The love story between Breakfast Club of Canada and Carrousel Packaging is an enduring one. At the end of 2023, we were proud to celebrate two decades of their support for the work we do.  

 

“The team at Breakfast Club of Canada persuaded us to invest in our future, our children, those who will lead our economy and our development going forward, both here in Quebec and across the country,” said Carrousel President and CEO Brigitte Jalbert. 

 

The company has helped us in a variety of ways, and their support has evolved over time. They contribute directly to breakfast programs with packaging products that help us keep food fresher for longer. And their involvement in the past few years has also extended to our signature fundraising events. “The BCC team knows they can count on us,” said Brigitte.  

 

Corporate donors like Carrousel are one of the reasons we’ve been able to keep our operations going for almost 30 years now. Their support has been instrumental in making sure thousands of children can start their school day with the energy they need to learn.  

 

We are grateful for this special connection between our two organizations, which we hope will continue to flourish for decades to come.

 

In December 2023, we celebrated 20 years of partnership by inviting Carrousel President and CEO Brigitte Jalbert and members of her team to visit our warehouse in Varennes, Quebec, where they learned more about our facilities and our operations.


To learn more about our corporate donors, click here!

Commis d’entrepôt
Major Gifts and Planned Giving Lead

Founded in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing services and funding to school breakfast programs across the country. We work with partners from all sectors to deliver a high-quality national school food program. Together, we create a nurturing environment, where children and youth can access the nourishment they need to succeed and flourish. Our organization has grown tremendously over the years, but our desire to see children thrive has remained constant.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Breakfast Club of Canada is currently seeking a Major Gifts and Planned Giving Lead to join our Philanthropy team. Reporting to the National Director, Philanthropy, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading the creation of strategies that will encourage individuals with a passion for nourishing children’s full potential across Canada to make Breakfast Club of Canada their first choice for philanthropic and legacy giving. This will be a key role in planning and implementing various leading-edge prospecting, solicitation, retention and recognition approaches that will maximize revenue from individual donors and family foundations, with the potential for major and legacy giving.

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor development and solicitation:

  • Create a roadmap for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors to support Club needs.
  • Work in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications Team and the National Director, Philanthropy, on the strategy and execution of mid-level engagement and solicitation activities to support the growth of the major gift pipeline.
  • Build and nurture relationships with existing major donors while actively seeking to expand the major gifts donor base.
  • Engage with donors through personalized communication, events, and one-on-one meetings to deepen their connection to the Club’s mission.
  • Develop compelling and tailored proposals for major donors, clearly articulating the impact of their gifts.
  • Lead the solicitation process, making direct asks for major gifts and working collaboratively with other team members as needed.
  • Implement effective stewardship strategies to recognize and acknowledge major donors for their contributions.
  • Ensure timely and personalized updates on the impact of donors’ contributions to maintain their engagement and trust.
  • Collaborate with colleagues on the Philanthropy Team and other teams as needed to align major gift efforts with overall organizational strategies.
  • Represent the organization at events and conferences.
  • Monitor the competitive landscape and emerging trends in philanthropy.

 

Administration:

  • Provide supervision and coaching to the Major and Mid-Level Gifts Advisor.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of donor interactions in the Club’s database (Salesforce).
  • Regularly analyze and report on the performance of the major gifts program, adjusting strategies as needed to achieve fundraising goals.
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant fundraising regulations and ethical standards.
  • Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the success and impact of the major gifts program.
  • Provide regular reports to the National Director, Philanthropy on the progress of major gift fundraising initiatives.

 

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a charitable organization with a focus on individual and/or foundation giving.
  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, fund development, marketing or another related field.
  • Excellent command of written and spoken French and English (English is required for regular weekly meetings with partners and colleagues across Canada).
  • Knowledge of tax and estate planning strategies.
  • Experience in developing and implementing major and planned giving strategies, along with a knowledge of gifts of securities and life insurance, charitable bequests and in-kind gifts, an asset.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the ability to learn new applications quickly.
  • Familiarity with CRM platforms, an asset.
  • Membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals or another relevant professional association or order, an asset.

 

PERSONAL QUALITIES

  • Adherence to Breakfast Club of Canada values.
  • Keen customer service focus.
  • High-level persuasion and negotiation skills.
  • Empathetic and good listener.
  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative abilities.
  • Resourceful self-starter with an analytical mindset.
  • Highly organized and versatile.
  • Capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.

 

WORK CONDITIONS

  • Permanent, full-time position.
  • 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 Canadian city or in hybrid mode from the Boucherville or Vancouver office.
  • 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.

Une recette de gaufres dont vous raffolerez

 

 

Photo credit:  healthy seasonal recipes

Easy to prepare and full of flavour, these whole-wheat waffles are a true breakfast treat. Follow the simple steps below to whip up a batch, and have fun topping them however you like. Enjoy! 

 

Yield: 8 large waffles, serves 16.  

