REGINA — It was a stroke of fate that led Mathew Malbeuf to work at Regina’s Munch Café, an inclusive employer for people of all abilities.
Malbeuf had been in high school when Munch Catering, operators of the café, hosted a cooking class with alternative education students.
“I thought to myself, what if I were to do that?”
He added, “[So], I graduated from high school. Then I just immediately went here once I moved to the city.”
Malbeuf joined the Munch Catering team in 2025 as a chef, describing entering the workforce as smooth.
“It's actually been going pretty good [with] me adjusting to it. I'm actually surprised how well I've been able to take.”
Shortly after joining, Munch shifted its focus from catering to a new café located inside the Nest Health Centre.
This transition placed Malbeuf in a more fast-paced environment, but he adapted without missing a beat.
“It's like a different kind of pressure, you know? I still like my job. It's still manageable. You have to make sure it's really good [experience] for people.”
Working at the café has also taught Malbeuf new recipes.
“I had to get used to learning a bunch of new recipes. These aren't just sandwiches and cookies.”
An inclusive workplace:
Munch Catering’s focus on inclusive employment stemmed from its desire to see fairer wages for people of all abilities, noted co-founder Emily Tarr.
“So, me and Gwen Herman came together and put our heads together. Well, that can be a problem. That can be a change.”
Tarr said they hired three people to their inclusive employment initiative back in 2015. A decade later, it’s believed Munch has hired nearly 20 employees of all abilities, including 11 current ones.
The goal in hiring for Munch is preparing people for life, said executive director Rick Morrell.
“So they work here and then once they've been here for a certain amount of time, then they move into a job in the community, which we help them find a job and decide what they want for a job.”
Morrell recalled one former employee who had a passion for working with children and eventually secured a position at a daycare.
“It was a huge success. She's super happy, they're super happy, the kids love her. So yeah, we're proud of that one.”
Looking ahead, Morrell said Munch plans to focus on their cafe at The Nest for the next few years.
“Without anything unforeseen happening, I think we'll be here for a while.”
As for Malbeuf, he plans on working at the café for the foreseeable future.
