Campbell River Launches Indoor Dinner Program, but Advocates Say Gaps Remain

The City of Campbell River is rolling out a new indoor dinner program aimed at improving food access for vulnerable residents, following months of criticism over its temporary boxed meal system.

The initiative will be operated out of the Salvation Army Centre of Hope, in partnership with the Laichwiltach Family Life Society, and is expected to begin as soon as operational details are finalized.

City officials say the program will provide consistent evening meals in a safe, indoor environment, building on existing lunch services already offered at the facility.

Mayor Kermit Dahl said the initiative reflects months of collaboration between the city and local service providers.

“This program allows us to respond in a meaningful way to the complex challenges that matter deeply to residents,” Dahl said in a statement.

Replacing a criticized meal system

The new program replaces a takeaway meal system introduced last summer after the closure of the Hem’?aelas Community Kitchen, which had previously served hot meals seven days a week.

The shift to boxed meals drew criticism from volunteers and community advocates, who argued the food was often not nutritious or practical for people without access to cooking facilities.

Some items - such as canned goods or instant noodles - required preparation that many recipients could not manage.

Funding and rollout

City manager Elle Brovold said Campbell River will contribute $144,000 in the first year under a four-year agreement.

The city expects its financial contribution to decrease over time as external funding and grants are secured.

Initially, the dinner service will operate Monday to Friday, with plans to expand to seven days a week in the future.

Community response: progress, but not enough

Local advocacy groups say the indoor program is a positive step, but does not fully address food insecurity in the community.

Vanessa Sharkey, executive director of the 7 Generation Stewards Society, said she is encouraged by the move indoors but remains concerned about gaps in service.

“I’m happy that it’s going to be able to move indoors,” she said. “But it’s not going to be seven days a week, so there will still be gaps.”

Volunteer groups, including Sharkey’s organization, have been serving hot meals outdoors in Spirit Square for months to fill the void left by the kitchen’s closure.

Tensions over outdoor meal efforts

Some of those volunteer efforts have faced pushback from city officials.

According to Sharkey, volunteers have been asked to stop serving meals outdoors due to concerns about public drinking and disruptive behaviour, and have seen increased visits from bylaw officers.

“All we’ve ever asked for is support,” she said.

City officials say food programs must comply with regulations around safety and permitting, and are encouraging volunteers to contribute through the new centralized program instead.

Looking ahead

The city hopes the indoor dinner service will become the primary way meals are delivered in Campbell River.

Officials are also exploring longer-term solutions, including the possibility of building a dedicated facility outside the downtown core to support food programs and other services.

While the new initiative marks a shift toward more structured support, community advocates say continued collaboration will be needed to ensure no one is left without access to regular, nutritious meals.