As famous chef, cookbook author, teacher, and television personality James Beard said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” Indeed, we all need food to survive and, for most of us, food is also an important expression of our cultural and family traditions.

A joint program between a group of residents at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour and a group of new immigrants who are clients of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is helping seniors find common ground through their experiences of food.

Covering all aspects of food – where food comes from, where it is grown, how it is distributed, the cultural and Indigenous significance of certain ingredients, and the many ways food is prepared – the program seeks to inform and educate, as well as help build understanding and connections between a group of established long-term residents of Canada and new immigrants who are still building community in their new home.

Called Connection Through Food, the program was designed by a steering committee of members from each community and has featured more than 10 shared activities over the summer – from nature walks to an informative tour of Sysco’s food distribution centre to a behind-the-scenes experience in Victoria’s famous Fairmont Empress kitchen.

Having previously partnered with Tapestry on a fund-raising effort benefiting displaced Ukrainian nationals, ICA was keen to work with Tapestry on another joint program, says Salma Ihsan, Training Coordinator at ICA. One of the objectives of Connection Through Food was to connect ICA clients – particularly seniors – with people outside of their immediate family or friends.

“It’s easy for newcomers to Canada to fall into the comfort zone of only mingling with people in their own community,” Salma says. “Working with organizations such as Tapestry, we can help expose newcomers to people they might not otherwise be in contact with. And we have found that learning about other cultures through food, with the opportunity to cook and show off their own cultural food traditions, is a big hit for our clients,” Salma adds.

ICA offers a myriad of services and support for newcomers to Canada, including support to settle in to living in the community, various workshops and skills training including English lessons, and job search assistance.

Tapestry residents were also keen to make connections outside their senior living community, both by listening to others’ stories and by sharing their own. “And food is a wonderful vehicle to open up conversation,” says Cameron Ballendine, Resident Services Manager at Tapestry.

Cameron adds that the residents involved in the program have found it stimulating in so many ways including intellectually, environmentally and socially, reflecting Tapestry’s dedication to all 7 Dimensions of Wellness.

“Not a lot of people fully understand how food is grown, how the supply chain works, how many people handle your food, and all of the logistics that go into getting food to the grocery store,” he says. “I think the participants have a new understanding of how this works in their community and why even locally grown food costs as much as it does.”

Elizabeth, who has lived at Tapestry for just over a year, says the activity that most impressed her was the tour of Sysco, one of the leading food distributors in Victoria. “To actually see what ‘supply chain’ means and to learn about the various stages that food goes through getting from point A to point B was impressive. When I walk into a grocery store now, I’ll never think of food the same way. I’m much more appreciative knowing the distribution infrastructure and journey the food takes to arrive on the store shelves,” she says.

The Sysco tour was “so educational and so informative, that I thought how fortunate I was to participate,” Elizabeth says. As a result of the positive reviews from those who attended, Tapestry’s social committee is now working to arrange a Sysco tour for another group of residents.

Laura, an ICA client who came to Canada with family members two years ago from Mexico City to join her daughter already living here, says that basing the program on food was a great idea. “Food is a common topic for most people, regardless of where they are from,” she says. “We are more alike than we may have initially thought. When we share stories about our families, our favourite dishes and our recipes, and the good memories attached to them, we are sharing who we are and that makes a great basis for social interaction.”

Laura also appreciated the variety of activities and outings offered to participants. “The program helped us learn more about the community where we are living. Victoria is a very active community for organic food, with many places growing different vegetables for consumption. I found that very interesting because it is new to me, having come from a big city,” she says.

This unique program is just one example of Tapestry residents’ dedication to continuing to be involved in the broader communities where they live.

If you are looking for a vibrant retirement living community where you can make new friends, enjoy life enriching experiences that make a difference, and continue to enjoy an active and engaging lifestyle, please contact us and we would be pleased to host you for a complimentary lunch and a tour.

The Connection Through Food program was made possible with funding from Employment and Social Development Canada under The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), a federal grants and contributions program that funds projects making a difference in the lives of seniors and in their communities.

Photos by Kirk Schwarz, courtesy of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA).