Diversity Foods, an award-winning food service provider, was introduced to the UWinnipeg campus in 2009 with a mandate to offer local, nutritious, locally-sourced real food. Students gave UWinnipeg a B+ in the category of “Healthy Food on Campus”, first out of 18 universities in Western Canada and tied for second place in all of Canada in the Globe & Mail Canadian University Report 2013. With the opening up of the new dorm-style residence in 2009, UWinnipeg engaged the services of Diversity to provide an affordable,flexible, healthy Meal Plan for the 172 students in McFeetors Hall. UWinnipeg offers various housing options to approximately 425 students and while the tax-free Meal Plan is offered to all UWinnipeg students it is only mandatory for McFeetors residence as there are no kitchens in the dorm rooms.
Like the rental agreements at McFeetors, the Meal Plan program offers a specific service for the students who live in residence, with specific restrictions, limitations and conditions that apply to those services. Our housing and food program details are easily accessible, transparent, clear and posted on-line for students and parents to peruse. Each student is encouraged to thoroughly read their Housing and Food Contracts before signing them. The Meal Plan is currently $1700 per term and is tax-free resulting in a savings of 13% to each student (~$200 per term). The plan is designed to allow students to purchase 10 meals per week (this is the minimum number of meals per week required by CRA for the meal plan to be tax exempt). Thisallows greater flexibility for the students who appreciate eating some meals off campus and benefits those who choose to leave campus on the weekends. The vast majority of meal plan students use up their full amount in one semester (92%).
UWinnipeg’s Meal Plan is one of the most affordable in all of Manitoba’s post-secondary education facilities and is also one of the most flexible – students can use their card at four Diversity locations on campus and take advantage of the variety of the menu options. By offering residents healthy, well-balanced options Diversity provides a service that can enhance the residence experience. Eating on campus provides opportunities for students to foster relationships, meet new people and interact with faculty and staff in an informal way.
Diversity continually seeks to improve delivery of food services to students at UWInnipeg and as such offers a cost competitive, nutritious, delicious product at the minimum requirements set out by the CRA for tax-exemption. In a recent article in the Uniter, questions were raised regarding CRA requirements associated with the design and operation of our Meal Plan. While we believe our plan is consistent with CRA requirements, we take these questions seriously. In response to this we will be seeking a formal ruling from the CRA regarding the University of Winnipeg Meal Plan. Diversity charges no administrative fee to operate the Meal Plan and is more than willing to meet with students and our student association to discuss concerns and hear ideas around improving the Meal Plan delivery.
