RFDA Complete Expansion!
The RFDA welcomed Metro and the Feed Ontario team who presented a generous $300,000 contribution to the Building Hope Capital Campaign and officially opened the “Metro Shared Training Kitchen”. Metro and Feed Ontario launched this collaborative program in November 2025, aiming to provide food banks with professional facilities for educational cooking classes, community meals, and food rescue initiatives in a variety of communities.
“Congratulations to the team at the RFDA on the launch of their new Metro Shared Kitchen,” said Carolyn Stewart, CEO of Feed Ontario. “This remarkable space will strengthen partnerships, create opportunities for innovative programs, and benefit community groups and individuals across Northern Ontario. Feed Ontario sincerely thanks Metro for making this shared kitchen possible and for laying the foundation for new partnerships and lasting community impact that will expand access to fresh and healthy food in the North.”
“Our goal was to develop a program that enables us to respond to local needs in a meaningful way. We are very proud of our collaboration with Feed Ontario in creating a tangible project for their food banks, allowing us to establish a lasting impact in the communities where we operate. This initiative brings to life METRO's purpose to nourish the health and well-being of our communities,” says Marie-Claude Bacon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, METRO.
A number of other major corporate donors stepped up recently to show their support in Building Hope: RBC ($100,000), Thunder Bay Hotel Association ($50,000), the Roots Trillium Insurance Fund ($25,000), Twin City Refreshments ($10,000), Iron Range Bus Lines ($10,000), Auto Home Paints ($10,000), and Strasser & Lang ($10,000).
Individual donors such as Scott & Richelle Dougall ($50,000), Lee Bonnell ($15,000), and John Bociurko ($10,000) also came forward to assist.
With these recent donations, and the remarkable support from community, funding agencies and grants to date, the RFDA has successfully achieved their $6.9 million goal.
Of that goal, $1.5 million was the public part of the campaign announced in January of 2025, and with the extraordinary support of our community, the RFDA Campaign Team is overjoyed to have met this goal.
This milestone marks the official opening of the 5,200 sq. ft. facility expansion, featuring a Community Training Kitchen and a multi-purpose Gathering Hall- purpose-built spaces designed to strengthen community-led solutions to food insecurity and poverty across Northwestern Ontario, which are spaces that are now available to the community for rent. “I would like to sincerely thank the Campaign Team, board members, staff, and
all the generous donors who made this possible. Today we are celebrating the Grand Opening; and are extremely grateful for a community who stands behind us, in the best interest of making Thunder Bay and region, a place where no one goes hungry,” said Bruno Niederer, Campaign Chair, Building Hope, RFDA.
“While this expansion represents a significant breakthrough made possible through the support of NOHFC, municipal partners, corporations, foundations, and donors, the need for food security services across our region remains profound. According to Feed Ontario's Hunger Report, more than 1 million Ontarians are now relying on food banks, an alarming 165% increase since 2020. Enhanced infrastructure increases RFDA's capacity, but the ability to operate and deliver essential services continues to depend on the generosity and commitment of donors and community partners.” says April Mercier, Office Manager, RFDA.
RFDA remains dedicated to building a future where food insecurity is no longer a reality. Achieving this vision requires sustained community support, collaboration, and shared responsibility. The Regional Food Distribution Association of Northwestern Ontario (RFDA) serves as a food bank for food banks, providing essential food support to over 70 organizations in local and surrounding communities. RFDA not only distributes food but also works at the grassroots level to address food insecurity through education, youth engagement, and community development initiatives.
To learn more, visit: www.foodbanksnorthwest.ca
