About Us
The Nanaimo Bakery & Café offers inspired opportunities to break bread and break down barriers, bringing hope to the mid-Vancouver Island region.
As a social purpose company, supporting the work of Island Crisis Care Society, the Nanaimo Bakery & Café will seek to:
- Provide quality, handmade, artisanal food and beverages, made with care and intention
- Offer inspiring opportunities to bring people together from all walks of life
- Lift our community by prioritizing local products and supporting local people
Since August 2021
In 2021, the business was purchased by Island Crisis Care Society, with the intention of converting it to a social purpose company, eventually supporting the ongoing work of ICCS to address the issues of homelessness and poverty within the mid-Vancouver Island region, with a focus on support to client-centred program innovations, helping those most in need rise above the barriers in their lives towards hope.
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This “social-purpose conversion” aims to establish a new identity for The Nanaimo Bakery & Café as a modern and inspired full-service bakery and café, putting a west-coast twist on European-inspired favourites. With a renewed “social purpose”, the NEW Nanaimo Bakery & Café will also aim to be an inclusive place where members of the wider community can enjoy exceptional, hand-crafted bread and pastries, along with delicious coffee and breakfast/lunch items… all while supporting those in need!
The Nanaimo Bakery & Café will also further support the mission of Island Crisis Care Society by serving as a work experience host for the organization’s new employment program, Project Rise, which will offer employment training to those who have typically experienced barriers to community connection.
Our Impact
The Nanaimo Bakery & Café (under the ownership of Rising Hope Services Inc.) supports the mission of local non-profit, Island Crisis Care Society by serving as a work experience host for the organization’s new employment program, Project Rise, which offers employment training to those who have typically experienced barriers to community connection.
In future, the Bakery will also continue to support the work of ICCS by donating a portion of their annual profits to the organization for the use and development of current and future programs.
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At present, the Bakery is proud to donate loaves of our bread on a weekly to local charities, helping to give back in a meaningful way and aid in their respective missions to feed and support those in our community!
Our History
In 1989, Island Crisis Care Society was born out of a compassion for the most vulnerable. A group of caring community members opened Samaritan House as a refuge of hope for those experiencing homelessnes
s in Nanaimo. If necessity is the mother of invention...the deep needs felt in those early days led to the development of an organization who held innovation as a driving force. Always searching for new and innovative ways to support those who came through the doors with wrap-around care that met them -without judgement - right where they were.
Through the years, ICCS has grown and developed...always with innovative programs and projects that carried on the mission, "To provide shelter and care to those in need, reflecting the love of God in loving one another."
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So, in 2021, when ICCS took the bold and innovative leap into social enterprise through the creation of a for-profit subsidiary, Rising Hope Services Inc, and set about to purchase and convert the Nanaimo Bakery to a social purpose company...it was the next step in a 30 plus year history of approaching deep need with out-of-the-box thinking. In this case, the need was to develop a stable and consistent revenue stream which would support ICCS programming. These programs aim to specifically support individuals in moving from just surviving to thriving! You can learn more about these programs by visiting www.islandcrisiscaresociety.ca
While Island Crisis Care Society was beginning its work of meeting needs in our community...so too was the original Nanaimo Bakery & Confectionery. The Jaeger family had also seen a need in Nanaimo, to bring their passion for European baking to the community and to offer opportunities for people to come together and break bread. While our approach may be different, we hold the legacy of the Nanaimo Bakery dear to our hearts. The shared vision of meeting needs in the community are what paved the way for the NEW Nanaimo Bakery & Cafe!
"The Nanaimo Bakery & Café offers inspired opportunities to break bread and break down barriers, bringing hope to the mid-Vancouver Island region.
When you visit the Nanaimo Bakery & Cafe, we welcome you to be part of our story - to join our community of innovation and hope! To break bread with us, to share a laugh, or a moment of compassion. To consider something in a new way and seek to find a new perspective on a difficult topic. Or...simply to sit with us and be nourished!
Our Mission
The Nanaimo Bakery & Café offers inspired opportunities to break bread and break down barriers, bringing hope to the mid-Vancouver Island region.
Our Vision
As a social purpose company, supporting the work of Island Crisis Care Society, the Nanaimo Bakery & Café will seek to:
- Provide quality, handmade, artisanal food and beverages, made with care and intention.
- Offer inspiring opportunities to bring people together from all walks of life.
- Lift the community by prioritizing local products and supporting local people.