Vancouver Food Summit - Gordon Neighbourhood House

We acknowledge that we are on the unceded, occupied, ancestral and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. As we strive to understand our own relationships to each other and the land through food, it is important for us to also recognize the historical and ongoing colonial genocide against Indigenous peoples that make it possible for us to be here as settlers.

Co-hosted by Gordon Neighbourhood House and hua foundation, the Vancouver Food Summit will be an opportunity to bring together people from a wide variety of experiences within our food systems, using storytelling and shared dialogue to critically examine and deepen our collective understanding of food justice and meaningful cross-community collaboration.

Experience a showcase of 8 creative food projects and the people behind them, as each of the creators share their reflections, stories, and thoughts on what their work means within the broader challenges we face in our local food systems today.

Over the lunch break attendees will also be able to enjoy a Mini-Showcase Fair, where space will be created to exhibit and learn about other food-related creative projects, including podcasts, short films, zines, poetry, and other art.

We hope that you can join us!

Here is our line-up of presenters for the Summit:

Showcase #1: Creating Food Connections Within and Across Communities

– Wild Salmon Caravan

– Parks Board’s Sustenance Festival

– Jewish Museum and Archives of BC

– Hua foundation

Showcase #2: Youth Perspectives on Sharing Food Stories and Experiences

– Love Intersections

– Roots on the Roof

– 4Rs Youth Movement

– Renfrew-Collingwood Food Stories

Tickets available here:

Event Schedule:

– 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM: Doors Open/Registration

– 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome/Opening

– 9:30 AM – 10:50 AM: Showcase #1: Creating Food Connections Within and Across Communities

– 10:50 AM – 11:00 AM: Break

– 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: First Panelist Group Discussion

– 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM: Lunch + Mini-Showcase Fair

– 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM: Mini-Showcase Fair (begins partway through lunch)

– 1:15 PM – 2:35 PM: Showcase #2: Youth Perspectives on Sharing Food Stories and Experiences

– 2:35 PM – 2:45 PM: Break

– 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: Second Panelist Group Discussion

– 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Closing

Accessibility Information:

– There will be gender neutral, single room bathrooms available.

– Participants are encouraged to reduce the use of scented products such as cologne and perfumes.

– If you have any dietary restrictions please let us know in advance when you register, and we will do our best to accommodate you. Vegetarian options will be made available.

– ASL interpretation has been secured for this event. If you require ASL interpretation, please make sure to register for the Summit before Sept 21st. If no requests for interpretation are received, ASL interpretation will be cancelled.

For more updates on accessibility, presenters, and more, be sure to follow our Facebook event page here: Vancouver Food Summit 2017

Special thanks to our partners and supporters, including:

Watch the 2016 Summit

1: Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Moderator and community development worker Diana Guenther is joined by Dawn Morrison, founder of the B.C. Food Systems Network Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty, East Vancouver social worker Sharnelle Jenkins-Thompson and ethno-botanist Cease Wyss.

2: Is Local Food More Just?

Moderator Jason Hsieh is an advocate for local food systems and is helping the City implement its Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. Panelists include Rebecca Cuttler, author of the urban food gardening blog Abundant City, Alexandra Henao-Castrillon, who works with migrant workers here and in Central America, and Tara McDonald, executive director of Vancouver Farmers Markets.

3: Keynote Address + special presentation

Keynote address by Diana Bronson, the executive director of Food Secure Canada, in conversation with Lily Grewal and presentation by Amelia Pape of Whole Foods.

4: What do we do about Food Banks?

Moderator Bev Pitman of the United Way of the Lower Mainland is joined by Aart Schuurman Hess. Hess is the CEO of Greater Vancouver Food Banks, where the focus has changed from providing emergency rations to empowering people to nourish themselves. Other panelists include public health nutritionist Gerry Kasten and Peggy Wilmot, who runs a Food Bank in Victoria.