About the Business
Fan/Joy is a culinary social enterprise and the brainchild of Chopped Canada Champion, Pam Fanjoy. Pam Fanjoy, a clinical social worker by trade, created the Fan/Joy brand as a way to marry her passion for the culinary arts with her work helping transitional youth. The Fanjoy Junior Chef Culinary Life Skills Programs aim to improve both the physical and mental health of youth and their families, while demonstrating the importance of connection and coming together over a meal. Fan/Joy’s flagship Junior Chef Life Skills programming is run out of Pam Fanjoy’s culinary studio, counselling, and training center in Erin, Ontario.
About the Loan
In 2016, Pam Fanjoy sought to expand her business to a 30-seat rustic country restaurant in Erin, Ontario. Despite being a business owner in social work for over 20 years, starting a restaurant was considered high risk and Fanjoy struggled for a while to secure financing. Fanjoy’s relationship with Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB) began in 2021 after the pandemic hit and her mortgage came due. To support Fanjoy in her expansion plan, VCIB provided a $300,000 loan for mortgage refinancing and a $50,000 line of credit to assist with ongoing working capital requirements.
About the Impact
Reconnecting in person is important to maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health. By teaching transitional youth how to cook, cope with life’s challenges, and communicate and collaborate with others, the Fan/Joy Junior Chef culinary and mental health programs are helping their participants rebuild circles of support during the pandemic. VCIB believes in Fan/Joy’s mission and will continue to support the business as they seek to expand into Guelph this fall. Further into the future, Pam Fanjoy hopes to see Fan/Joy and its culinary counselling programs expand nationally.
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