Spring Into Spring With Steep Hill!

March 17, 2026

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb - or, maybe it’s the other way around! Gentle snows leaving a light blanket of wooly fluff and foggy mornings that leave the trees covered in hoarfrost that sparkle like glitter when the sun comes make the tail end of winter enjoyable. Jackrabbits with the first hints of brown fur on their backs and the sparrows, finches, magpies and nuthatches starting to court tell us spring is on its way.

The peaceful beauty of Nature is a stark contrast to the terrible violence and destruction of the war in Iran that started on February 28. Our hearts go out to all the victims, and we wonder what we can do?

Peace-making can be as simple as strengthening positive connections within our own community by supporting ways of living based on sharing and respect for each other and the ecosystem that we all depend upon. Our choices for how we get the food we eat every day are more powerful than you might think! Choosing local food helps build prosperity and connections between city and county folks, Fairtrade products provide dignity and security to farmers and their communities in the global South. Organic products support biodiversity and promote a healthy environment. Co-op suppliers build co-operative values into their business strategies. You can nurture yourself, your community, and a more peaceful world by shopping at Steep Hill!

National Nutrition Month – ‘Nourish to Flourish’

Since 1982, March has been designated as National Nutrition Month. In Canada, this awareness and education campaign began in the 1970s as ‘Nutrition Week’. Established by the organization now called Dietitians of Canada, the purpose of the campaign was twofold: to encourage healthy food choices and to promote the awareness of dietitians as the best source of credible information on food and nutrition. From its beginning as a few workplace and community information sessions organised by a small group of dietitians, National Nutrition Month has grown into a large-scale advocacy campaign with support from sponsors, community, and all levels of government.

National Nutrition Month’s theme for 2025 and 2026 is ‘Nourish to Flourish’. This theme recognizes that food’s capacity for nourishment goes beyond providing adequate nutrition and fuel. Food supports mental and emotional health, as well as community-building. Preparing and sharing food has been an important component in building and maintaining relationships and passing on cultural traditions and skills for thousands of years, if not millennia.

The work that Steep Hill Food Co-op does fit well with this year’s theme. Along with carrying high quality, nutritious food products, the Co-op’s partnerships with local suppliers ensure that community connections remain strong. Our partnerships with local organizations to redistribute food and prevent food waste help nourish others in the city. Finally, there is the community of Steep Hill itself. We may not regularly gather to prepare or share food, but our mutual commitment to local, organic, quality food brings us together. As a community, we came together to ensure Steep Hill’s survival, and we continue to work together to maintain its vitality. Both directly and indirectly, food builds community, relationships, and well-being.

Store Updates

Good Friday hours - Steep Hill will be open “Sunday hours” - from 11 AM until 4 PM on Good Friday, April 3.

New Products

Rockwell's coconut oil in clear jar with a white lid.
Organic Coconut Oil
Red cardboard box of semi-sweet chocolate with images of baked cookies and a chocolate bar.
Bakers Chocolate
A white and green container of traditional soft white ricotta cheese.
Ricotta Cheese
A glass jar of Naked & Saucy sweet curry.
Dairy-free & Gluten-free Curry Sauce
A glass jar of Good Food For Good Tikka Masala sauce with a primary black and white label.
Organic Tikka Masala Sauce

Local Lettuce Coming Soon!

We have a new local supplier for leafy greens - Grassroots Vertical Farm - a Saskatoon-based indoor vertical farm growing fresh leafy greens & herbs year-round. Try their bok choy and baby chard, and watch for lettuce coming soon!

A Grassroots Vertical Farm logo backed against dirt made of mostly green colours with greenery growing from the roots.

Behind The Scenes Opportunities

As you would have read in previous newsletter editions, Steep Hill is currently looking for some volunteers for ‘behind the scenes work’. The store is in need of someone willing to serve as a back-up for the people who collect and dispose of the store’s garbage. There are loads of volunteer opportunities with the Board or the Co-op’s various committees. And this summer we’re getting more involved with the Broadway BID’s event. For further details read The Broadway BID and Steep Hill Are Co-operating. In addition to the BID initiative we would also love to do more outreach and education events. If you are interested in taking a lead role or assisting in these areas contact our Board via email at board@steephillfood.ca.

Another volunteer role there is a growing need for is delivery drivers. Ideally our volunteer drivers are available at a regular weekly time, which will allow us to schedule with members ordering groceries. Volunteer drivers pick up the order from Steep Hill and then deliver it to the member’s residence, and paid by cheque, return to the store to drop it off. Steep Hill members who are unable to come to the store to shop really appreciate that we offer delivery!

Maybe you have other skills and interests that would benefit the store? If you’ve ever been in Steep Hill and thought, “It would be great if X could be done” or “I wonder if anyone has ever though of Y”, let us know! You may be able to fulfill a need or offer a service that we hadn’t thought of. If you can think of something or are interested in other volunteer opportunities, please contact Amielle.

Two hours of volunteer work gives you working member status for the following month, which provides you with the working member discount (6% off the shelf price). For in-store volunteer work, sign up for a shift in the store or by calling or emailing to request a shift.

View March 2026 Volunteer Schedule

View April 2026 Volunteer Schedule

Spring Fling!

The Broadway Spring Fling 2026 poster of a partially cloudy blue sky with the sun visible along with a message of thanks to the sponsors. Next to the message displays the logos of each sponsor.

Mark your calendar and join Broadway BID members on Broadway Saturday, June 13th 2026, to celebrate the vibrant arrival of spring!

