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Standards of Excellence
Striving for Continuous Improvement
Setting national standards of excellence, accrediting food banks, and making investments that promote elevated service.
Setting the Bar High
Food Banks Canada works in collaboration with the network of over 5,500 food banks and community agencies to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for anyone who needs it within Canada.
To provide the highest levels of safety and dignity in food banking, Food Banks Canada has implemented a set of national food bank standards that cover all areas of food bank operations to ensure overall operational excellence across the entire network.
Designed as a baseline set of standards to which the food banking network holds itself accountable, the Standards of Excellence program provides a framework for food banks to identify opportunities for innovation and performance improvements in the areas of client service and care, food operations, safe food handling and more. The standards also reflect the food banking network’s thought leadership and commitment to continually enhance our collective capabilities to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow.
Program Impact
Successes since April 2024:
291 Food Banks
have achieved Standards of Excellence accreditation to date, with dozens more actively working towards this goal.
916 Individuals
completed Food Banks Canada’s Safe Food Handling course.
$5.9 Million
granted to food banks to meet the Standards of Excellence.
Hear from Accredited Food Banks
“[The Standards of Excellence] make food banks more transparent, and that's healthy… It's good for our [clients,] because they're vulnerable when they walk in. And if there's a consistency across the board, that builds trust [with food banks], and trust is something that [clients] often lack in their lives. I think that's what the standards are all about, always making things better.”
– Clarington East Food Bank, Newcastle Ontario
Richmond Food Bank Society, BC
Hajira Hussain, Executive Director of the Richmond Food Bank Society in British Columbia initially felt daunted by the idea of pursuing Standards of Excellence accreditation. She thought she would hate the process, but now says, “Don’t let fear stand in the way of your journey. It has transformed our food bank for the better. Everyone is happier.” For Hussain, another unexpected gain was the expertise that now makes her a valuable resource to other nonprofit leaders.
Clarington East Food Bank, ON
Susan Pascoe, Executive Director of Clarington East Food Bank in Newcastle, Ontario, has seen extra donations, easier decision-making and enhanced community trust arising from her organization’s accreditation. All the accredited organizations are setting a new benchmark for safety, dignity and operational excellence in food banking.
Accredited Organizations
*List of Accredited Organizations as of April 2, 2026
| 100 Mile House Food Bank |
| Action Ministries of Grand Manan Food Bank |
| Agassiz-Harrison Food Bank- BC |
| Airdrie Food Bank |
| Antigonish Community Food Bank- NS |
| Armstrong Food Bank- BC |
| Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services- BC |
| Ashcroft and Area Food Bank |
| Athabasca Good Samaritan Ministries Association |
| Au Rayon d’Espoir Inc. |
| Aurora Food Pantry |
| Banque Alimentaire Coup d’Pouce |
| Banques alimentaires du Québec |
| Barrhead & District Foodbank |
| Barrie Food Bank |
| Barriere & District Food Bank Society |
| Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre |
| Beacon House Interfaith Society- NS |
| Berwick Food Bank |
| Biggar and District Food for Thought, Inc. |
| Bon Accord Gibbons Food Bank- AB |
| Boundary Community Food Bank |
| Bridges to Hope Food Aid Centre- NL |
| Bridgetown and Area Food Bank Association |
| Brunswick Street Mission Food Bank- NS |
| Brooks & Area Food Bank- AB |
| Burin Area Food Pantry |
| Burlington Food Bank |
| Caledon Community Services |
| Cambridge Food Bank |
| Campbell River and District Food Bank |
| Camrose Neighbor Aid Center- AB |
| Canadian Veterans Services Society- AB |
| Canning Area Food Bank- NS |
| Carrefour communautaire de Chibougamau |
| Centre Communautaire Pro-Santé |
| Centre de Bénévolat de la Vallée-de-l’Or |
| Centre d’Action Bénévole Ascension Escuminac- QC |
| Centre d’Action Bénévole Minganie- QC |
| Central Okanagan Food Bank- BC |
| Centre Wellington Food Bank- ON |
| Chatham Outreach for Hunger |
| Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society |
| Clarington East Food Bank |
| Clearwater and District Food Bank |
| Cochrane Food Bank |
| Colchester Community Support Society |
| Community Care, St. Catharines & Thorold |
| Community Connections Food Bank |
| Community Kitchen Program of Calgary |
