Podcast features Danielle Hoffart and St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre

YXE Underground host Eric Anderson sat down with Danielle Hoffart at St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre to talk about the great things going on at the school—and the wonderful people who make it happen. The podcast, show notes below, and photographs (taken by Rona Andreas) are shared with permission.

Show Notes:
Danielle Hoffart's determination and compassion is ensuring kids at St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon are getting the supports they need when it comes to food security. She is St. Mary's Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator and is a true liaison between her school and the greater Pleasant Hill community.

St. Mary's is home to 300 students with more than 90 percent being Indigenous. The school, which was built in 2012 and is part of the Greater Catholic School Division, also has a nutrition program, wellness centre, Indigenous Elders, social workers, psychiatrist and a pediatric centre. It is a hub for the community and Danielle is one of its leaders. 

Danelle has been involved with food security challenges for many years in Saskatoon. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and really developed a passion for the city's core neighbourhoods through working at places like Quint, the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, and CHEP Good Food. 

For the past 14 years, she has worked within the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division, first as a Community School Coordinator and now as an Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator. 

I came into this interview wanting to focus on Danielle's work in helping students struggling with food security, and it's something we definitely cover in our conversation, but what became clear as Danielle was touring Rona and I through St. Mary's is just how much she loves her students. 

It was a real pleasure speaking with Danielle and I know you're going to love her story.