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Planning for Success

 

As this school year comes to an end, now is the perfect time to be thinking about setting yourself up for a successful reopening of your breakfast program in the fall.

 

In preparation for 2023–2024, consider the following tips and ideas to step into September with a smile: 

  • Hold a recruitment drive to recruit volunteers for your breakfast program.  
  • Reach out to local organizations and businesses for possible partnerships. A good relationship with nearby stores and store managers can help you tap into community discounts, food donations and other sources of support. You might also want to consider asking for donations or assistance in preparing breakfast for your program. 
  • Recognize breakfast program volunteers and thank them for their contributions through Breakfast in Unisson. 
  • Invite students to share why they love their school breakfast and what they would like to see in the program next year.  
  • Empty your fridges and freezers in case there are power outages during the summer. Be sure to unplug them before you leave. 
  • If you have egg coupons, don’t forget to use them before the end of the year. 
  • Store all dried goods in airtight containers out of direct sunlight, and make sure that the expiry dates extend at least until the opening of your program.  
  • Deep-clean all breakfast areas and equipment.  
  • If you don’t operate under a food delivery model, plan your breakfast menus in advance, make a list and stick to it! Your budget will thank you. 
  • Take care of any pending paperwork, sign everything that needs to be signed and update your schedules. For resources and tools, see the Schools Corner of our website. 

 

Have any questions or need support?
Reach out to your BCC coordinator. They have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to help you maximize your breakfast program’s potential!  

 

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Viviane Harbec: Key volunteer in the Antoine-Brossard program

How many young people do you know who have a key to their school?

Secondary 5 student Viviane Harbec is one of a precious few. The administration of Antoine-Brossard High School (Brossard, Quebec) had no reservations about trusting her with this responsibility so she could go about her duties as a highly dedicated breakfast program volunteer. 

 

At Antoine-Brossard, every morning kicks off on a cheerful note, with music and a long line of tables prepped and ready to receive breakfast-goers from the student body of about 1,800 teens. Frédéric Jacques, the school’s spiritual care and community involvement counsellor, Principal Éric Chevalier and Viviane herself are there to greet them.  

 

Viviane has been involved in the school’s breakfast program since it began in September 2020. She was just starting Secondary 3 and the project piqued her interest. At that point, the nascent program was limited to a grab-and-go model. But Viviane’s drive and determination helped turn it into a unique and convenient buffet-style operation. The prep work requires Viviane to come in earlier than anyone else, hence the need for the key. After the food has been put out and the tables set, she sticks around at the breakfast station, along with her fellow student volunteers, to ensure everything runs smoothly until the first bell rings and she heads off to class.  

 

It makes Viviane’s heart sing to see the smile breakfast brings to the faces of those who avail themselves of the program. That’s her primary motivation. At 16, she understands the importance of reaching out to those who might be going through a tough time or need an extra helping hand. Given her caring and compassionate nature, it’s not surprising to learn that she plans to enrol in a nursing program at a nearby CEGEP next year, making good on a dream she’s had since Grade 6.  

 

Since she won’t be around come September, Viviane has started to train other students who will succeed her in this role. And she will be finishing up her high school career and her time with the Club on a celebratory note: she received a letter in April informing her that she had been awarded a Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal in recognition of her outstanding community and social engagement. Her parents are understandably very proud of her commitment to making a difference in the lives of the people around her.  

 

On behalf of everyone here at Breakfast Club of Canada, we thank you, Viviane, for everything you’ve done, day in and day out, for your school breakfast program. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours. You definitely have a very bright future ahead of you! 

 

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How to incorporate more vegetables into your morning routine

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that are about to spring forth! In case you missed it, BCC’s Nutrition Committee recently revised its nutritional guidelines to include a wider variety of vegetables. Vegetables should be a major part of every meal throughout the day, including breakfast. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and are interesting options to explore to bring a touch of originality to your breakfast plate. Read on for a few tips on how to incorporate more vegetables into your morning routine. 

 

Add vegetables to your eggs 

Brighten up your egg recipes with some colourful vegetables. Add peppers, spinach and zucchini to your scrambled eggs, or whip up a seasonal vegetable omelette. Try our recipe for Broccoli Omelette Bites or Cheese and Veggie Egg Cups. And why not explore recipes like shakshuka, a dish that incorporates poached eggs with a vegetable-rich tomato sauce! 

  

Use veggies as a toast topper 

Skip the classic banana/nut butter combo and opt instead for something vegetable-based. Why not try avocado toast with feta cheese, or top your multigrain bread with a layer of hummus and sliced tomato? The possibilities are endless, and there’s something for everyone!  

  

Make breakfast time, sandwich time 

Sandwiches aren’t just for lunch! Use your imagination to create all kinds of combinations. Add grilled vegetables to your grilled cheese or breakfast wrap. Check out our cookbook to try our Breakfast Enchilada or Breakfast Quesadilla recipes.  

  

Veg up your smoothies 

Use vegetables to add a splash of colour to your breakfast smoothies. Spinach or kale are great options for green smoothies. Carrots will make your tropical smoothies look extra sun-kissed and beets will turn your red berry smoothies even redder!  

  

Incorporate vegetables into your baking recipes 

Experiment with recipes for baked goods that contain a secret ingredient: veggie power! Our recipes for Spinach Morning Muffins and Zucchini Bread Scones are good places to start.  

