The Students’ Union (SU) plans to launch its Free Breakfast program in January 2027 at its new Black Lounge Café in Mac Hall, using surplus funding from the Den’s Quality Meal program.
On Oct. 13, the Students' Legislative Council (SLC) unanimously approved a change of scope to allow the SU to use the remaining Quality Money funds from the Den’s Quality Meal program for the Free Breakfast initiative.
This initiative will also fulfill a campaign pledge from the SU President Gabriela Dziegielewska during her 2026 campaign.
The Quality Meal program, which offers a $3 hot lunch at the Den, received $150,924.96 in funding but only $12,392 had been spent at the time of the request. If that trend continues roughly $120,000 would go unused by the end of the 2027-28 academic year.
“So the project holder is asking to expand the scope of the Quality Meal program to essentially make better use of the money that’s sitting in the account,” Dziegielewska said.
Faculty of Engineering Representative Shaheer Wasif asked why so much of the original funding went unused and whether data pointed to a publicity problem or low demand.
Dziegielewska said she suspected the original applicants “way overshot” what students would use to make sure there was enough money. She stated better marketing might help, noting the Quality Meal is now more visible on the Den’s redesigned menu.
Faculty of Arts Representative Fatima Jarid asked why the remaining funds for the Quality Meal had not been used to expand the program.
Dziegielewska stated the existing lunch is run out of the Den, which can make more meals if demand grows without a formal expansion. Quality Money projects are not required to widen their scope and building a new program takes planning and staff time.
The original project was built around subsidized meals at the Den while the new cafe lets SU add breakfast when the Den is closed.
“It creates a different market, and so it was a great opportunity to introduce something like breakfast,” Dziegielewska said.
Faculty of Science Representative Sehaj Kang asked what free would mean in practice.
“My concern is just the connotations of when you say something’s free, people tend to get quite excited,” Kang said.
Dziegielewska said students can get the breakfast for free with their Unicard though some may choose to pay anyway. If demand is higher than expected, the program can draw on the $80,000 in projected remaining Quality Meal funds to increase production.
According to Dziegielewska, the Free Breakfast program is not expected to affect the Den’s existing Quality Meal lunch as the two would run at different times. The Free Breakfast program is expected to run from roughly 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the Den does not open until 11 a.m.
Councillors asked whether the Free Breakfast program hours could be extended.
Dziegielewska said the window is tied to when the cafe opens and she does not expect the cafe to open earlier. The SU will look at extending the hours if there is clear demand.
