Nourishing Body and Mind: The Green Initiative at Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf
Posted: July 9, 2026
Categories: nourish to flourish
At Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf (SJDB) Catholic Elementary School in London, diversity is a treasure we celebrate every day. Our community is demographically diverse, both socioeconomically and culturally. Every year, we open our doors wide to many students arriving from all corners of the world. Among our families, many openly express financial needs to make ends meet; others, we know, are in similar situations but are too embarrassed to speak up. Despite these challenges, our school remains vibrant, warm, and deeply welcoming. Here, every staff member makes a constant effort to ensure that every child reaches their full potential.
For several years now, SJDB has been firmly committed to environmental responsibility through environmental education, recycling and composting programs, and our school gardens. A natural next step for our community was to explore food literacy and provide healthy food for everyone.
The Concrete Impact of the “nourish to flourish” Grant
Thanks to the invaluable support of this grant, this dream has become a reality.We have implemented a comprehensive program aimed at improving our students’ nutrition and health. Specifically, the initiative has enabled the regular distribution of healthy snacks (fruits, vegetables, dairy products, etc.), the hosting of nutrition awareness workshops, and the creation of spaces for discussion about healthy lifestyles. The ultimate goal was to promote students’ physical well-being and concentration by providing them with equitable access to nutritious food during the school day. In total, 500 students from kindergarten through 6th grade directly benefited from this wonderful initiative.
The key features of this project are based on a holistic approach: beyond the snack program, we incorporated food literacy activities. Cooking workshops, engaging presentations on where food comes from, and targeted educational projects helped students understand the importance of making informed food choices that are good for their health and the environment.
Ms. Sandy O’Neill, a teacher at the school, attests to this positive impact on a daily basis:
“I’m happy that a snack program has been introduced at SJDB. School is an ideal place to promote healthy, balanced eating. My students are always excited to find out what snacks are available each day! They’re already taking a health class where they learn about the benefits of eating a variety of foods and reducing their consumption of products that are harmful to their health. It makes sense to offer them snacks that contribute to a balanced diet during the school day, to support their academic success and healthy lifestyle habits.”
Our Community Champions
The success of a project like this always rests on essential pillars. In our story, the role of champion undoubtedly belongs to the students in our AVIS program. Their contribution was absolutely indispensable: they took on the logistical responsibility of preparing and distributing the snacks daily to all the classrooms. By getting involved in this way, these leaders of tomorrow not only ensured the project’s technical success, but they also embodied the values of mutual support and kindness that are at the heart of our school.