The Chart Room Restaurant & Provisions says it will take on the school lunch program at the Grand Manan Community School (GMCS) following a delay in the launch due to a lack of a provider.
Jamie Moses and Evan Wise moved to Grand Manan in December 2025 and purchased a restaurant.
“We are still working on renovations,” Moses said, speaking with The Courier. “But in the meantime, we saw an opportunity and a need in the community for the school lunch program and also the Meals on Wheels program.”
GMCS does not have a hot lunch program and has not for more than a decade. Wise said they discussed the idea of taking on the hot lunch program off and on and wanted to wait until the restaurant was up and running.
“But because their kitchen is available and there are some federal funding dollars that they can spend to bring it up to par, that makes it all doable,” Wise said.
The Liberal government launched the hot lunch program but it was delayed in several schools due to renovations in many kitchens across the province.
It invested $26 million in the program for the 2026-27 school year, after testing it at 25 schools prior to the launch.
Parents of students in kindergarten to Grade 8 will pay $4 per meal and parents of students in Grades 9 to 12 will pay $5. The program is subsidized for those who are unable to pay.
For Wise and Moses, it was the right thing to do.
“The ability to have such a positive impact,” Wise said. “Like what I want for my daughter, I want for all the kids. I want them to be fed. I think they’ll do better in school for it.”
They both believe this is a great opportunity.
“The restaurant is one thing and we look forward to doing that so much more,” he said.
Wise said they do anticipate challenges because of the nature of the island, but they feel prepared. The only way to the island is by ferry.
He explained they’ll use extra preparation and advance ordering to ensure the continuity of the program.
“We’ll be ready for it,” he said.
Both Wise and Moses feel the support of the island.
“The welcome and the reception that we’ve received even prior to announcing this has been incredible,” Moses said.
Moses is a volunteer firefighter with the Grand Manan Fire Department and Wise volunteers for several organizations on the island.
“What we’ve seen is that it’s just really a place where people rally together for the good of the island,” Moses said.
Grand Manan Mayor Bonnie Morse is relieved someone has stepped up to fill the need.
She said there are a variety of reasons that the school has not had a hot lunch program, including lack of grant money and getting goods and supplies to the island.
Morse said while there is no estimate on how many kids would qualify for the program, the local food bank data shows 48 children in August received support.
“That number is relatively consistent,” she said. “Some of them may or may not be in school. That being said, for the kids who don’t qualify, having access to a hot lunch isn’t a bad thing.”
She said the breakfast program is also free to everyone.
“There is no stigma about going to the toast cart and getting something to eat because everybody does it,” Morse said.
Morse said finding a solution on the island was likely the only way to make the provincial program work.
“We’re really looking forward to them offering the program at the school,” she said.
For Wise and Moses, the details are still being worked out with the district and there is no date for the start of the program.
They are working out various menu options as well, including options for vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions — such as gluten intolerance and celiac.
“We’re working through the online ordering system and getting all of that set up and menu approval and development,” Moses said. “Of course, since the kitchen hasn’t been used in a long time, it does need to be certified and everything. The ball is rolling and the district seems to be very responsive.”
