On World Food Day, we are reflecting on the power of partnerships to help address food insecurity and support student success across Nunavut.

Three years ago, Agnico Eagle and Breakfast Club of Canada launched a partnership with a simple but important goal: help ensure students in Nunavut have access to a nutritious breakfast before starting their school day. Today, that partnership supports breakfast programs in every school across the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions, reaching more than 5,000 students in 22 schools.

What began in 2023 with five schools is now helping students start their mornings ready to learn, participate and thrive. Along the way, schools have reported seeing benefits that extend well beyond nutrition. Educators and community members have observed students arriving more focused and engaged, while breakfast programs help create a welcoming routine that fosters inclusion and strengthens the broader school community.

This work is especially important in Nunavut, where geographic remoteness, transportation challenges and the high cost of living can make access to food more difficult. Delivering school breakfast programs in the North comes at a significantly higher cost than elsewhere in Canada, highlighting the need for strong partnerships and long-term solutions tailored to the realities of northern communities.

Building on the success of the program, Agnico Eagle announced a new five-year, $5-million commitment earlier this year. The funding will help sustain reliable access to school breakfasts while supporting the next phase of the partnership: the development of a Nunavut School Food Network.

The vision for the network is to bring together organizations, institutions, businesses and community partners to strengthen school food programming across the territory. By encouraging collaboration and exploring opportunities to connect programs with local and traditional food systems, the initiative aims to support a sustainable, Nunavut-led approach grounded in the priorities of Inuit communities.

Supporting food security in Nunavut is about more than ensuring access to meals. Food is deeply connected to culture, family, community and the land. Across generations, traditional harvesting, preparation and food-sharing practices have helped strengthen bonds between people while passing on valuable knowledge and skills.

To celebrate and share Nunavut’s food traditions, Agnico Eagle is launching More Than a Meal: Stories of Food, Family, Culture, and Community Across Nunavut. Inspired by real stories shared by Nunavummiut and featuring artwork by Nunavut illustrators Kayla Williams and Saelym Degrandpre, the storybook explores the role of food in connecting people, culture and the land. Available digitally in English, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, it highlights country food practices, seasonal traditions and personal stories that reflect the knowledge and values passed down through generations.

As part of this year’s World Food Day activities, Agnico Eagle has also released a documentary-style video showcasing a breakfast program visit at Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet. Through the voices of students, educators, community members and local partners, the video offers a closer look at the role school food programs play in supporting student well-being while sharing the stories, traditions and experiences that shape food in Nunavut.

Together, these initiatives reflect a shared belief that student success starts with strong foundations. By supporting access to nutritious food today while investing in community-led solutions for the future, we can help create the conditions for healthier students, stronger communities and a more resilient Nunavut for generations to come.
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Learn more: Download More Than a Meal for free and watch the video to explore how partnerships are helping support food security and student success across Nunavut. Donations can also be made to Breakfast Club of Canada to help continue this important work.