Coffee served with confidence at Centre of Dreams and Hopes

“Grilled cheese with a side of hash browns? Coming right up!” 

Every morning, students and staff at the Centre of Dreams and Hopes (CDH) in Ahuntsic-Cartierville line up to get something fresh and hot at its newly opened and completely student-run Café on Wheels. Launched in April 2025, specialized educator and Café co-founder Melissa Moses is thrilled how it has truly taken off.  

Since volunteering with neurodiverse clients at the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH), Moses has been passionate about inclusive educational opportunities. Currently completing a master’s in education and counseling psychology at McGill University, she and educator Anthony Picarazzi brainstormed how to help their students in the Needs Exploration classroom develop tangible skills and teamwork.  

After mulling over several ideas, a lunch program, then scaled down to a café, emerged as the winning ticket. Beyond cooking, the class also focuses on food safety and hygiene, and financial literacy.  

“It’s been a powerful way to build life skills, foster independence and create a sense of community,” said Moses. “Café on Wheels is more than just a café – it’s a tool for empowerment and inclusion.”  

Cracking eggs, flipping pancakes and prepping the coffee drink of the month, the students alternate roles of cook, server and cashier to develop their versatility.  

“Café on Wheels has become a morning tradition at CDH,” observed Moses. “It sets the tone for the day.”  

The Centre of Dreams and Hopes started 20 years ago as a summer camp, responding to the lack of specialized programs for anglophone families in Montreal’s east end. It has now expanded to a bustling day centre. “They have an amazing team,” said Patricia Petrecca, mom to 23-year-old Sabrina. “It’s like a second home.” 

The centre is funded by government sources and private sponsors, along with a $50 fee paid by members.  

CDH is unique as it ascribes to a neurodiversity- affirming perspective, “empowering clients to thrive as they are,” as stated on their site. Through a comprehensive set of educational, therapeutic and recreational resources, families can get support in one location. 

“At CDH, students are challenged – and thriving,” said Petrecca. As for Sabrina, she reflected, “[working at Café on Wheels] makes me feel happy” – the best reward Moses and her team could ask for.