Nicola Wealth is honoured to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) in celebrating a milestone that will shape its future and the communities it serves. With the opening of a new permanent facility on Lougheed Highway, the GVFB has secured stability after years of operating from temporary spaces.
Since 2020, the organization has moved six times, each relocation creating disruption for clients, uncertainty for staff, and additional operational costs. Without a permanent home, the Food Bank was subject to the risks of short-term leases, even as demand for its services continued to grow.
“Owning a permanent space has been transformative,” Tor Smith, Director of Philanthropy at GVFB, shared. “Clients can now rely on a stable location and uninterrupted support. For the organization, alleviating the worry of whether our lease will be renewed allows us to focus on what is next and continue to move forward.”
Building Stability and Innovation
The new facility combines capacity, accessibility, and innovation. Expanded refrigeration allows the Food Bank to store the more than 80 per cent fresh food that makes up weekly menus. Distribution and agency services, once spread across multiple sites, now operate under one roof. Enclosed registration rooms provide privacy during client appointments, and modern office space supports collaboration among staff.
Transit connections and on-site parking improve accessibility, ensuring the building serves as a reliable anchor for the thousands of individuals and families who depend on it.
“This building isn’t just a facility for us,” Smith noted. “It’s the foundation for innovation, collaboration, and lasting impact.”
Food Today, Pathways for Tomorrow
The permanent space has also made possible the FRESH Start Program, which connects clients to wrap-around services such as housing resources, employment support, and health care. By integrating food distribution with poverty-reduction services, the GVFB is addressing both immediate hunger and the longer-term conditions that contribute to it.
“The Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s mission has always been to provide healthy food to those in need,” Smith explained. “This building empowers us to scale that mission, partner with farmers and food banks across Canada, reduce waste through preservation, and connect clients with services that help them thrive.”
Why Nicola Wealth Supported This Project
Nicola Wealth’s decision to help fund the new facility reflects a belief that philanthropy should strengthen organizations in ways that endure.
“What resonates with us is the GVFB’s innovation-driven approach to a systemic challenge. They have an incredible ability to zero in on problems and solve them with creativity and smart partnerships,” said Teresa Virani, Executive Director of Philanthropy at Nicola Wealth. “Their new permanent home represents a foundation for possibility and the chance to scale that innovation in a lasting way”.
John Nicola, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Nicola Wealth, added: “The GVFB’s new facility represents the kind of innovation and stability that creates real, long-term value for the community. We are proud to support an organization that continues to evolve in how it serves people.”
A Collective Effort
This milestone reflects the contributions of staff, volunteers, donors, and partners who came together to create a stronger foundation for food security in British Columbia.
For the thousands of people who rely on the GVFB each week, the new facility is more than a building. It represents stability, dignity, and the opportunity to plan for a healthier future.
