Our Story

About Us: Thirteen A Social Enterprise (13:ASE) is an entrepreneurial program of the Parkdale Food Centre. 13:ASE engages youth seeking employment and skills development opportunities in the operation of a social enterprise. By engaging participants in all aspects of business decisions and development, in a collaborative and supported space, this program helps participants gain strong emotional and social skills as well as confidence in themselves and their future. 13:ASE also serves as an entry point into the labour market. It provides a supportive first work experience and the opportunity to build a social and professional network. The skills that participants and peer mentors develop through 13:ASE are directly related to improving access to work experience, obtaining experience, gaining community connections and language development.   

History:  13:ASE started with youth who lived in our neighbourhood. Many of those youth had just arrived in Canada with their families from various countries around the world. Other members became engaged through other access point of Parkdale Food Centre like our foodbank. Each youth participating in our program has a strong motivation to access opportunities to work, learn or engage in the community. We are there to provide that opportunity.

What is a Social Enterprise? Being a social enterprise means that we are a business whose aim is still to earn revenue but that we operate with a social mission. All our profits go back into funding entrepreneurial training and engagement with youth. 

Our Products: Our spices reflect the diverse countries that many of the past participants have come from. In our recipes we create diverse dishes from many different cultures and communities as a way of engaging with people and building community. We use food, spices, recipes as tools for connection and community building around our business and around the people in our business.

Our Funders