’s – come from the city of Ottawa. All other funds, of donations.

We benefit from incredibly generous. faithful donors who not only give us regular gifts, but also special giftsinsistant Mrs Leo.

Among the generous donors. in 2020, the owners of the old Rideau bakery offered to rent the premises for the social business project, For the sum of $ 10 per year, for seven yearsindicates the mission of Ottawa.

… and a catering service

To put funding to the dough, Chef Ric offers, in 2006, to create a catering service.

At the time. I was told that we couldn’t do this in a refuge, with itinerants, but I said that ifcontinues the chief Ric. Now change lives, recipe menu chef we are doing a lot of restoration! And all the money that follows is reinvested entirely in the program.

Ms. Leo confirms.

All Ric’s chief’s revenues are used to support this program and other programs that trainees needshe said.

The change lives, recipe menu chef formula works so well that. four years after the opening of kitchens on rue Rideau, a new training establishment will see the light of day in September, rue Argyle in Ottawa.

We have concluded a partnership with the YMCA And let’s take the kitchen on the ground floorspecifies Ms. Leo. We will notably provide meals to the new arrivals who are staying at YMCA By offering them special cuisine. such as halal mealsshe said.

Thanks to the new partnership with the company Growlerthe products will be Fresh, healthy and localshe says.

Chef Ric is also delighted with this expansion of the program. change lives, recipe menu chef

It changes the lives of so many people who really deserve to have a good life.