In 1999, a group of students from Concordia University with a passion for vegetarian food and a dedication to anti-poverty politics came together to start what has since become a successful student and community-based project. Their goal was to provide an alternative to the corporate-run cafeterias on campus by creating a by-donation vegan lunch service.

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The founding of the People’s Potato came at a time of growth in socially and environmentally conscious politics at Concordia University, with the emergence of a strong anti-capitalist wing in the anti-globalization movement. Not satisfied with merely discussing anti-poverty and food politics within the student body, the Potato’s original founders attempted to address these issues in a tangible way.

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How We Operate

Since its inception, the Potato kitchen has grown from a small volunteer-run collective to a workers’ collective employing over 10 people.

• Anti-Hierarchical Structure: Our organizational style is strictly anti-hierarchical; every worker takes part equally in decision-making at weekly collective meetings.
• Egalitarian Roles: Kitchen tasks and all administrative roles are shared equally among the collective members.
• Community Outreach: Apart from serving food to an average of 500 students and community members daily, the Potato maintains a vibrant educational program through occasional workshops and a biweekly food bank.

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Overcoming Challenges

Over the years, the Potato has faced continuous struggles surrounding funding and space.

One of our first major challenges involved the Sodexho/Marriot cafeteria service (which has since been replaced by Chartwells). The People’s Potato had to secure its kitchen space through difficult negotiations with the Concordia administration, successfully carving out a location for the kitchen from the abundant corporate space previously provided to Sodexho.

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Support Our Work

The project is funded by a levy in student dues paid to the student union. A project like the People’s Potato could not sustain itself without this vital funding from the student body and the countless hours of volunteer work put in by supportive students and community members. Thank you!

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