Good afternoon,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you of a significant reorganisation of the Midnight Kitchen program, a service that has long aimed to support food accessibility on campus. This decision, made by the SSMU Board of Directors, was not made lightly and comes after a thorough review of the program’s operations and finances over the past several years.
The Midnight Kitchen has been operating under a fee mandate to serve five meals per week; however, in recent years, it has only been delivering one to two servings weekly. At the same time, our audit of the program’s financials showed that a relatively small portion of its budget has gone directly toward food, limiting the overall impact of the service for students. This has raised concerns around accountability and long-term sustainability.
Currently, Midnight Kitchen provides free or pay‑what‑you‑can vegan & nut‑free meals, usually on Thursdays around 1 pm. Students pay $8.00 per semester ($16.00 annually), which goes towards Midnight Kitchen’s operating budget. Combined across those who didn’t opt out (21,960 Students), this totalled $351,360. In 2023, only $15,000 (5.11%) went towards food; in 2024, this rose to $25,000, but still remained only 7.41% of the total budget of the Service.
To enhance the value of this program, the SSMU will be reorganising the Midnight Kitchen’s operations by integrating it as a full-time department of the SSMU and creating a new, centralised position: the Food Services & Hospitality Manager. This full-time role, filled by someone with extensive experience both as a culinary chef and a kitchen manager, will enable a greater share of the budget to go directly towards food, while also ensuring professional oversight and support.
The responsibilities of the Food Services & Hospitality Manager will include:
- Establishing and overseeing a daily free lunch service for all students, Monday to Friday.
- Developing a structured food program with clear operational and financial oversight.
- Coordinating the use of the third-floor kitchen in the University Centre for student group bookings, workshops, and events.
In time, this restructured food services model will give rise to a broader SSMU Catering Service, offering catering services to booking groups and a range of paid and volunteer opportunities for students in event catering, bar service, and kitchen assistance, both for SSMU Catering and in support of the daily free meal service.
Further, as part of this reorganisation, the food program will no longer be limited to exclusively vegan options. While we remain committed to offering plant-based meals as part of a sustainable and inclusive menu, expanding our offerings allows us to serve a broader range of dietary needs and preferences, ensuring that more students can access nourishing meals each day. This approach reflects feedback we’ve received from the community and aligns with our goal of making food services more accessible and responsive to all.
As part of this transition, the employment of five regular part-time staff of Midnight Kitchen has come to an end, with employees receiving severance in accordance with the SSMU’s collective agreement and legal requirements. We recognise and appreciate the contributions of these staff members over the years. This reorganisation is focused on strengthening the structure and long-term sustainability of the service, and is not a reflection on the commitment or efforts of the individuals involved.
To ensure transparency, we are making available Midnight Kitchen’s fiscal budgets from 2022 to 2025, as well as the Minerva Report, which details the opt-outs for the 2025-26 year. You may view them below.
We remain committed to food accessibility, but also to responsible stewardship of student fees. This new structure reflects our dual goals of improving service delivery and expanding opportunities for students in both volunteer and employment capacities.
Thank you for your understanding.
Regards,
The Board of Directors
Appendices
Midnight Kitchen Budget (7020) – 2022-23
Midnight Kitchen Budget (7020) – 2023-24
Midnight Kitchen Budget (7020) – 2024-25
Midnight Kitchen Opt-Outs Minerva Report – 2025-26
