SaskatoonFrom its cramped and antiquated facility on Avenue C, the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is struggling to feed 23,000 people a month. But that’s about to change as the food bank broke ground Friday on its future home.Facility on Avenue P will host food bank, garden and learning centreScott Larson · CBC · Posted: Oct 03, 2025 5:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 3The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre’s new location will be on Avenue P near 19th Street. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)From its cramped and antiquated facility on Avenue C, the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is struggling to feed 23,000 people a month.But that’s about to change as the food bank broke ground Friday on its future home.Laurie O’Connor, the food bank’s executive director, said the current location is bursting at the seams.”That definitely puts a big strain on our organization,” O’Connor said.”We operate out of about five different locations at the moment, so [there’s] programming in different buildings, storage and warehousing in different buildings.”O’Connor, who has been the driving force behind the project for over a decade, said the new home couldn’t come at a better time.Saskatoon Food Bank executive director Laurie O’Connor says they spent a number of years trying to find the right location. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)The new facility will be located on Avenue P, just south of 19th Street.Along with being the food distribution centre, the new location will have a garden, onsite storage area and space for its learning programs.”Our vision is to have all of our programs and services under one roof and to be able to serve the community in a way that’s effective and efficient,” O’Connor said.O’Connor said they spent a number of years trying to find the right location.”It is in the heart of the community we want to be in. Lots of folks who live close by will be using our programs and services.”Ward 2 Coun. Senos Timon said the food bank will be a welcome addition to the Pleasant Hill community.”The food bank’s vision is not only about handing out food, but it’s about providing hope for the most vulnerable in our community,” Timon said.The new Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)The food bank had a $12-million capital campaign for the the new facility. The major donation, $2.5 million, comes from Nutrien.”We’ve been supporting the Saskatoon Food Bank for over 30 years, and so this was really an easy one for us to step up to and support,” said Chris Reynolds, Nutrien’s executive vice-president and chief commercial officer.”Because of what we’re going through economically right now, the range of people that this food bank is serving has become a lot wider, and its need is even more critical.”Nutrien’s Chris Reynolds says the company has been a partner with the Saskatoon Food Bank for 30 years. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)Reynolds’s family members also donate their time at the food bank.”It’s been some great education for my children, as well, and an appreciation for them about those that are less fortunate than us and how we can give back to the community that we now call home,” said Reynolds, who is originally from Australia.O’Connor said the food bank and learning centre is used by not just those without a job, but also students and many working people who struggle to make ends meet.O’Connor said the new facility will streamline the services and make it a better experience for clients and staff.The current Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is straining to keep up with the 23,000 people it serves. (Don Somers/CBC)”We welcome everyone to come to the food bank, and we want to remove the stigma of having to ask for help,” O’Connor said. “And so creating a really beautiful building, I think, will make a big difference for folks.”The property on Avenue P is three and a half acres, and O’Connor said they’ll be able to grow food there, have an outdoor classroom, and increase its nutrition programming and workplace education programming.The new facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.ABOUT THE AUTHORScott Larson works for CBC News in Saskatoon. scott.larson@cbc.ca
New Saskatoon food bank location will have more room as need continues to grow
