Photo, from left to right: Pascalle Roy, Food Security Coordinator at the Chaleur Regional Service Commission (CRSC); Jennifer Pitre, Director of Community Development Services at the CRSC; Daphné Robbins, student at Le Domaine Étudiant School in Petit-Rocher; the Honourable Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick; the Honourable Claire Johnson, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development; and Daniel Guitard, Mayor of the Ville de Belle-Baie.
Belle-Baie, December 9, 2025 – Yesterday afternoon, the Chaleur Regional Service Commission (Chaleur RSC) officially opened the Chaleur Food Hub, an initiative funded by the provincial breakfast program and developed in close collaboration with the Chaleur, Acadian Peninsula, Restigouche, and Miramichi regions.
This new hub aims to meet an urgent need in the northern part of the province, where many children still start their school day on an empty stomach. " Before the Chaleur Food Hub was established, there were no official funded breakfast services in the Chaleur, Acadian Peninsula, Restigouche, and Miramichi regions, despite very real needs. Everything that was accomplished had to be done with the willingness and generosity of a few volunteers. Thanks to the hard work of interregional partnerships, we were able to create this wonderful initiative," explained Jennifer Pitre, Director of Community Development at Chaleur RSC.
"We are proud to celebrate the Chaleur Food Hub and the incredible work they are doing in northern New Brunswick. Thanks to community partners like the Hub, we have been able to roll out our school breakfast program across the province, ensuring that every student starts their day with a full belly so they can focus on learning," said the Honorable Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick, who was on hand for the occasion.
In 2024, child poverty rates reached 41% in Campbellton, 30% in Bathurst, 14% in Caraquet, and 22% in Miramichi. This reality highlighted the urgent need for concerted action at the regional level to adequately meet the food needs of students in northern New Brunswick.
Thanks to the Chaleur Food Hub and provincial funding, 57 schools are now served, providing nearly 16,000 students with access to a nutritious breakfast every day. This essential contribution not only promotes food security, but also concentration, academic success, and the overall well-being of children.
The opening of the Chaleur Food Hub marks an important milestone for food security and equal educational opportunities in northern New Brunswick. It embodies a collective commitment to children and families by promoting a learning environment where every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, can have the same opportunities for success.
