The Global Food Picnic is built on a simple idea: Food, smiles, and laughter are some of the most reliable ways people connect. On June 14, Tapestry International Women’s Network, in partnership with Roots Community Food Centre, will bring flavours from around the world together for an afternoon that feels less like an event and more like a shared table.
In 2019, the two organizations joined forces to organize Thunder Bay’s first Ethnic Food Picnic, inviting women home chefs—not commercial vendors—to share dishes from their cultures. It was created to celebrate cultural diversity, build friendships in an informal setting, and give newcomer and immigrant women a visible place in the community. Now known as the Global Food Picnic, the gathering continues to give people, who may never have met, a chance to discover they have more in common than they think.
Last year, about 20 home chefs from various regions and countries took part, offering dishes to about 500 guests that reflected their cultures and culinary creativity. Organizer Roopa Rakshit said this year’s picnic will follow the same model: Guests can also expect henna and nail painting, face painting, jewellery and crafts, cultural artifacts, and African hair braiding—small touches that add to the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
A Network Built on Heart
The picnic is just one example of how Tapestry International Women’s Network brings people together. Since 2018, the volunteer-driven group has been creating spaces where newcomer women, families, and long-time residents can connect through culture, conversation, and shared experience. As the group’s background notes, “Tapestry is built on trust, lived experience, and human connection. It operates as an evolving network—deeply embedded in the community.”
Over the years, Tapestry has hosted cultural events, community talks, and fundraisers, donating to local charities such as Elevate NWO, the Underground Gym, and Isthmus. “With limited resources and unlimited heart, we have created spaces where we women can feel seen and heard,” Rakshit told supporters at a recent gathering.
A Grant that Strengthens the Foundation
On April 22, Tapestry shared some exciting news: The group had been selected by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants as one of 22 organizations across the province to receive funding—and notably, the only unincorporated group among them. “This is especially a very feel-good moment because unincorporated grassroots [organizations] like us have very limited options for funds,” Rakshit said.
The grant will help Tapestry strengthen its foundation in practical, long-needed ways. The group plans to hire two part-time coordinators to support program delivery and operations, easing the load on volunteers who have long met in coffee shops and borrowed spaces. Governance and leadership development are also priorities, along with building stronger systems, roles, and policy frameworks, plus improved communications tools—including a long-awaited website and social media platforms.
At the heart of the project is the continuation of Tapestry Circles—small, action-oriented groups where, as Rakshit explained, “learning, mentorship, and leadership can come together.” The circles focus on helping women build financial confidence, find academic and career pathways, learn about Canadian workplace culture, micro-entrepreneurship, health and wellness, and foster a sense of belonging through cultural and community engagement, including volunteerism.
Food as a Universal Connector
Food has always been one of Tapestry’s most reliable tools for building relationships. “Some of the best connections and conversations have happened over a shared plate,” Rakshit said.
Roots Community Food Centre’s Erin Beagle sees the same thing in their shared programming. She described a Culture Kitchen session where a mother and daughter from Iraq and a woman from Ukraine—each speaking very limited English—cooked and ate together. As they shared borscht made from a grandmother’s recipe, the Iraqi mother and daughter suddenly burst into tears, remembering that the same soup had been served to them in one of the camps they passed through on their refugee journey. It was, Beagle said, “a way for these women to have a heartfelt connection,” even without a shared language.
Thunder Bay is a fitting backdrop for a celebration like the Global Food Picnic. According to the 2021 Census, 8.6 percent of residents are immigrants, and 7.5 percent identify as visible minorities—a reminder that the city’s cultural landscape is broader and more vibrant than many people assume.
Join the Table
The Global Food Picnic takes place Sunday, June 14, from 12-4 p.m. at the Moose Hall, 434 Fort William Road. Admission is $5, and kids under 12 are free. As Rakshit urged the crowd at the April gathering, “Please come and bring your friends and families.” And don’t forget containers—you’ll want to take something home.
