A recent survey revealed student’s feelings regarding TRU’s food service and a desire for local vendors appears to be at the top of the list.
This past month, external consultants created a survey for students and faculty regarding their opinions on the food services around campus. TRUSU helped share the survey on their social media and respond to the needs shown.
The TRUSU Service Committee oversees many of the student-run food services on campus. This includes managing and promoting existing services, such as the Health and Dental Plan and the UPASS, as well as developing, implementing, and promoting new services.
Jannat Bhullar, TRUSU’s university affairs committee executive, shared her thoughts on the programs TRUSU and TRU have worked on regarding food services.
“One of the issues that was highlighted during the responses at the feedback session is that students feel there’s not enough vegan, Halal, and vegetarian options on campus,” Bhullar said.
Only two of the food services on campus have Halal options available: The Den and The U & M Deli. While all the services provide a vegetarian option, students also have concerns about the origin of the food.
“Something that students voiced a lot is that they want to see TRU explore more local and non-branded options on Campus,” Bhullar said.
Of the many dining options on campus, the Den, the U & M Deli, and the Workbench—located in the Trade and Technology building—are the only places marked as using locally grown ingredients.
Economic factors were also part of the discussion, as it was clear that students look for affordable and healthy options when eating on campus.
Places like Scratch Café and Esters Market received praise for both their products and the prices.
“[Students] thought these places provided filling meals for a reasonable price,” Bhullar said. “They’re students, and they want to see healthier and dietary inclusive options on Campus.”
The external consultants brought in by TRU will have a report ready that could potentially influence the master plan for 2025, which will then be implemented on campus. Meanwhile, TRUSU will continue to provide their monthly Chef’s Packages and Community meals every other Thursday.
Bhullar hopes to see positive changes in the services students receive and growth in TRUSU’s work towards food stability among younger people.
All information on the various dining options can be found on TRU’s Page.