Commissary Connect: Diversity Awareness Month
Commissary Community: Diversity Awareness Month
With the season changing and umbrellas and pumpkin spice everywhere we look, we know we have entered Autumn. We get to stare in awe at nature’s canvas, taking delight in the rich colors that are so intrinsically significant of Fall – oranges, browns, deep reds.. It seems poetic that October should be Diversity Awareness Month.
We can all agree the last two years have brought about a change none of us were ready for. As I reflect on that, I couldn’t help but wonder how others were impacted and what things they missed most.
What is Diversity? It is defined as individual uniqueness; traits such as race, gender, age, political or social views to name a few, that set us apart from others. In Vancouver, we boast a variety of cultures with a diverse culinary scene celebrating individual uniqueness. The culture and community in our Commissary is no different as we recognize our members bustling day in and day out with their unique offerings.
Nihal Elwan – Tayybeh Syrian
We start our Diversity appreciation with the team of Tayybeh Syrian. Tayybeh is a social-enterprise of women refugees who came together sharing their love for their country, their cuisine, their customs and their challenges – leaving behind their homes and transitioning to a country that kept them safe.
Tayybeh’s founder, Nihal Elwan hails from Egypt and tells us of her privileged upbringing which gave her access to education and opportunities which became the foundation for her to take action towards the inequity many women like the members of Tayybeh face.
Nihal created an environment for the Tayybeh women to feel safe while taking on new roles as breadwinners for their families, a role that traditionally belonged to men. When I asked Nihal about Tayybeh’s menu, she let us in on the diversity of the cuisine of Syria; much like Italian or Indian cuisine. Each dish tasted slightly different from region to region – so despite being from the same country, the women had a unique way of preparing each item. In creating the menu for Tayybeh, the women were able to cultivate special ways of creating dishes they loved and over their similarities, also learned to appreciate and integrate their differences.
Jessica Kruger – The Stubborn Baker
When you walk into Commissary Connect at 417 Industrial Ave, you can see Jessica at the oddest hours quietly working away as she concentrates on the delicate task to create memories for her customers most special occasions – from weddings to birthdays and gender reveals; her role as a baker can be demanding and stressful at times to ensure her clients have the desired finished products they envisioned, but it’s also incredibly satisfying and rewarding because she is living her dream.
I was fortunate enough to have some one-on-one time with Jessica getting to know her on a more personal level. I started by asking her the meaning behind the name, The Stubborn Baker, to which Jessica revealed an ongoing challenge to this day.
When an accident left her paralysed and completely altered her life, Jessica found strength and determination from within to face every challenge that came her way; from not being accepted into programs, having her capabilities underestimated at a glance, to the challenges of combating societal perception. It was “stubbornness” that kept her going and ultimately resulted in her starting her own business, a place she carved for herself where her creativity and abilities could flourish. For Jessica, diversity goes hand-in-hand with inclusivity. An inclusive space that accommodates and celebrates individuals with various backgrounds, unique situations and different abilities where people can thrive is a place she considers beautiful and diverse. We are honored and proud to offer a diverse and inclusive community within our commissary.
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