Cook - Peer Worker

Blood Ties Four Directions Centre is Looking for a Peer Worker – Cook!

Position Overview: Peer Worker – Cook

Blood Ties Four Directions Centre is seeking a Peer Worker – Cook to support our community meal program. This position offers an opportunity for someone with lived experience of substance use to contribute their skills, knowledge, and personal experience to providing nutritious meals in a welcoming, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment.

The Peer Worker – Cook will work approximately 7 hours per week in the Blood Ties kitchen, assisting with meal preparation, dishes, cooking, and serving meals to individuals accessing the Drop-in Centre. The successful candidate will bring an understanding of the barriers and challenges experienced by people who use substances and will use their lived experience to help foster a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment.

This position recognizes the value of peer knowledge and the important role that people with lived experience play in shaping and delivering community-based programming.

The Peer Worker – Cook will:

• Assist with washing dishes, cleaning, and maintaining a tidy and sanitary kitchen environment.
• Assist with food preparation and cooking meals for individuals accessing the Blood Ties Drop-in Centre.
• Support meal preparation activities, including portioning, packaging, and organizing food for service.
• Assist with serving meals to clients in a welcoming, respectful, and non-judgmental manner.
• Assist with tracking meal program statistics, including meal counts, attendance, and other relevant program data.
• Support inventory monitoring and communicate supply needs to the Kitchen Coordinator.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to help improve the meal program and ensure it reflects the needs and preferences of the community.
• Use lived experience and peer-based approaches to build positive relationships with community members.
• Help foster a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment for individuals accessing the Drop-in Centre.
• Apply harm reduction, trauma-informed, and culturally safe approaches when interacting with clients.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while building respectful relationships with community members and staff.
• Work collaboratively with the Kitchen Coordinator and broader Blood Ties team to support the successful delivery of the meal program.
• Assist with other meal program and kitchen-related duties as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a kitchen, food preparation, or meal program.
• Food Safe Certificate or willingness to obtain one.
• Experience working with marginalized populations, including people who use substances, Indigenous people and communities, and people experiencing homelessness.
• Knowledge of harm reduction practices, overdose prevention, and naloxone.
• Experience with peer support, community outreach, or other peer-based programming.
• Training or experience in trauma-informed care and cultural safety.

Is Blood Ties right for you?

We have a friendly, community-oriented work environment with a great team passionate about reducing health and social barriers for marginalized populations. We recognize that lived experience is valuable expertise and that people with lived experience have an important role in shaping and delivering the services our community needs.

We care about our community, and we care about our team. We strive to create an inclusive workplace where everyone's knowledge, skills, and experiences are valued.

Hours: 7 hours per week
Wage: $30.00 per hour (starting wage)

Learn more about Blood Ties:

Please apply through YUWIN. Your cover letter and resume should highlight relevant skills, experience, and interest in the position.

Candidates must have lived experience with substance use. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to apply. We encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they wish to do so.