VICTORIA – Julian of Norwich parish in the Diocese of Islands and Inlets has launched an innovative project, Julian’s Place, to support the food, financial and spiritual needs of students at nearby Algonquin College.
With a grant of $7,815 from the diocese’s Future Fund, the parish invites students to “come over to Julian’s Place” once a month for a warm meal, to check out the affordable Nearly New Shop and renew their sense of well-being by walking a labyrinth in the parish hall.
The grant was among the first three approved by the Future Fund, which was launched in 2024 to support innovative and effective initiatives that foster engagement with the wider community and the formation of new worshipping communities.
The parish saw that among Algonquin College’s 20,000 students, there were concerns about the rising costs of food, affordable housing and education.
“Our parish anticipates that developing relationships with Algonquin students through Julian’s Place will plant seeds for a more fulsome and sustained engagement between students, the Julian community and the college itself,” says the Rev. Karen McBride.
Three students from the college’s culinary skills program have been recruited to work with parish volunteers. They each get a $100 honorarium to lead the cooking and serving. A website design student has been awarded a $500 honorarium to build a new parish website.
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