Agenda
Menu
This agenda is subject to change.
Monday, May 12 |
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| 5:00 - 6:30 pm | Registration |
Tuesday, May 13 |
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| 7:00 am - 8:30 am | Registration and light breakfast |
| 8:30 am - 9:00 am | Opening Remarks Mayor Frank Scarpitti, City of Markham Nizar Moosa, Business Manager, Destination Markham Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance |
| 9:00 am - 9:25 | Presenter: Eden Hagos, CEO, Black Foodie |
| 9:30 am | Learning Journeys depart |
| 5:00 pm | Learning Journeys return |
| 6:30 pm onward | Opening Reception Featuring delicious bites from QJD paired perfectly with beverages from Ontario Craft Brewers, Wines of Ontario, and the Ontario Craft Cider Association. Raise a glass and connect with fellow delegates as we celebrate the best of Ontario’s culinary and beverage scene. |
Wednesday, May 14 |
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| 7:30 - 8:30am | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8:30 - 8:45am | Indigenous Welcome |
| 8:45 - 9:00am | Welcome Remarks Nizar Moosa, Business Manager, Destination Markham Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance |
| 9:00 - 10:25am | Mainstage Programming |
| Championing Canada’s Culinary Identity on the Global Stage Renée Suen is a Toronto-based culinary travel journalist with over a decade of experience covering Canada’s vibrant food scene. As the Mid-USA and Mid-Canada Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Renée brings a unique global perspective to how Canadian culinary experiences are perceived—and how they can be elevated. In this session, Renée will share her insights on how Canada can carve out its place on the world’s culinary tourism map—and what it will take for the country to be recognized as a must-visit delicious destination by 2030. Keynote Speaker Renee Suen |
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| The Power of Chef Collectives: Uniting Culinary Voices to Put Canada on the Global Stage Showcasing Canada's tastes to the world means we need the people who bring that flavour to life—our chefs—at the heart of the conversation. In this compelling panel, discover how chef collectives are driving culinary tourism, shaping regional food identities, and forging powerful connections between kitchens and communities to elevate Canada’s culinary reputation at home and abroad. From advocacy to storytelling to experience creation, you’ll learn how engaging with chefs isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for achieving our bold vision for 2030. Panelists: Robert Belcham, Marketing Chair, Chefs' Table Society of BC Patrick St. Vincent, Directeur Principal, La Table Ronde Keith Pears, Bocuse D'or Moderator: Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance |
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| Presentation TBD | |
| 10:25 - 11:00am | Networking Break sponsored by Northumberland Tourism |
| 11:00am - 12:05pm | Mainstage Programming |
| An update from Destination Canada Presenter: Maureen Riley, Vice-President Industry Engagement, Destination Canada |
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| Are You READI to Have a Taste of Alberta? Dig into Alberta’s rich and diverse culinary landscape through the lens of the Culinary and Agritourism READI Stamp—a national recognition program administered by TIAC. This lively panel brings together passionate Alberta tastemakers sharing how their businesses are embracing culinary tourism, building community, and showcasing what makes their regions truly delicious. You’ll hear firsthand how the READI Stamp is helping to elevate local experiences and why it matters for visitors, operators, and the future of food tourism in Alberta. Panelists: Antoine Lavoie, Delavoy Chocolates Kellie Wahl, Alternate Route Coffee Co. Agnes Kulinski, Pierogerie Polish Foods Inc. Moderator: James Leppan, Senior Manager, Destination Development, Explore Edmonton |
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| 12:05 pm – 1:45 pm | Lunch |
| 1:15 - 2:45pm | Mainstage Programming |
| Turning the Tables on Food Waste: Tourism's Role in Advancing the SDGs This insightful session will highlight real-world strategies and successes from collaboration, demonstrating how tourism organizations can play a key role in advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including responsible consumption, zero hunger, and climate action. Attendees will gain practical insights into how they, too, can work with La Tablée des Chefs to reduce food waste, strengthen community impact, and align their tourism efforts with global sustainability priorities. In conversation with: Jean-Francois Archembault, Entrepreneur Social, La Tablée des Chefs Mary Sayewich, Director, Strategy & Project Management, Ottawa Tourism |
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| Creating a Globally Recognized Culinary Experience: Dining on the Ocean Floor Step into the story behind one of Canada’s most iconic and immersive food experiences—Dining on the Ocean Floor. Recognized by Forbes as one of the “10 Unique Dining Experiences to Put on Your 2025 Bucket List”, this extraordinary culinary adventure has captured international attention for its unforgettable blend of place, taste, and storytelling. Dominic Padula shares the journey of how Dining on the Ocean Floor has evolved to meet the expectations of today’s culinary traveller. From sustainability and guest engagement to seasonality and sense of place, discover what it takes to build a world-class experience that puts Canada on the global food tourism map. Presenter: Domenic Padula, Owner, Dining on the Ocean Floor |
