Photo caption – Elements-The Restaurant opens at 599 Portage Avenue – Staff picture with Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg
WINNIPEG, MB – Elements – The Restaurant is adding new chemistry to the downtown and West End as it officially opened its doors on Friday, October 28 in The University of Winnipeg’s Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex.
Students, office workers and the public can now enjoy fresh local meals prepared by the award-winning Diversity Food Services in a licensed setting. UWinnipeg students-in-residence with meal plans at McFeetor’s Hall: Great West Life Student Residence also benefit by having a new dining option just steps from their door.
Photo caption – Elements chef, Aron Epp
Elements – open to the public
“Elements is an incredible new resource for our campus community and the West End neighbourhood,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “Our new Furby-Langside campus, with its state-of-the-art residence, daycare centre and science complex is a hub of activity well into the evening, accommodating more than two thousand people daily. Now we have a healthy new food outlet to service this hub and the broader community.”
The restaurant team is led by Chef Aron Epp with a menu that covers breakfast to evening dining.
“This is a great opportunity for us to make great food in an incredible building,” said Epp.“The building is state-of-the-art and we want our food and service in the restaurant to reflect that level of quality.”
In June, 2009, UWinnipeg introduced Diversity Food Services, which was created by The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (UWCRC) and SEED Winnipeg. The joint venture trains and employs people from ethnically diverse origins from our surrounding community who may face barriers to meaningful work, an approach that is unique among universities in Canada.
The opening of Elements provides new employment for 25 people in both full-time and part-time positions. “The restaurant will provide another step in the career ladder for Diversity employees” said Cindy Coker, Executive Director of SEED Winnipeg, adding “It is an exciting opportunity for Diversity to continue to meet their mission, vision and values”.
Diversity Foods offers nutritious, fairly priced and ethnically diverse food options with a focus on locally sourced foods, organic ingredients, and a commitment to fair-trade practices. In addition to Elements, it operates Pangea’s Kitchen, Malecon and Café Bodhi on UWinnipeg’s campus, as well as catering to the broader community. Since its inception, food sales have increased by 20% at UWinnipeg.
Elements – The Restaurant seats 83 and is located at street-level at 599 Portage Avenue.
Find out more about Diversity Foods.
MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