  

Serve vegetables instead of fruit on the side 

Veggies and dip or a summer salad of spinach and raspberries pair perfectly with several breakfast dishes. Vary your sides to include as many vegetables as you do fruit.  

  

Remember, working vegetables into your breakfast not only makes it more nutritious, but it also adds extra flavour and colour to kick-start the morning. So be creative and have fun!  

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Salmon Soup

At Breakfast Club of Canada, we are always searching for innovative recipes to share with you — especially ones that highlight cultural diversity and allow students to try foods that are not typically served at breakfast time. So when we discovered these Traditional Foods Fact Sheets, created by the First Nations Health Authority, we knew we had to pass them along! They provide information on traditional food items such as salmon, game meats and plants, along with some tasty recipe ideas. On page 30, there is a wonderful recipe for salmon soup that has proven quite popular in a school breakfast program in BC. 

 

Salmon soup

Credit: Recipe from the First Nations Traditional Foods Fact Sheets.

Ingredients 

  • 4 c. (1 L) water
  • ¼ lb. (125 g) salmon roe
  • 1 lb. (500 g) fresh salmon, cubed
  • ½ lb. (250 g) potato, diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch curry powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp. (15 ml) vegetable oil
  • Dry seaweed for garnish

Preparation 

In a large soup pot, sauté onion, celery and potato in oil. Add water and bring to a simmer. Heat salmon roe in a small saucepan and add to soup stock. Add salmon, salt, pepper, curry powder and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until potatoes are just tender. Discard bay leaf. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with dry seaweed.

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Spinach Tofu Smoothie

Add a touch of freshness to your breakfast with this delicious, protein-rich smoothie. It’s a great way of incorporating tofu into the first meal of the day!

Spinach Tofu Smoothie

credit: Adapted from this recipe.

 

Yield

About 6 servings  

Ingredients 

  • 3 c. (750 ml) fresh spinach
  • 2 bananas
  • 1½ c. (350 ml) chopped frozen mango
  • 1 c. (250 ml) chopped frozen pineapple
  • 10 oz. (300 g) soft (silken) tofu
  • 1½ c. milk or soy beverage
  • Fresh mint, optional

Preparation 

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add extra liquid, as necessary. Enjoy! 
    Pair with a serving of whole grains for a complete breakfast! 
vanessa danon

Senior Relationship Marketing & Digital Platforms Advisor

Breakfast Club of Canada is looking to hire a Senior Relationship Marketing & Digital Platforms Advisor to play an active role in major fundraising campaigns and contribute significantly to the organization’s Canada-wide growth.

Reporting to the Communications & Marketing Director, the selected candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing relationship marketing strategies, working closely with Marketing, Communications and Philanthropy team members. This person will also contribute to various projects designed to advance the digital platforms that are the backbone of the Club’s operations. The successful candidate will supervise a Communications & Marketing Coordinator.

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship marketing

  • Contribute to the execution of the annual marketing plan.
  • Develop and implement donor acquisition, retention and engagement strategies.
  • Create online and offline donor acquisition strategies based on established donor personas.
  • Identify donor segments and create automated processes catering to each segment.
  • Work with the Marketing team on a cohesive content strategy aimed at stimulating engagement and meeting the needs of donors.
  • Strive to continuously enhance the donor experience through newsletters, mass mailings, the CRM system and other key distribution channels.
  • Analyze data and make it meaningful and actionable for the Marketing, Communications and Philanthropy teams in delivering on strategic objectives.
  • Establish KPIs and the mechanisms required to track them (dashboards).
  • Keep tabs on best practices in relationship marketing and trends in digital platforms and fundraising.

Digital platforms

  • Contribute to the strategic development, update and rollout of various digital platforms.
  • Lead the Salesforce CRM ongoing development project.
  • Spearhead the project to set up the custom Fundky fundraising platform.
  • Contribute to updates to the website (online forms).

 

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • University degree in marketing, e-commerce or business administration.
  • Five or more years of experience in the marketing field.
  • Complete fluency in written and spoken French and English.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn new applications quickly.
  • Proven experience working with an email distribution platform (Marketing Cloud, Mailchimp).
  • Experience working with a customer relationship management (CRM) system, ideally Salesforce.
  • Skill in creating and deploying marketing strategies.
  • In depth-knowledge of relationship marketing.
  • Familiarity with the non-profit sector, an asset.

 

PERSONAL QUALITIES

  • Adherence to Breakfast Club of Canada values.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability to analyze and manage complex data.
  • Strategic mindset.
  • Donor-centric focus.
  • Ability to prioritize and multitask.
  • Resourceful self-starter with the ability to take initiative.
  • Creative and results-oriented.
  • Collaborative team player.

 

WORK CONDITIONS

  • Permanent, full-time position, Monday to Friday.
  • Flexible hours.
  • Summer work schedule.
  • Competitive salary.
  • Vacation and personal leave days.
  • Paid day off on your birthday.
  • Group insurance plan.
  • Access to telemedicine services.
  • Group RRSP with matching employer contributions.
  • Employee assistance program.
  • Employee recognition program.
  • Health and wellness program.
  • Professional development program.
  • The selected candidate will work remotely from a major Canadian city or as part of a hybrid telework arrangement through the head office in Boucherville, Quebec.
  • Target start date: As soon as possible.

 

 

TO APPLY

Please email your résumé and cover letter to CV@breakfastclubcanada.org. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Breakfast Club of Canada promotes employment equity and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.