Cooking For Keeps

Cooking For Keeps is a community-driven initiative dedicated to empowering youth with essential life skills through the art of cooking. In partnership with Chef Jill Hillier, Wenu, Rily Kitchen, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto we host free monthly cooking classes for youth aged 12-17 and their Big Brother/Big Sister matches. Each session provides hands-on experience in meal planning, budgeting, healthy eating, product selection, food prep, food safety, and knife skills. Held in a donated kitchen studio (Rily Kitchen), these classes foster confidence, teamwork, and independence in a safe and supportive environment. At the end of each session, every participant takes home a nutritious, "ready-to-bake" meal to share with their family. Cooking For Keeps is more than a class—it’s a movement to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to make better food choices, develop self-sufficiency, and build lasting connections through shared meals. Join us in shaping the next generation of home cooks and community leaders. Together, we can turn cooking into a lifelong skill that nourishes both body and mind.