After hearing Natalie, the SPICE Program lead, talk about the Centre for Women in Business’s, Specialized Program in Cooking Entrepreneurship (SPICE) on Information Morning, Reverend Angela MacLean and Gaye Wishart, Chair of Outreach at Hillside United Church, started thinking about what might be possible. “Could our kitchen be a place where women could learn, create, and grow?”
When Angela and Gaye learned more about SPICE’s mission to empower underrepresented women to build culinary businesses, they brought the idea to the Hillside church leadership team. “We quickly agreed that supporting SPICE felt like a natural extension of our own calling as a church. We have always believed that our building should serve the community, not simply serve ourselves,” Angela shared.
Angela also shared that supporting SPICE and CWB matters to Hillside because it reflects their deepest values: hospitality, dignity, justice, and practical compassion. “Programs like SPICE open doors, hearts, and minds. They create opportunities for women to build new futures with confidence, and we want to be part of that kind of transformation.”
“The SPICE participants have brought energy, creativity, and a wonderful sense of shared purpose to our community. Their presence has reminded us that our church is not only a place of worship, but also a place of possibility,” Angela explained.
“In many ways, the participants have also helped us see our own space differently. Our kitchen has become more than a room in our building; it has become a place where community is built through food, learning, shared experience, and mutual encouragement,” Angela said.
One moment in particular has stayed with Angela. “One SPICE graduate used our kitchen to create delicious food inspired by her home country of Brazil. Her cooking filled the building with the wonderful aromas of Brazilian cuisine. She grew up surrounded by mountains in Brazil, and I remember hearing her say:
‘You don’t need to know what’s on the other side of the mountain to take the next step.’
She shared those words at the most recent SPICE graduation as she reflected on her journey of leaving home, facing hardship, and building a new life in Canada. Her courage, and the way she expressed it, has stayed with me ever since.”
“Courage often means taking one small step at a time, even when the future is uncertain,” Angela stated.
Angela’s advice to those who are considering supporting SPICE? “Simply, do it.”
“If you have space, share it. If you have resources, offer them. If you have a heart for community, this is a partnership that will bless you just as much as it blesses the participants.
SPICE is more than a program. It is a pathway to empowerment. It is practical, relational, and deeply meaningful. Through a partnership with SPICE, you have the opportunity to see firsthand how education, opportunity, and encouragement can change lives.”
“It is not just about sharing space; it is about sharing hope. The SPICE participants have taught us that resilience can grow when people are given the room, support, and opportunity to flourish. We are grateful to play even a small part in that flourishing.
Hillside United Church is committed to continuing this work because we believe that ‘when one person rises, the whole community rises with them.”
No matter where you are on your business journey, we want to help you launch safe, licensed food businesses and provide you with the tools and training to grow your business! If you’re interested in SPICE, view our program page on our website, here.