Adding some culture to the kitchen

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This article was published 07/10/2015 (3094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s about supporting a good program and discovering some good food along the way.

Eastman Immigrant Services has launched a search for the best recipes around to create a cookbook that reflects the many cultures that create the spice of life here in the Southeast.

EIS, together with mySteinbach.ca and Derksen Printers, have launched the first step of the compilation process. mySteinbach.ca has established a website called culturesinthekitchen.ca which offers cooks the chance to submit their home kitchen’s best creations.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON
Eastman Immigrant Services’ Richard Harder and Marina Klassen are joined by mySteinbach.ca’s Brad Kehler who, along with Derksen Printers, are partnering to produce the Cultures in the Kitchen recipe book.
GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON Eastman Immigrant Services’ Richard Harder and Marina Klassen are joined by mySteinbach.ca’s Brad Kehler who, along with Derksen Printers, are partnering to produce the Cultures in the Kitchen recipe book.

It is said that there can sometimes be too many cooks in the kitchen but the more the merrier with this project. With over 100 nationalities represented in the EIS coverage area, the hope is to collect some ideas for tasty cuisine from all of them and amass about 500 recipes.

mySteinbach’s Brad Kehler said he and business partner Corwyn Friesen pitched the idea, after Kehler had discussions about possible fundraising ideas for EIS while sitting on a Steinbach Chamber of Commerce committee.

Eastman Immigrant Services has been challenged in the past two years after changes to the way immigration settlement offices are funded. The federal government has required services to focused solely on permanent residents, though in the past nearly half the EIS program clients consisted of other individuals such as those on work permits, visitor visas and students visas. The office operates on an annual budget of approximately $340,000. After committing to gather $35,000 themselves, EIS brokered a deal with the federal government to keep the remainder of their funding intact.

Raising those funds is no easy feat.

“With a lot of hardwork, we are barely on track,” said EIS executive director Richard Harder.

Kehler and Friesen decided the cookbook project could be a good fit.

“We’d had a similar project on a smaller scale for a church,” Kehler said.

It seemed like a good idea to Harder too.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to look at the deliciousness of food and the diversity in the region,” Harder said.

Food is great starting point for cultures to connect.

“A lot of people express their gratitude with food,” adds EIS’ Marina Klassen. “It’s a huge gesture. We love those moments.”

This project, Harder said, is a good way of connecting with the average resident about the benefits of immigration. He said EIS has done a good job of getting employers to buy into the value of immigrants but less so with the general public.

“This can help lessen that gap,” he said. “They can taste the goodness, taste the goodness of diversity.”

The cookbook project will allow for the community to be involved in different ways, either through submitting a recipe or purchasing a book (or both).

Recipes can be submitted to the Cultures in the Kitchen website or, Harder says, EIS staff are happy to help individuals through the process on paper at their Steinbach office.

Kehler said they hope to have created their collection of recipes by the end of this year, begin production at Derksen Printers in January, and have it ready for sale next spring.

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