Santropol Roulant is an award-winning community organization founded and run by young people in Montreal. We bring people together across generations and cultures through an innovative approach to meals-on-wheels, and by engaging youth to take an active role in their community. Santropol Roulant uses food as a vehicle to create trust and build bridges between individuals in a city where isolation among the elderly is the highest in Canada.
Since 1995, we have delivered over 350,000 meals to seniors and individuals living with a loss of autonomy and offered over 275 jobs and internships for young people in the community. We have built a reputation throughout Canada as a social service with a vision for social change, housing innovative perspectives on youth engagement, urban food systems and community care.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Santropol Roulant's Summer Events
Here is a listing of all the summer events at the Roulant, including events and workshops at the rooftop garden at McGill.
Mission
SantroVélo workshop is a space dedicated towards helping members of the community can work on their own bikes in an environment of cooperation and learning. We provide tools and lubricants, as well as new and used parts at an inexpensive cost. Our volunteer mechanics are there to guide and support you through your bike's repairs.
Agricultural and arboreal history of the McGill campus (including the historical uses for the various trees)
Thursday, July 10th, 4PM
Edible Campus Garden (805 Sherbrooke St. W., in front of Burnside Hall)
Suggest contribution: $5
Du jardin à l'assiette: Jams!!
Thursday, July 17th, 9-5PM
Suggested contribution: $10
Meet at Santropol Roulant (4050 St-Urbain)
*We will travel to a raspberry and blueberry U-pick in Assomption and return in the early afternoon to prepare some jams. Everyone will take home a sample of what we prepare. Pack your lunch!!
**Let us know if you have a car and are are willing to carpool, or whether you will need a ride. We can cover the cost of gas.
***Space is limited, Please confirm your participation by emailing Armel at cuisine-kitchen @ santropolroulant.org
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Santropol Roulant video:
TRANSITIONS & LEADERSHIP
In 2005 Santropol Roulant underwent an extensive reflection process to ensure a smooth transition and continued vibrancy in the time around the departure of outgoing Executive Director Vanessa Reid and arrival of Jane Rabinowicz into the position. The result is a case study on transition and leadership that is often cited as an influence for other organizations and projects going through similar cases.
And let us know what you think!
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McGill Garden wins National Urban Design Award
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), and Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) have awarded a 2008 National Urban Design Award in the category Urban Fragments to the project "Making the Edible Campus" of McGill University. The lead firm of the project is the Minimum Cost Housing Group (School of Architecture), directed by Prof. Vikram Bhatt with assistance from Leila Farah (PhD candidate). Advisors on the project are Profs. Nik Luka and Jeanne Wolfe. Graduate students who worked on the project are Ehsan Daneshyar, Sally Diaz, Jie Liu, Anne-Marie Malouin, Gaurav Sharma, Aba Simpson, and Ivan Soto. Associate firms are Santropol Roulant (Jane Rabinowicz, executive director, and Tim Murphy, event organizer) and Alternatives (Ismael Hautecoeur, project coordinator, and Rotem Ayalon, coordination).
From the jury comments: "Amongst the interesting 'fragments' submitted from across the country, the jury appreciated the social foundations and community/volunteer involvement as well as the sustainable urban objectives of this scheme. With simple, direct layouts it aims to employ underused corners and spaces within the public realm to grow produce linked to a food collection and meal delivery system, creating a sustainable prototype that could potentially be expanded to other university campuses and across the city."
Project Announcement:
Community-Government Collaboration on Policy March 2008 to March 2009
The Caledon Institute is pleased to announce a 13-month project focused upon the creation of a pan-Canadian community of practice with a primary interest in community-government collaboration around key social policy areas.
A partnership will be created among five communities, the Caledon Institute of Social Policy and representatives from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa in order to document selected policy measures related to economic and social well-being. The project offers an opportunity to combine community knowledge and experience with policy development processes in order to improve policy and program outcomes.
The five local partners are Santropol Roulant (Montréal), the Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador, the Hamilton Roundtable on Poverty Reduction, the Community-University Institute for Social Research (Saskatoon) and the City of Red Deer. Participants will take part in learning sessions which will focus on key aspects of policy and effective methods of collaborating with government around policy work. This learning process will result in the production of two major products: a web-based policy tracking document and a bilingual manual on community-government collaboration.
This project is being supported through the Social Development Partnerships Program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
Santropol Roulant carried out two inquiry projects this year and here are the results! One delves into family volunteering at the Roulant and the other contains reflections of conversations between our client members. Both tell wonderful stories of our volunteers, clients and neighbours.
Here is a PDF version of Santropol Roulant's calendar for 2008. The meals for each day are outlined. A great resource for clients, health care workers, and all folks who need a calendar!
Montrealite is a company that produces Sweatshop-free cotton t-shirts with clever, attractive designs that celebrate Montreal culture. More importantly, 5% of each sale goes to Santropol Roulant!
And for pick up in their new Montreal store:
Jenx & cie. 51 bernard Ouest. 514 510 9907
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Santropol Roulant EcoChallenge
Now that the cold is at our doors, we're turning our attention indoors. With the help of The Natural Step Canada we have begun a study of our ecological footprint. This Eco-challenge will asses the quantity of resources we consume at the Roulant in our daily operations in the office and the kitchen and improve our practices to be as green as we can be! A team composed of staff and volunteers participated in a two-day workshop in November to gain the proper skills to see this challenge through. We will keep you informed of our progress on this project online and invite you to check out our newly created Eco-challenge page.
Check out the Natural Step's Annual Report, in which Santropol Roulant's Eco-Challenge is featured. Click here.
If you have any questions whatsoever, get in touch!
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KITCHEN WORKSHOPS
The kitchen workshops have been put together by our lovely kitchen manager Armel (above).
Come one, come all! It will be fun!!!It will be a good opportunity to spend some time together, and also to learn some new kitchen tricks.
NEXT KITCHEN WORKSHOP - stray tuned! Info to come.
A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated!
Contact us for more information!
Going Local & Organic is Santropol Roulant’s campaign to prepare 20% of our fresh, home-made meals with local, organic produce. Organically grown food supports local Quebec farmers, uses no pesticides or chemicals, is high in nutrients and respectful to the environment. From seed to table to stomach, we aim to build a strong and nourished community and raise awareness about where our food comes from and issues of urban food security.
Thank you to our organic meal sponsors: individuals, families, local businesses and neighbours! You can help, too! For a fully tax-deductable donation of $250, you can sponsor a full day of local & organic meals-on-wheels. Call us at 284-9335 and work with us toward an equitable food system and a nourished community!
THANKS TO OUR LOCAL & ORGANIC DAYS SPONSORS!
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OUR WISH LIST
We have updated our wishlist for 2008! Check it out and help us out!
