Nanaimo Community Kitchens promotes food security by offering accessible, hands-on cooking programs that build skills, share knowledge, foster friendships, and support confidence in the kitchen.
Programs & Workshops Overview
Cooking Skills and Nutrition Workshops
We provide hands-on workshops that break down essential culinary skills in a way that actually feels approachable and fun.
Growing Healthy Families Cooking Club
An 8-week program that supports pregnant individuals and parents of young children to build confidence in cooking healthy, affordable meals while connecting with others in a supportive environment.
Youth Food Education
Interactive school and community-based programs empowering younger generations with food literacy, kitchen skills, and healthy habits.
Get Involved
Volunteer Roles
Nanaimo Community Kitchens is a volunteer-driven organization defined by the shared time and skills of our community members.
Cultivate & Cook
Help grow food for our cooking programs at Park Ave Farm. We have 4 rows of growing space for our programs. The farm is managed by Nanaimo Foodshare and owned by the City Of Nanaimo.
Events & Outreach
Informational support at community events helps share program details, run actvities for children and connect people with community resources.
Volunteer Requirments
- A minimum 3 month commitment
- Background safety clearance
- Initial orientation
Please email Heidi at: ed@nanamocommunitykitchens.org to find out more about our volunteer opportunities.
Cooking Education
Workshops focused on creative and affordable meals utilizing fresh, seasonal ingredients are supported by site helpers.
School Settings
School-based workshops involve collaborative support between facilitators and site representatives for student engagement.
Growing Healthy Families Cooking Club
Supportive cooking sessions for families and expectant parents are supported by a program facilitator and volunteers who maintain an inclusive space.
Hands-On Education in Action
In our elementary school cooking workshops, students learn mise en place (everything in its place), basic knife skills, food safety, and how to think like a chef by building flavour with nutritious ingredients. They also clean and reset their workspace as an important part of the cooking process.