Possible Cafe something to Cherish
Cherish Integrated Services, a community organization that enriches the quality of life and personal wellness for persons with developmental disabilities and enhances social functioning in daily living, recently celebrated the official opening of its new cafe.
The new Possible Cafe, part of the organization’s vocational training regimen, is a professionally equipped restaurant that doubles as a training centre, complete with classrooms, where trainees can gain hands-on experience in virtually every aspect of a hospitality business, from fulfilling health and safety standards and managing cash to prepping, cooking and serving food. Guided by industry professionals, trainees can acquire real-world skillsets that enable them to live more independently.
The Cafe was made possible by an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant of $198,400, received in 2024 as part of a one-time Resiliency Communities Fund allocation, designed to help non-profit and charity groups recover from the pandemic and boost their capabilities.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is funded annually by the Ontario government to the tune of just under $110 million. On hand for the celebration were Cherish founders Hugo and Ivy Lam, who welcomed local politicians, including area MPP Logan Kanapathi, Regional Councillor Alan Ho, Ward 8 Councillor Isa Lee, and Duncan Fletcher representing OTF.
The cafe, located at 1271 Denison St #52-53, is in addition to the adjacent vocational training space in the same plaza that Cherish runs for other occupation and life training courses. The Possible Cafe will serve an Asian-Western fusion menu and will initially be open from Thursday to Sunday. Learn more about Cherish and the Possible Cafe at possiblecafe.ca.
Main photo: (l-r) Markham-Thornhill MPP Logan Kanapathi, Cherish Integrated Services founder and directors Ivy and Hugo Lam.