911吃瓜

This photo shows that someone ate a pizza and left the box as trash on the street near a building, even though a garbage bin was very close by. It is so important to clean up your environment. A clean environment is good for you and your neighbours, making us healthy and happy citizens; when our environment is dirty, it can make us sick and less productive. 鈥� Makia, Afghanistan

This is an Indian spice box. It is full of healthy herbs and spices, and has the magic to create good food for my family. The spice box is spiritual: for example, the turmeric represents the calmness of the body. Spices provide us with the critical nutrients we need for good moods, and the experience of consuming them creates an emotional release. Mood is also an important component of good food: your positive energy goes into the food you cook for your family. Some of these spices are much more expensive to buy in Canada, so I grind more potent versions at home myself. 鈥� Swati, India

This small, family-run Eritrean restaurant in Burnaby is my beacon. It offers dishes from home that taste like nostalgia, bridges the gap of homesickness with comfort and hope, and creates a feeling of home away from home. The restaurant follows Orthodox Christian traditions like serving dishes free from meat and dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, and certain religious holidays. It also uses halal meat; in Eritrea, I did not eat halal, but here in Canada, I prefer its taste to conventional meats. 鈥� Selam, Eritrea

This picture shows a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with an Indonesian rice platter and traditional side dishes served alongside a classic turkey. It was enjoyed at home with Indonesian friends whose cuisine is similar to that of my home country, Singapore. Since migrating here, my family has learned to 

adapt to a new multicultural environment and new foods, especially seasonal foods. My first year in Canada, I missed food from home a lot, but now, my tastes and relationship to food are changing; I think more healthy ingredients, and how to balance health and taste with affordability.  鈥� Regine, Singapore

A block away from my building is this restaurant which I thought was remarkable. The word 鈥榟alal鈥� (as I鈥檝e learned through a friend means how food is carefully prepared with minimal suffering to the animal. This expands Chinese cuisine to cater to a wide range of people and their specific dietary needs, which feels more inclusive and encourages diverse communities to co-mingle, so the name of the restaurant seems purposeful 鈥� what a genuine way to bring people together through food. 鈥� Desiree, the Philippines

At first glance, the small lemon-jelly box might seem insignificant, but to me, it represents something much deeper鈥攁n act of sharing. I am part of a neighbourhood group where we share items like food (including this jelly box), clothing, tools, and furniture. In our group, every contribution matters. I have seen neighbours share everything from a half loaf of bread to a complete dining set, as well as skills and services, such as providing transportation to doctor鈥檚 appointments. What we truly share, however, is care, time, and a sense of community. I鈥檓 grateful to be part of this group, where every act of sharing connects us to a larger network of kindness and generosity. 鈥� Ana Mar铆a, Peru