| Community Resources Centre (Minto) Inc. |
| Comox Valley Food Bank Society |
| Cortes Island Food Bank |
| Cowichan Valley Basket Society |
| Cranbrook Food Bank Society |
| Crowsnest Pass Food Bank Society |
| Daily Bread Food Bank |
| Dartmouth North Christian Food Bank |
| Deer Lake Regional Food Bank |
| Drayton Area Community Food Bank |
| Eagle Valley Community Support Society- BC |
| East Wellington Community Services |
| Eastern Shore Food Bank |
| Edmonton’s Food Bank |
| Edson Food Bank Society |
| Eganville and District Community Food Bank |
| Entraide communautaire des Îles inc- QC |
| Evergreen Basic Needs |
| Feed Enderby and District Food Bank |
| Feed Nourrir NB |
| Feed Nova Scotia |
| Feed Ontario |
| Foam Lake and Area Food Bank Inc. |
| Food Bank Network of the Bay of Islands Ministerial Association, Inc |
| Food Banks Alberta |
| Food Banks British Columbia |
| Food Banks Mississauga |
| Food Banks of Saskatchewan |
| Fredericton Community Kitchens |
| Fundy Interchurch Food Bank |
| Gananoque Food Bank- ON |
| Gander & Area Food Bank |
| Glace Bay Food Bank Society |
| GLEANERS FOODBANK (QUINTE) INC. |
| Golden Food Bank Society- BC |
| Goldstream Food Bank- BC |
| Good Happenings Food Bank |
| Good Neighbours Food Centre |
| Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls Community Food Bank Inc- NL |
| Greater Hamilton Food Share |
| Greener Village- NB |
| Guysborough And Area Food Bank Society |
| Hagersville Food Bank |
| Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank Association |
| Hampton Food Basket and Clothing Center INC |
| Harvest House Atlantic |
| Harvest Manitoba |
| Harvest of Hope – Salvation Army Gibsons |
| Harvest Share Community Meal Program |
| Hawkesbury Food Bank- ON |
| Helping Hand Food Bank |
| Helping Hand Food Bank – Tillsonburg |
| Helping Hands Family Aid |
| Helpline Inc (Oromocto Food Bank- NB |
| Hope Community Services |
| House of Lazarus- ON |
| Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre |
| Humboldt Food Bank- SK |
| Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge |
| Just Friends Food Bank |
| Kamloops Food Bank Society |
| Kanata Food Cupboard |
| Kawartha Food Share- ON |
| Kawartha Lakes Food Source |
| Kensington & Area Food Bank- PEI |
| Kitimat Food Bank Society |
| Ladysmith Resources Centre Association |
| Lake Echo Community Food Bank |
| Lakeland Resource Center |
| Lanark County Food Bank – The Hunger Stop |
| Lanigan & District Food Bank |
| Lethbridge Food Bank Society |
| Lighthouse Food Bank Society- NS |
| Loaves & Fishes Resource Centre |
| Making a Difference Food Bank |
| Marine Communities Food Bank Society |
| Markham Food Bank |
| Mattawa & Area Food Bank |
| Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries INC/Meadow Lake Food Bank |
| Meaford Food Bank and Outreach |
| Minden Community Food Centre |
| Miramichi Community Food Bank Inc- NB |
| Moisson Beauce |
| Moisson Estrie |
| Moisson Kamouraska- QC |
| Moisson Lanaudière |
| Moisson Laurentides |
| Moisson Mauricie / Centre-du-Québec |
| Moisson Montréal |
| Moisson Outaouais |
| Moisson Rive-Sud |
| Moisson Sud-Ouest |
| Moosomin Food Share |
| New Denver & Area Community Hamper Society- BC |
| Newmarket Food Pantry |
| Nicola Valley Food Bank Society |
| North and Central Frontenac Food Bank |
| North Sydney Community Food Bank |
| North York Harvest Food Bank |
| Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank |
| Okotoks Food Bank Association |
| Oliver Food Bank 2000 |
| Orangeville Food Bank |
| Ottawa Food Bank- ON |
| Outlook & District Food Bank Inc |
| Partners in Mission Food Bank |
| Peachland Food Bank- BC |
| Pelham Cares |
| Pender Island Food Bank |
| People For A Healthy Community on Gabriola Society |
| Peter McKee Community Food Centre |
| Petawawa Pantry |
| Pictou County Foodbank East |
| Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre |
| Powell River Action Centre Society |
| Project SHARE of Niagara Falls INC. |
| Pugwash Open Hamper Food Bank – NS |
| Quadra Island Food Bank |
| Queens County Food Bank |
| Red Deer Food Bank- AB |
| Redwater Fellowship of Churches Food Bank |
| Regina Food Bank |
| Regional Food Distribution Association |
| Renfrew and District Food |
| Richmond Food Bank Society |
| Richmond Hill Community Food Bank- ON |
| Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub |
| Sackville and District Assistance Centre |
| Saint John North End Food Assistance Group Inc |
| Saint Vincent de Paul – Carbonear Food Bank |
| Salvation Army – Carbonear |
| Salvation Army – Channel Port aux Basques- NL |
| Salvation Army – Chilliwack |
| Salvation Army – Collingwood- ON |
| Salvation Army Community and Family Services – Grand Falls-Windsor |
| Salvation Army – Dunnville |
| Salvation Army – Drumheller |
| Salvation Army – Estevan |
