We provide varied programming that addresses not only the short-term needs of those in the midst of a longstanding food insecurity crisis but that also address the root causes of food insecurity. Access to nutritious, affordable food has been a public health crisis for Nunavummiut for many years and is ongoing: over three-quarters of Inuit over the age of 15 reported their household as food insecure in 2021. That is an incredible 4.75 times higher than the national average. The territory’s poverty rate is four times the national average.
Our food access programs are ongoing, holistic services that provide food assistance through safe and dignified access points for people experiencing food insecurity in Iqaluit. Providing these food access programs increase health and wellness in the community and build protective factors to a host of detrimental health outcomes. This includes culturally sustaining food (Country Food) that deepens relationships to Inuit culture and community.
Daily Community Meal
The Community Meal offers a balanced meal to the community free of charge, 5 days per week, from 11:30am to 1pm. The meals are made from scratch using the freshest, most nutritious ingredients possible, including produce and Country Food -- locally and traditionally harvested food that with cultural significance.
Every year since its inception, the demand for our daily meal service has increased. In 2024 we served about 70,000 meals to our community of under 8,000 residents; in 2025, over 90,000 meals. That’s an increase of nearly 30%, and would be equivalent to serving 13.5 million meals to Ottawa's 1.2 million residents.
The Piruqtuviniit Food Box
The Piruqtuviniit Food Box is a weekly produce box program designed to feed 3-4 people a week that operates on a sliding scale model to ensure all Iqalummiut have access to nutritious produce. The selection varies week-to-week, but generally there are 18-22 different fruits and vegetables included, with priority on items grown in Canada.
Those interested in participating in this program can place an order online by clicking here, or email order@qajuqturvik.ca for more information. The Food box is available for pick up on Thursdays of every week, from 11:30am to 5:30pm.
Groceries cost much more than in the rest of the country because everything must arrive via ship during the short sealift season or by plane. One study suggests that the rate of increasing grocery prices in Nunavut is more than double the national average.
Want to help someone afford a food box? You can order online and under the date select PAY IT FORWARD. That donation will be used to top up the price paid by those who can't afford the full price, ensuring the longterm sustainability of the program. Thank you!
Inuit Women's Circle
The Inuit Women’s Circle program, gathers twice a week and aims to support Inuit women with peer-to-peer support, cultural skills training, and help accessing community and government resources.
Our coordinator begins every session by cooking a meal for the Inuit women who gather, followed by cultural activities and crafts that include making sealskin parka and mittens, beading, and, during the summer, gathering heather to make tea.
To join, or find out when the ladies are meeting next, email mary@qajuqturvik.ca.
Country Food Access
QCFC is proud to distribute subsidized country food through the Qinnirvik Country Food Store that ensures all Iqalummiut have access to nutritious, culturally-sustaining food. We partner with Project Nunavut to connect hunters from across the territory to individual buyers in Iqaluit, supporting the traditional economy that existed long before colonization.
In addition, we host workshops on how to process country food like seal and char. And we use Country Food in our Daily Community Meals as often as possible.
Our posts on social media about Country Food are always our post popular, reaching tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of viewers.
