May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and with the added pressures the pandemic has placed on those who work in restaurants, it’s more critical than ever to engage in meaningful discussions about ways we can help ease the mental burdens of those in the industry.

In a recent post, @worth.association President and Founder Joanna Jagger detailed her own experiences:

“ ‘Leave it at the door’ was a common expression exclaimed by management in my early restaurant days,” she writes. “It was implied that once in uniform, any personal problems should be bottled up in preparation for a stressful, fast-paced shift. These words were even posted on the staff bulletin board, next to the schedule and daily specials. It was understood you were to keep quiet about your personal issues and get to work.”

Now that she has transitioned to the world of Human Resources, Joanna is committed to continuing and advancing the cause of wellness in the workplace and is highlighting resources that exist for those in the industry via organizations like @mindthebarcanada, @not9to5_ and @shiftchangenow.

Speaking of Shift Change, Joanna will be a featured guest for the latest session in its ongoing ‘Speakers for Change’ sessions on Monday, June 7 and will be addressing how the pandemic has impacted women in the industry and what we need to do as a collective to ensure a feminist recovery. Check out their or Shift Change’s instagram account for more details and how to tune in and be part of a vital discussion.

Read Joanna’s full blog post at the link in our IG bio.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.

A shout out to our pals at @memphisbluesbbq, who have introduced a ‘Memphis in May’ pack that offers a perfect al-fresco feast for four while giving back to restaurant workers via @bchospitality.

Every Memphis in May pack includes an assortment of delicious smoked meats (enough to feed four hungry adults), slaw, pit beans, cornbread, potato salad and French fries and four Boylan sodas for $90, with the option to add on a six pack of @russell_beer for $105 or a bottle of @mfvwines @okcrushpad or @nicholvineyard wine for $115.

For each pack sold during the month of May, Memphis Blues will donate 20% to the BC Hospitality Foundation, which provides last-resort assistance for hospitality workers in financial crisis due to a serious health condition and also offers a scholarship program that fosters the next generation of industry leaders.

“We think it’s important to pitch in to help members of our community when they hit a bump in the road,” says Memphis Blues Co-Founder George Siu. “We love that we can make a difference by giving people an easy way to enjoy some great food in the great outdoors.”

Great team, great food, great cause!

Order your Memphis in May pack from the Commercial Drive outpost by calling 604-215-2599 today.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.

It’s been a full two weeks since we launched our #BehindthePlexi project, and we continue to be so grateful and thrilled with how everyone has come together to show their support as we work to extend a helping hand to Vancouver’s restaurant workers at a time they need it the most.

What began as an idea by local restaurateur Brad Roark of @nookrestaurant and @oddfishrestaurant quickly blossomed into a project that saw four local photographers (@whentheyfindus, @wadecomerphoto, @hudsonny and @mayowill) lend their time and talents to capture a series of raw, behind-the-scenes images of local restaurants in the midst of a pandemic — as only they could.

“We’ve had the honour of working with some extremely gifted photographers and we allowed them to embrace their creative freedom, unique talents and way of seeing each situation through their own lens,” says Breaking Bread Founder and SMC Communications Inc. Founder and President Shelley McArthur Everett.

“The results speak for themselves — what they were able to showcase has been nothing short of stunning. Each one of these prints transports you to a specific time and place and absolutely captures those aspects we all miss and love about local restaurants.”

All proceeds from the sale of each print will be dedicated to the creation of two new scholarships for restaurant workers who have experienced employment setbacks due to COVID-19 — one via the @bchospitalityfoundation and the other to the @chineserestaurantawards scholarship at Vancouver Community College. The Chinese Restaurant Awards will also contribute $10 for every print sold from the collection of photos taken at Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants.

Check out our website at the link in our bio above to see the whole portfolio of prints available for purchase until Monday, May 31.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.