Two Spokesperson for the Collective Kitchens - Collective Kitchens National Day - March 17, 2003

Montreal – March 17, 2003 – The Quebec Collective Kitchens Association (Le Regroupement des cuisines collectives du Québec, RCCQ) launch the 2003 awareness campaign and is proud to announced the implication of it’s two new spokesperson : Suzanne Desautels, radio announcer and Jean-François Plante, chef at the Bistro Rock Détente and at les Saisons de Clodine a television program.

These spokesperson actively participate to the campaign launch on the Collective Kitchens National Day. Suzanne Desautels and Jean-François Plante invite the citizen to join the activities organised in their area between the 24th and 28th of march. These activities are hold to aware the population on the benefits of collective kitchens and demystify all the taboos around them.

«Collective Kitchens... it’s About More than Just Cooking ! – They allow to : Value, acquire and share our knowledge, encourage initiative in a atmosphere seasoned with pride, dignity and solidarity» explain Jean-François Plante. A collective kitchens is a group of 4 or 5 people who pool their time, money and abilities in order to come up with healty, money-saving dishes that they then take home.

A Bit of Background…Thanks to Jacynthe and Sylvie Ouellette and a neighbour The history of collective kitchens in Quebec dates back to 1985, to the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal. They were born out of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of two sisters and a friend who regularly got together to plan and prepare recipes, and share the cost. Their idea spread through the neighbourhood, and throughout the province of Quebec.

The Association represent over 1 330 groups of collective kitchens. These one feed over 33 250 persons (women, men and children), 6 650 participants collectively cook 831 250 portions per month and 8 312 500 per year. In spite of the amount of work done by the collective kitchens, there is still a lot of taboos around them. For this reason, it is important to promote different type of collective kitchens than the one iniatialy put on by the Ouellette sisters.

Collective Kitchens have change a lot since there born out. There is know 1 001 reasons to be part of a collective kitchen. ▪ Healthy eating is important to me – Sylvie ▪ My group is cooking lean cuisine - Lise ▪ I made purées for my baby economically - Guillaine ▪ I'm diabetic and have to be careful with what I eat. At the collective kitchen, the dietitian helps me a lot -Mariette ▪ The meals are prepared in advance and so I have more time for my children - Christian ▪ There are groups for vegetarian, children, teens, men, helderly, etc.

A Privilege… Open to everyone All these people have the privilege to prepare good meals, take charge, stew up a lots of good ideas and harvest the fruits of a better life. « The welfare of women and children is very important to me. Collective Kitchens offers the opportunity to provide wholesome foods within a budget… and so much more! Collective Kitchens can help return a balance to our lives.. and a smile!» says Suzanne Desautels.

For more information about the activities held in your area, to know the address of a collective kitchens in your neighbourhood, to join or now start a collective kitchen, please call the Quebec Collective Kitchens Association at (514) 529-3448 or 1-866-529-3448.