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| Crafting a Great Taste of Canada for the German Market What happens when international audiences get a true taste of Canada—before they even set foot on our soil? Holger Böckner shares how Canada’s culinary identity is being brought to life for German consumers. With a deep understanding of both European palates and Canadian foodways, Holger is helping bridge the gap between what Canada produces and the international audiences hungry to experience it. In this insightful session, you'll learn how strategic storytelling, export partnerships, and immersive tastings abroad are creating powerful invitations for travel. Discover how showcasing our food abroad isn’t just about trade—it’s about inspiring culinary tourism and building emotional connections that drive visitation to our farms, kitchens, and tables. Presenter: Holger Böckner, Founder of Food Embassy |
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| Telling Your Destination’s Taste of Place Story: From Plate to Platform What makes your destination truly delicious, and how do you tell that story in a way that captivates travellers and locals alike? From digital campaigns and media partnerships to on-the-ground experiences that bring food culture to life, this panel will uncover the most impactful and authentic ways to craft and share your destination’s taste of place. You’ll leave inspired with creative strategies to elevate your local food story and connect more meaningfully with your audiences. Panelists: Paul Minich, St. Kitts Tourism Alison Migneault, Chief Marketing Officer, Tourism Kingston Jackie Tenuta, Vice President of Destination Management, Travel Manitoba Moderator: Katie Bridges, Foodism Editor, Twenty Two Media Group |
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| 2:45 - 3:15pm | Networking Break sponsored by Northumberland Tourism |
| 3:15 - 5:20pm | Mainstage Programming |
| Do Something Delicious: Powering Culinary Tourism Through Partnership Great things happen when we come together—and in Ontario, partnership is the secret ingredient to culinary tourism success. The team from Destination Ontario showcases how they've harnessed the power of partnership to grow Ontario's unique tastes of place stories, create authentic visitor experiences, and drive regional impact. Whether you’re looking to strengthen existing relationships or spark new ones, this session will serve up fresh inspiration and proven strategies for doing something truly delicious—together. In Conversation With: Kate Vrancart, Director, Strategic Engagement and Communications, Destination Ontario Melissa Loomans-Beaudoin, Marketing Manager, Destination Ontario Chris Giles, Director of Communications and Marketing, Niagara Parks Jen Moore, Marketing Manager, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation |
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| Savouring Diversity: How Food Trails Celebrate a Destination’s Cultural Mosaic Food is one of the most powerful ways to experience a place—and food trails are a delicious way to spotlight the rich cultural diversity that defines a destination. This session will explore how food trails can tell authentic cultural stories, foster inclusion, and create meaningful connections between visitors and the communities they explore, one bite at a time. Panelists: Nancy Small, CEO, Tourism Richmond Monica Pain, Manager, Destination Development & Events, Destination Markham Catherine Hou, President, Chinese Cuisine and Hospitality Association of Canada Moderator: Shayan Lallani, Research Officer, Culinary Tourism Alliance |
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| Tasting the City: Culinary Tourism Trends & the Chicago Experience Join Steve Dolinsky, 13-time James Beard Award winner and “Food Guy” at NBC 5 Chicago, as he shares his insider insights on emerging trends in culinary tourism. With two Emmy Awards under his belt and decades of experience reporting on food culture, Steve brings a dynamic perspective on how destinations can tell their story through food. Through his work curating food-focused experiences, launching immersive food tours like “Pizza City USA,” and shaping culinary spaces for real estate developments, Steve has helped define what a true “taste of place” looks like in Chicago. In this session, he’ll explore how cities and regions can leverage local food identity to attract visitors, engage communities, and support sustainable growth in the tourism economy. Whether you're a destination marketer, tourism strategist, or food enthusiast, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas for building unforgettable culinary experiences rooted in place. Presenter: Steve Dolinsky, Founder of Pizza City U.S.A. Tours and Pizza City Fest |
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| Air Canada Trivia Opportunity to win two round trip tickets to fly with Air Canada, valued at $3,800! |
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| 5:20 - 5:40pm | Closing Remarks Nizar Moosa, Business Manager, Destination Markham Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance |
