VOLUME 11
THE FUTURE OF FOOD
MARCH 5, 2020
WE Global Learning Centre
339 Queen Street East
​
​
HoW MUCH TROUBLE ARE WE IN?
As our world continues to grow so do our appetites. And as we move past the 7 Billion mark in global population, the challenges and even moral dilemmas in the path to feeding everyone are only on the grow and the traditional agriculture industry alone doesn't seem to be the solution.
But never before in human history have we been more invested in finding solutions to these challenges. From the rise of “agriculture 4.0” to the sustainability demands being placed on our largest food processors by consumers, and from the work in the scientific community to build a “better meal” in a lab, to the efforts in developing nations simply to put a meal on the table and beyond, everything is in flux.
Of course with massive change comes important questions to consider, and as always, Ensemble has your back.
Can the recent promises of the fast food and CPG industries to meet the demands of healthier and more sustainable diets be realized?
​
Will we be able to find new ways to feed our growing population as climate change begins to significantly impact agriculture around the globe?
​
Are "Beyond Meat" and their industry competitors truly a solution with people's best interest in mind or just a marketing ploy?
​
Has the Canada Food Guide that we grew up with steered us wrong all these years?
​
And is "GMO" still a 4 letter word in a world where it's becoming one of our most viable paths to global food sustainability?
To get your fill of impactful discussions of these questions and more, join us for our first Volume of a new decade as we explore one of the topics that will define our world for the next 10 years and beyond.
We'll be sure to satisfy your hunger for thought provoking conversation and leave you full of opinions on this vital topic.
Event Details
March 5, 2020
WE Global Learning Centre
339 Queen Street East
6:30 PM
SPEAKERS
OKSANA ANDREIUK
BIOHACKER
Oksana Andreiuk (@CanadianBiohacker) is a biotechnology scientist, biohacking consultant, and speaker. She founded Canadian Biohacker and Toronto's first and largest biohacking meetup group with a mission of bringing biohacking and anti-aging science to the mainstream.
Holding an HonsBSc in genetics and biotechnology and a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Toronto, Oksana has a long-standing interest in the applications of technology to optimizing health and performance. She believes the future of healthcare lies in disease prevention and delaying (and even reversing) the aging process, ultimately extending healthspan and lifespan.
Oksana brings an extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry having worked in private, non-profit, and public health sectors across Canadian and US markets.
JUSTIN BELL
ORGANIC FARMER AND AGRICULTURE ACCOUNT MANAGER, TD
Justin Bell is an organic grain and dairy farmer with a day job in agricultural finance. He grows corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum and hay on a 200 acre farm near Peterborough and in the fall of 2019 he started milking 40 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows through a new entrant program. Justin graduated from University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus in 2015 where he studied Agriculture, focusing on business. He also works with his grandparents to farm 200 acres near Chatham where he is the 5th generation to grow corn, soybeans and wheat on the family farm.
Justin works with TD bank as an Agriculture Account manager between Peterborough and Kingston where he has a variety of farming and Ag Business clients. He has a background in agricultural appraisal, is a delegate on his local grain farmers board and is passionate about local food. He has two dogs at home and enjoys hiking, skiing or mountain biking in his spare time.
SPEAKERS
Leslie Ewing
pRESIDENT, cAMELOT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Plant Based Food Association
Leslie Ewing is President of Camelot Business Development Inc., a project management and executive-for-hire firm. Leslie has been involved with the fast moving packaged goods industry for over 25 years managing multi-stakeholder projects and working with senior executives to deliver on objectives.
Leslie has been under contract with Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) for over 10 years. Currently she is the Executive Director of Plant-Based Foods of Canada, a Division of FCPC.
The scope of work with respect to Plant-Based Foods of Canada includes development and management, execution of projects that involve advocacy with government on regulatory modernization and mandate priorities, collaboration with comparable associations in the US and Europe as well as public relations and marketing.
Prior to her current responsibilities Leslie held various positions including; Program Director, Nutrition Facts Education Campaign, Executive Director of the Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada and Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Kids & Company.
Leslie is a graduate of McMaster University.
KELLY GRAHAM
GLOBAL HEAD OF MARKETING, RITUAL
Kelly Graham leads marketing for the wildly popular mobile pick-up app Ritual, which has rapidly expanded from its start in Toronto to now being present in more than 50 cities across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Before pivoting into the startup world, Kelly worked in several global marketing & strategy roles for Unilever around the world, developing iconic brands such as Dove, Degree, Axe and Becel; and rapidly developed new brands for emerging spaces.