 

Ingredients 

  • 5 eggs 
  • 3 c. (750 ml) milk 
  • ⅓ c. (75 ml) maple syrup 
  • 4 c. (1 L) whole-wheat flour 
  • 1 tbsp. (15 ml) baking powder 
  • 1 tsp. (5 ml) salt 

 

Preparation 

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°F (80°C). Place the rack in the centre of the oven.
  2. Preheat a waffle iron to maximum heat. 
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and maple syrup. 
  4. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk until the batter is smooth. 
  5. Ladle a layer of batter onto the waffle iron. Close and reduce to medium heat . Cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. 

 

Top with a combination of the following:  

  • Fresh fruit (kiwi, strawberries, bananas, etc.)  
  • Fruit compote (homemade such as berry compote, or storebought such as unsweetened applesauce)  
  • Yogurt 
  • Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, chia, flax, hemp, etc.).  

 

Recipe adapted from https://ici.radio-canada.ca/mordu/recettes/7738/gaufres-infaillibles 

 

Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread

 

Photo credit:  amigo foods

The Brazilian cheese bread known as pão de queijo makes for an excellent breakfast dish. Clarissa, a nutrition student who is currently interning at BCC, introduced us to this specialty from her native country. Cheesy and soft on the inside and crusty on the outside, pão de queijo is definitely something you’ll want to try in your breakfast program!  

 

Yield: 24; serves 8 (3 per child)  | Preparation: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 25 minutes

 

Ingredients 

  • ⅔ c. (90 g) shredded cheddar cheese  
  • ⅓ c. (45 g) grated Parmesan cheese  
  • ⅔ c. (150 ml) milk 
  • ¼ c. (60 ml) vegetable oil 
  • ¼ tsp. (1 ml) salt 
  • 1⅓ c. (325 ml) tapioca flour 
  • 1 egg 

 

Preparation 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the rack in the centre of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable baking mat.  
  2. Prepared the cheddar cheese using the larger holes on a grater, and the Parmesan cheese using the smaller holes. 
  3. Pour the milk and oil into a small saucepan. Add the salt and bring to a boil over high heat.  
  4. Remove from heat and immediately add the tapioca flour. Mix with a spoon until the flour is completely incorporated. 
  5. Add the egg and mix. Mix in the cheeses.  
  6. Moisten hands and roll into about 25 small balls. Place onto the prepared baking sheet.  
  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool and serve. Bom apetite! 

 

Notes: 

  • Tapioca flour is also known as tapioca starch. It comes from the cassava plant (also commonly called manioc or yucca), a root vegetable that is a staple in Brazilian cuisine.  
  • Pão de queijo is best when eaten fresh but it will keep for two days at room temperature and up to three months in the freezer.  
  • The Parmesan can be substituted with Gruyère or Comté cheese, or another semi-firm cheese that can be grated.  

Tips: 

  • If the dough turns out too dry, add a little more water to make it more pliable.  
  • You can lightly oil your hands to keep the dough from sticking to them when shaping the balls.  

 

Recipe adapted from https://ici.radio-canada.ca/mordu/recettes/5714/pao-queijo-petits-pains-fromage-bresil 

 

 

Jacques Bisson: Getting Every Morning Off to a Nutritious Start

 

For the past several years, Jacques Bisson has embodied the spirit of volunteer and community service through his involvement with the breakfast program at Laflèche School in Shawinigan, Quebec. As someone who firmly believes in giving back to the community and is always on the lookout for ways to do more, Jacques started working with Breakfast Club of Canada six years ago, when he found out they were looking for volunteers. For the past three years, he has served as the head volunteer, overseeing the distribution of around 50 breakfasts each morning, using BCC’s “mixed menu” format, alongside a team of like-minded adults and student volunteers from Grades 5 and 6.  

 

Jacques is passionate about making sure students get a healthy start to their day and is constantly coming up with new ideas for boosting the nutritional value of the meals he prepares. He is quick to roll up his sleeves to test out new dishes. What sets his approach to adapting recipes apart is his dedication to meeting certain essential criteria: each recipe must be cost-effective, use simple ingredients and be built around nutrient-dense foods, all of which align with BCC’s nutritional guidelines. 

 

Some of the ways Jacques does this is by using spent grain flour from our partners at Still Good, choosing whole-wheat flour instead of white wherever possible, reducing the sugar content of his recipes and maximizing the nutritional value of each ingredient. He actively seeks input from his student volunteers on upcoming meals and, every morning, talks to students about what they are eating and gets them interested in trying new things. Everyone loves what he makes, and his efforts have a real impact on fostering healthy lifestyle habits. 

 

His latest initiative has involved encouraging students to drink more water. His efforts have resulted in the installation of a water bottle station along with a poster emphasizing the importance of hydration. This stands as an excellent example of Jacques’s commitment to students’ nutrition and well-being. 

 

Jacques is an inspiration, both within his community and beyond. His ingenious ideas, his hard work and dedication, and his unswerving focus on nutrition make him a role model for everyone around him — young and old alike. He is an inspiring figure for his community and a shining example of what it means to give without expecting anything in return.