Growing Chefs! Ontario: Giving Back the Way You Know How – CPB Painting and the Plouffe-Bloise Family

Chris Plouffe-Boisse, owner of CPB Painting, reached out to our Executive Director, Andrew Fleet, after noticing our Headquarters’ exterior could use some attention. With over 20 years of experience in interior and exterior painting, and a perfect Google rating to show for it, Chris brought his two sons — Julian and James — along to help with the project, turning a gift in kind into a family effort and a lesson in community values.

Their connection to Growing Chefs! runs a little deeper than a new coat of paint. Julian and James have been participating in Growing Chefs! programming for years — Julian nearly from the very beginning. In fact, attending an end-of-program celebration at our HQ that first planted the seed for Chris.

“The first thing I notice about a building, as a painter, is obviously when something needs painting,” he told us with a laugh. ​“I just thought it would be a really nice thing to give the outside a facelift — and it gives the boys some added experience.”

For Chris, giving back through the skills he has is a deliberate and meaningful choice. He describes picking roughly one charitable project per year, and says Growing Chefs stood out immediately.

“I wanted to choose to give back to an organization that’s giving back to their community,” he said. ​“I did some more research into what Growing Chefs! does here and around the city outside of teaching kids cooking skills — there’s so many other great things that you do.”

Julian, who has been attending Growing Chefs! classes for several years and has since moved into the Advanced Culinary program, reflected on what the programming has given him — including skills that travel well beyond the kitchen.

“Knife skills really help,” he said simply. ​“Learn the basics and that kind of travels through everything else you want to do.”

As for what working alongside his dad has taught him? The answer was equally grounded: ​“Go to work, work hard, and go home tired so you sleep easy.”

Chris says this doesn’t feel like a one-time gesture. With Julian and James still involved in Growing Chefs! programming, he sees this as the beginning of an ongoing relationship — what he called, after some deliberation, a partnership.

We’re grateful to Chris, Julian, and James for their time, their craft, and their care for this building and this community. Headquarters is looking great — and the pride shows.

CPB Painting specializes in interior and exterior painting and serves the London, Ontario area.