10 Years of Efforts to Promote healthy eating in Quebec

A story that began long before 2016

As early as the 2000s, community organizations joined forces around a shared conviction: every child should have access to nutritious food. This movement gave rise to the collective La Table des écoliers, which laid the groundwork for what would later become The Cafeteria for Everyone.

Over the years, the vision has expanded to address broader issues of food security, dignity, and solidarity. Driven by collaboration, innovation, and the commitment of numerous stakeholders across Quebec, the project has grown and evolved into a collective with a lasting impact.

These years of collaboration have shaped the organization we are celebrating today: a movement rooted in communities, focused on the future, and united by a shared commitment to better nutrition.

Let's look back at the history together

2016

After several years of citizen and community activism focused on food issues, the collective officially adopted the name La Cantine pour tous. This new identity marks the beginning of an organization structured around a clear mission: to make high-quality food accessible to as many people as possible, through a sustainable and solidarity-based approach.

That same year, a partnership with the Chantier de l’économie sociale helped support the initiative’s development and rollout, strengthening its roots in Quebec’s social economy ecosystem.

2017

The scope of La Cantine pour tous’s work is gradually expanding beyond the school setting. A pre-feasibility study is being conducted to explore food solutions tailored to older adults, particularly through meal delivery services and community kitchens.

This initiative highlights important issues related to food insecurity, malnutrition, and social isolation among older adults. It also helps identify the potential of collective and solidarity-based approaches to better meet the needs of communities.

2018

With the provincial elections approaching, several Montreal organizations are joining forces with La Cantine pour tous to raise awareness among the public and policymakers about the importance of healthy school meals that are accessible to all children.

This mobilization helped give rise to a structured movement—first in Quebec and then across Canada—centered on universal school meals and children’s right to healthy food at school: the Coalition for Healthy School Meals. Today, this Canada-wide coalition continues to play a role in promoting a universal school meal model.

2019

This year marks a major turning point with the launch of the “La Cantine” program in three pilot schools in Montreal and Quebec City. To support this rollout, the organization is building a unique digital platform for families and the organizations that prepare the meals.

That same year, the MutuAli project was launched thanks to the Smart Cities Challenge, which the City of Montreal won. Designed as a platform for pooling food resources, the initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of kitchens, equipment, storage spaces, and vehicles among stakeholders in the food sector.

As part of the federal election campaign, La Cantine pour tous is also meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to bring issues related to school meals to the national stage.

2020

When the pandemic hit Quebec, La Cantine pour tous quickly adapted its operations to meet urgent needs on the ground. In particular, the organization coordinated the distribution of lunch bags to shelters for homeless people in Montreal.

This period also marks an important milestone for the “La Cantine dans les écoles” program, which has received its first round of funding from the Quebec Ministry of Education to support its expansion into a growing number of schools. As it begins its second school year, the “La Cantine dans les écoles” program is now operating in 15 schools.

2021

Building on the expertise it has developed over the years, the organization is launching the “La Cantine at Home” program, designed to make it easier for seniors and vulnerable populations to access affordable, tailored meals.

This new program further expands the social impact of La Cantine pour tous and reaffirms its commitment to making a difference at various stages of life.

2022

This year marks an important milestone for the collective, with the first conference for members of La Cantine pour tous. This event will subsequently become an annual highlight, bringing the network together to share lessons learned and foster a shared vision.

La Cantine pour tous has also seen its commitment recognized by winning a DUX Grand Prix in the “Coup de cœur” category, an award that highlights the relevance and impact of its approach.

The “La Cantine” program in schools continues to grow. Now in its third year of operation, it is active in 40 schools and serves nearly 15,000 children. “La Cantine pour tous” is also participating in the launch of the PASUQ initiative, further strengthening its contribution to the collective discussion on school meals in Quebec.

2023

The initiative continues to grow throughout Quebec. The “La Cantine” program in schools has surpassed the 100-school mark, with participating schools spread across 10 regions of Quebec; the number of schools served has thus more than doubled in one year.

For its part, La Cantine à domicile has surpassed the 43,000-meal mark in meals sold at subsidized rates, reflecting the growing need that the program addresses.

2024

The MutuAli project has been officially transferred to CIBIM, allowing the initiative to continue its development in a new environment dedicated to agri-food innovation.

That same year, the “La Cantine” school meal program surpassed one million meals served in a single school year for the first time—a symbolic milestone that illustrates the movement’s growth and its tangible impact on communities.

2025

To support its growth, La Cantine pour tous is launching a new online transaction platform for its school meal service that is more intuitive, faster, and scalable.

The organization also received a DUX Grand Prize in the category of initiatives that promote healthier eating, highlighting the impact of its efforts on eating habits and food accessibility.

This year was also marked by our participation in the Social Economy Summit and by recognition for social innovation through the ADRIQ Award.

The federal government has announced $65.2 million in funding over three years for school meals in Quebec, as part of the rollout of a national school meals program. This announcement marks a turning point for the “La Cantine dans les écoles” program, opening up new opportunities for growth to provide healthy and affordable meals to a greater number of students throughout Quebec.

2026

In 2026, La Cantine pour tous will officially celebrate its 10th anniversary on November 10. This milestone anniversary will mark the start of a year of celebrations, initiatives, and community-building events across Quebec to highlight a decade of collective impact.

This milestone is accompanied by recognition for its transactional platform developed with iX, as well as a major announcement: the organization has officially received $9.3 million in funding from the MEQ under the agreement between the federal and provincial governments to support the development and expansion of the La Cantine program in schools across Quebec.

Ten years after its official founding, La Cantine pour tous continues its mission with the same conviction: to provide better nutrition for communities through collective, accessible solutions rooted in the social economy.

Our Board of Directors

For the past 10 years, La Cantine pour tous has been supported by a board of directors made up of members of the organization who are committed to guiding its major strategic directions and supporting its development.

In memory of

Ghislaine Théoret

Died on August 7, 2026.

As Executive Director of Garde-Manger Pour Tous and a member of our board of directors, Ghislaine was one of the founders of our collective.

Through her vision, determination, and belief that every child should have access to a nutritious meal at school, she helped shape our mission. Her dedication, wisdom, and compassion have left a lasting mark on our organization.

Her legacy lives on in the mission we are carrying out and in all those who continue to carry it forward.