Harnessing the Power of Food
The Biosphere Institute and the Co+Kitchen invite you to connect with community and food through hands-on cooking workshops that bring people together over planet-friendly, sustainable meals! In each workshop, you'll cook and enjoy a meal together, plus take home some delicious leftovers.
Photo: Yuka Ozawa facilitating a workshop as seen in the Rocky Mountain Outlook
Why is this work important?
We passionately believe that food connects community.
This workshop series brings people together through cooking, sharing, and learning while exploring how what we eat impacts our planet. Designed especially for new Canadians and other community members, these gatherings are about more than food: they're about building belonging, celebrating culture, and discovering practical, affordable ways to eat well and care for the environment.
Workshop #1: Everyday meals on a budget
September 11, 2025 | Co+Kitchen
Doors open: 5:30 PM
Workshop: 6:00 PM
Menu: Tofu Pita Burger, Pita bread, Salad with Canadian-harvested veggies
In each workshop, you'll cook and enjoy a meal together, plus take home some delicious leftovers. If you have any questions or would like to request a subsidized ticket, please contact Yuka Ozawa at 403-763-1388.
Workshop #2: Flavours of Home
November 13, 2025 | Co+Kitchen
Doors open: 5:30 PM
Workshop: 6:00 PM
Menu: Upside-down taco, mushroom donair, kidney bean dip, chipotle cream sauce with seed crackers
In each workshop, you'll cook and enjoy a meal together, plus take home some delicious leftovers. If you have any questions or would like to request a subsidized ticket, please contact Yuka Ozawa at 403-763-1388.
Workshop #3: Holiday Gatherings: Festive, Earth-Friendly, Multi-Cultural Feasts
December 11, 2025 | Co+Kitchen
Doors open: 5:30 PM
Workshop: 6:00 PM
Menu: Pierogies with potatoes and caramelized onions, chocolate pot with spiced chili and cinnamon, and chocolate bark with dried fruits.
In each workshop, you'll cook and enjoy a meal together, plus take home some delicious leftovers. If you have any questions or would like to request a subsidized ticket, please contact Yuka Ozawa at 403-763-1388.
Yuka’s vision for this project is rooted in her own journey. As a long-time permanent resident of Canada, she has firsthand experience navigating the challenges of building community in a new country. Inspired by the power of food to create connection and comfort, Yuka founded The Co+Kitchen to offer a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can come together, share their stories, and support one another. Her lived experience continues to shape the inclusive, culturally responsive approach that drives this workshop series.
thank you to our funders
This project was made possible thanks to the Banff Canmore Foundation, Canmore Rotary Foundation and Town of Canmore Community Grant. Thank you for your generous support!