| Salvation Army – Fort Macleod |
| Salvation Army – Fort St. John |
| Salvation Army- Hanover- ON |
| Salvation Army- Ingersoll |
| Salvation Army- Marystown- NL |
| Salvation Army – Nelson- BC |
| Salvation Army- Portage La Prairie |
| Salvation Army – Listowel |
| Salvation Army – Mount Arrowsmith / Parksville |
| Salvation Army – Port Alberni- BC |
| Salvation Army – Weyburn |
| Salvation Army- Salmon Arm- BC |
| Salvation Army- Sault Ste Marie |
| Salvation Army- Sault Ste Marie |
| Salvation Army – Trail |
| Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre |
| Seven Hills Community Pantry |
| Share Family & Community Services |
| Shumilacke Food Bank |
| Smiths Falls Community Foodbank |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Immaculate Conception Harbour Grace Food Bank |
| Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Clements- NS |
| Sos Dépannage / Moisson Granby |
| Souris Food Bank |
| South East Rocky View Food Bank |
| Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank |
| SOURCES COMMUNITY RESOURCES SOCIETY |
| Sparwood Food Bank- BC |
| Squamish Helping Hands Society |
| St Andrews and Area Open Door Program- NB |
| SSVP St. Teresa’s Conference Inc |
| St. Joseph’s Community Food Bank |
| St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank |
| Strathcona Food Bank |
| Stratford House of Blessing- ON |
| Sunshine Coast Community Services |
| Surrey Food Bank |
| The Agapè Centre |
| The Chestermere Regional Food Bank Foundation |
| The Food Bank of Waterloo Region |
| The Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada- Yellowknife |
| The Hantsport and Area Community Food Bank Society |
| The Inn of The Good Shepherd- ON |
| The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank Inc. |
| The Mustard Seed Street Church |
| The Olive Tree Lloyd- AB |
| The Salvation Army – Community and Family Services Halifax |
| The Salvation Army Ches Penney Centre of Hope Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Foothills Church & Community Ministries |
| The Salvation Army Fort Erie Community & Family Services |
| The Salvation Army – Encounter Church – Halifax, NS |
| Salvation Army – Estevan |
| The Salvation Army Fort Erie Community & Family Services |
| The Salvation Army – Fort Frances |
| The Salvation Army – Lloydminster Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army – Milton |
| The Salvation Army – Prince George |
| The Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries – Blenheim Foodbank |
| The Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries – Ridgetown Foodbank |
| The Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries – Wallaceburg Foodbank |
| The Salvation Army Sydney Community Church |
| The Salvation Army Community and Family Services – Grand Falls-Windsor |
| The Salvation Army Community Services – Owen Sound |
| The Salvation Army East Kootenay Circuit – Fernie |
| The Salvation Army Foothills Church & Community Ministries |
| The Salvation Army Huntsville Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Maple Creek Community Church |
| The Salvation Army Napanee Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Neepawa Community Services |
| The Salvation Army Nipawin Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Penticton Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Prince Rupert |
| The Salvation Army Simcoe Community Services |
| The Salvation Army Sussex Community Church & Family Services |
| The Salvation Army Swift Current Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Tisdale Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Vernon Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Williams Lake Corps |
| The Salvation Army Wiarton and Bruce Peninsula Community Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army Woodstock |
| The Salvation Army – Ches Penney Centre of Hope Food Bank |
| The Salvation Army – Truro |
| The Salvation Army – Wetaskiwin |
| The Salvation Army Williams Lake Corps |
| The Sharing Place Food Centre |
| The Sussex Sharing Club Inc. |
| The Sydney Mines Food Bank Society |
| The Terrace Church’s Food Bank |
| The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry/PEI Food Banks |
| Turtle River Food Bank |
| Twelve Baskets Food Bank |
| Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc- ON |
| Upper Room Food Bank Association |
| Vestiaire St-Joseph Inc. |
| Volunteer Family Services / Valley Food Bank |
| Wadena Food Bank Association |
| Walkerton & District Food Bank |
| Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank- ON |
| WE Graham Community Service Society |
| West Side Food Bank, Inc |
| Westend Community Food Bank |
| Wheatland County Food Bank |
| Whistler Community Services Society- BC |
| Wolfville Area Food Bank |
| Wynyard & District Food Bank |