MICHELLE JAELIN
MEDIA REGISTERED DIETITIAN, NUTRITION ARTIST
Michelle Jaelin is a TV and digital media storyteller, licensed registered dietitian, food content developer and President of NutritionArtist.com; a creative food brand and blog focused on sharing cultural cuisine stories, practical nutrition and cooking tips. Michelle brings credible and trustworthy nutrition advice to television, digital media, print, radio and podcast.
Michelle is called “The Nutrition Artist” because she earned both a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition and Food and an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. She earned her registered dietitian license after graduating from the Aramark Canada Dietetic Internship Program.
​
Michelle appears on Global TV, Breakfast Television Toronto, CTV News, and CHCH Morning Live. She was a TEDx Speaker and is regularly sought after for her engaging corporate nutrition and wellness seminars.
Michelle resides in Hamilton with her spouse and rescue pup. Follow her @nutritionartist on Twitter and Instagram. ​
LIAM LEWIS
CHEF, THE LITTLE LOCAVORE
The Little Locavore is teen chef-in-training Liam Lewis.
His passion for all things food-related began early. By 10 years of age, Liam had started his own food blog: visiting with chefs, bakers, and farmers, and learning how to cook/bake/make something at each stop; Liam's food training had begun.
Liam has lived with with his family in Alberta, Vancouver and, Toronto, but now lives in Montreal. He has had the privilege to cook with some of Canada's finest chefs including: Vikram Vij (Vij's), Ned Bell (Vancouver Aquarium), Nicole Gomes (Top Chef Canada), Bob Blumer (Surreal Gourmet), to name just a few. He has received culinary training at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, UBC, and The Dirty Apron.
He has multiple appearances on CBC, CTV (Your Morning), BT Vancouver, BT Toronto, CTV (Vancouver), Global TV (Vancouver), Global TV (Montreal).
When not in a kitchen (or in school), Liam is a competitive figure skater who competes with his Ice Dance partner at the National (Junior) Level.
He is bilingual (English/French) and his hobbies include: sailing, biking, LEGO, sneakers, and art.
SPEAKERS
NICK ROSE
FREELANCE WRITER and JOURNALIST
Nick Rose is a Montreal-based writer who covers food, crime, pop culture, and their occasional overlap.
As Canadian staff writer for VICE’s Munchies vertical, Nick wrote about a wide array of issues surrounding food, from sustainable seafood and the impact of climate change on Canada’s wine industry to the perils of mishandling avocados and the criminal dark side of pizza.
He is also the founder and co-creator of Smoke Show hot sauce.
MERCEDES UNWIN
SENIOR PROGRAM & RESOURCE MANAGER, AGSCAPE
As Senior Program and Resource Coordinator, Mercedes is integral to the coordination of AgScape’s Teacher Ambassador Program, which sends Ontario Certified Teachers into grade 7 – 12 classrooms to deliver free agri-food lessons.
She holds a Masters of Teaching degree from the University of Toronto and has always had a passion for fostering the learning of food literacy and environmental stewardship. She's a life-long learner and encourages today’s teachers and youth to take active roles in the agri-food sector. She loves hiking, learning French, and swimming.
JORDAN WAGMAN
CHEF and AUTHOR
Meet James Beard nominated Chef, bestselling author, philanthropist, sales leader and Psoriasis warrior– Jordan Wagman. He wears each title as a badge of honour and takes on each role with precision and tremendous passion.
Jordan’s unique culinary journey began over campfires in Northern Ontario and progressed to the kitchens of some of the top chefs in the culinary world.
At the age of 12, Jordan was diagnosed with Psoriasis, an often-debilitating autoimmune disease. He was hospitalized numerous times and took medication that would have lasting negative side effects. He even spent a year of his life in Israel, living in a tent at the Dead Sea, suntanning for 13 hours each day seeking relief from his disease.
Sunshine has always brought Jordan comfort from his symptoms though the benefits were never sustainable.
Fast forward to 2014, Jordan finally found the second piece to his puzzle. After one meeting with a naturopath, he removed gluten, dairy and refined sugar from his diet and began taking natural supplements and CBD. Jordan’s life changed forever, and he began to live a much healthier existence.
Today, Jordan has a renewed focus on food, health and wellness. Jordan helps others find health through an anti-inflammatory diet and proves great, healthy; food can taste incredible too. Jordan is a cannabis advocate and cites the use of THC and CBD as a pillar for his health.
Jordan offers chef table experiences in his home which are sold out months in advance. The demand is real.
Jordan is most proud of his philanthropic endeavours advocating for mental health, Psoriasis and his involvement with Sick Children’s Foundation.
SPEAKERS
VOLUME 11
partners
Thank you to all of our partners who help us create something bigger.
