New restaurant hopes to open doors for those with disabilities

WINNIPEG – The Lunch Bell is a small, unassuming restaurant that’s making big changes in the lives of the people who work there.

With the help of Changes Winnipeg, a not-for-profit organization, and CentreVenture, the restaurant has taken on teaching students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Of the four students originally sent by Changes to the Lunch Bell, one quit after the first day.

Staff arrive at the restaurant with zero skills in food preparation or front-of-house service training and start a 20-week program. By the end of the program the goal is to have students, many of whom suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome or come from a history of abuse, gainfully employed in the hospitality industry.

“Our job here is to say we know what the disability is, let’s identify what the abilities are,” said executive chef Chris Tascona. “We build them up and give them the transfer skills and knowledge so they can learn and become gainful employees in the hospitality business.”

Twin brothers Sheldon and Eldon Lachose are just over halfway through their training.

“It took me a while to memorize everything and say the menu,” said Sheldon Lachose. “Up front it was pretty good, pretty challenging. It was awesome. I like it.”

The City of Winnipeg has provided nearly $580,000 in financial support through a federal grant.