Enjoy a full day of family-friendly fun with lively street performers, face painters, dancers, balloon twisters, and an eclectic mix of local musicians bringing the street to life. Savour flavours from around the world at food vendor booths, then stroll the sidewalk sales to discover unique finds from Broadway merchants, artisans, craftspeople, and local businesses.

It’s a festive day of music, food, shopping, and community pride you won’t want to miss.

The Broadway BID and Steep Hill Are Co-operating!

The Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) is the non-profit association of businesses in our neighbourhood dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and economically thriving Broadway area. The BID helps us celebrate and enjoy our unique community with events like the Spring Fling in June, Block Parties in July and the Street Fair in September. This summer Steep Hill members will be able to earn your Steep Hill Working Member discount by volunteering for a BID event. You can sign up for any of the tasks listed below, or if you would like to share your artistic, recreational, or musical skills to help activate the district during the event days or any other day of the year, talk to Amielle about how to make that happen. To sign up for a Spring Fling BID-Steep Hill shift, contact Amielle by phone at 306-664-4455, email hello@steephillfood.ca or at the store.

Volunteer options for Spring Fling, Saturday June 13, 2026:

Help Farmers Save Canada’s Organic Research Program

The agricultural community was shocked in January when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced plans to close critically important research facilities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and to end Canada’s only Organic and Regenerative Research Program, located at the Swift Current AAFC research centre.

Losing the organic research program would be a major setback for the organic sector in Saskatchewan and across Canada. For more than 19 years, it has delivered long-term field trials and data of immense value to organic farmers, addressing critical priorities, including diversified cropping systems to enhance sustainability, the impacts of tillage intensity on weed management, cover cropping and living mulches, pathogens and disease in organic field crops, intercropping systems, biocontrol of pests resulting from organic practices, greenhouse gas emissions in organic agriculture, evaluation of farmer-bred and heritage wheat lines under organic management, grasshopper control options, and more. Much of the research is also highly relevant to low-input and regenerative producers. Closing a program focused on these production approaches at a time of growing interest and adoption is short-sighted and counterproductive.

Farm organizations are unanimous in denouncing these cuts, but the government seems to think farmers and the general public are not concerned. You can make a difference by sending an email to the Agriculture Minister, your MP and other leaders using this handy tool, and by signing the Parliamentary e-Petition opposing these cuts today. There is also a paper petition you can sign at Steep Hill. To learn more, listen to this CFRC program From the Ground Up podcast, and attend the National Farmers Union webinar at 5 PM on March 19, 2026. Take action by Signing Up to attend and learn more.

An aerial photograph of a research farm in Alberta, Canada with bold words overtop that reads, 'Stop The Cuts!'

Maple Walnut Salad

Spring is around the corner, soon the sap will be running and hothouse vegetables will be soaking up the sun. This salad captures that spirit.

Sap from the Manitoba maple is one of the oldest foods in Saskatchewan. It was tapped by Indigenous peoples and boiled into a sugary treat. This was enjoyed like candy or mixed with berries and meat to sweeten the palate. It was a treat.

In the spring of 1820, the Franklin Expedition passed through the lands of Saskatchewan on its way to the Arctic. A member of the team, Robert Hood, wrote this description in his journal while in the vicinity of Cumberland House:

“It was not before the 10th or 12th of April that the return of the swans, geese, and ducks gave certain indications of the advance of spring. The juice of the maple-tree began to flow and the women repaired to the woods for the purpose of collecting it. This tree which abounds to the southward is not I believe found to the northward of the Saskatchewan. The Indians obtain the sap by making incisions into the tree. They boil it down and evaporate the water, skimming off the impurities. They are so fond of sweets that after this simple process they set an extravagant price upon it.” – John Franklin, The Journey to the Polar Sea.

View Maple Walnut Salad Recipe

Community Potluck, Music, Spoken Word And Jam Session!

Catch the Wave on the last Friday of every month at Grace Westminster church! Brian Paul DG and friends host a potluck (6 PM), variety show (7:15 PM) and music jam (9:30 - 10 PM). On March 27 the variety show features spoken word artist Dash Reimer and the music of Raven She Hollers, in addition to open-mic performers. Everyone is welcome! This is a great way to meet neighbours, share some food and enjoy the artistry of our community members. Grace Westminster is one block west of Steep Hill on the corner of Eastlake and 10th Street.

An event poster for Catch The Wave featuring EcoAbriJanelle and Dwayne Lasas at Grace-Westminster United Church.

Put Your Pop Cans To Work

You can use SARCAN’s Drop and Donate program to help Steep Hill! To “volunteer” your pop cans and returnable bottles, go to the Drop and Go entrance off to the side of the main doors. Fill in the computer screen form, and put the phrase “Steep Hill Food” to tell SARCAN where your donation should go. The machine will print a barcode sticker for your bag or box of cans/bottles. SARCAN will calculate the value of your donation and e-transfer it to Steep Hill.

We Want to Hear From You!

For information about products and the store, email us at hello@steephillfood.ca or call 306-664-4455.

To contact the Board of Directors with ideas, feedback, concerns or questions, email board@steephillfood.ca or fill out a “How did we do today” card when you are in the store.

Thanks to Amielle Christopherson, Adam Douglas, Amy Jo Ehman, Cathy Holtslander, Brian Paul, and Maryann Scott for contributing to this Newsletter! If you would like to join the newsletter crew, email board@steephillfood.ca.

Your grocery store on Broadway!