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Food Week is coming this September 9-16! Don’t miss out on this week long celebration on food and community.
Food Week is coming this September 9-16! Don’t miss out on this week long celebration on food and community.
Food is a complex topic, from what it costs, what kind is available, where it comes from, who has access, what role it plays in our health, and so forth. These topics also translate into issues that are part of the lived experience for many folks in our communities. So with that, we are excited to spend an evening getting real about it with a live, free, in-person discussion to “talk-o” about the interactions between food insecurity and mental health. And yes – there is a free taco bar, too!
We have a very exciting roster of panelists with varying experience, knowledge and perspectives on this topic who will also be able to provide direct connection to and resources for their work in our communities. Joining us are esteemed speakers:
We are also very excited to have joining us local food celebrity guest moderator, Julie Van Rosendaal, Cook, Author, Freelance Journalist on CBC Radio and Food Access Advocate!
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and be part of the conversation this meaningful dialogue and partake in a delicious community meal.
Event details:
This event is part of Neighbourhood Food Week – a week-long celebration and exploration of free food fun in Bowness, Greenwood Village, and Montgomery. Neighbourhood Food Week is made possible in part with generous support from the Community Hubs Initiative: A partnership between The City of Calgary and United Way of Calgary with Rotary as a founding partner, and the Arusha Centre’s Climate Action Grant.
Volunteers Needed – Get involved at Food Week! Click here to see volunteer opportunities for this event.
Panelist Bios
Salimah Kassam is an empathetic, resourceful and driven leader who is determined to make meaningful impacts on the people and systems in Calgary. Driven to envision and execute strategy, galvanize resources, track results, and make lasting shifts in society, Salimah is a trusted collaborator and innovation co-conspirator within Calgary’s social impact and economic development networks. She is a subject matter expert in policy development, asset-building, poverty reduction, community economic development, and behavioural economics.
Nikita Scringer, named one of CBC’s 150 Black Woman Making Canada Better, Nikita Scringer is the Director of Operations for Fresh Routes, a non-profit social enterprise that brings healthy, affordable, fresh food to communities facing barriers to access, in a dignified way with their mobile grocery stores. With a culinary background, strong community advocacy, and entrepreneurial spirit, Nikita passionately works to bridge the gap between conventional food systems and food insecurity challenges. Outside of her professional pursuits, Nikita enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and enjoying cherished moments with family and pets.
Julie Van Rosendaal is a food journalist and broadcaster, and the author of thirteen best-selling cookbooks. She has been the food columnist on the Calgary Eyeopener on CBC Radio One and regularly contributes to other CBC Radio shows for over 17 years. Julie writes about food for the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and other publications across Canada and she regularly does TV segments, teaches, speaks and cooks at culinary schools and events across the country. She is an involved advocate for an accessible, sustainable food system, initiating and participating in initiatives that facilitate food supports in her own community and across the country. Julie also has a very engaged audience on her social media channels and website, Dinner with Julie. She lives in Calgary with her son, Willem, and dog, Ramone.
Anna Mandziuk is a mental health professional who leads advocacy efforts towards addressing food insecurity through education, life skill development, and fostering the connections between nutritious food and a positive mindset. As an educator, therapist, chef, public speaker, social program advocate, and team lead of the Calgary’s Cooking program with Community Kitchen, she comes forward with strong skills in communication grounded in empathy, leadership ingenuity with the foresight of being able to see both the big ideas and the small details, organization and collaboration dexterity, and powerful listening prowess in order to get to the root of a cause very quickly. She’s driven by the desire to help others, thrive in engaging in all forms of conversation big and small where social shifting ideas form, and the connection to others through the path of compassion and kindness.
Anthony Santoro – Coming Soon!
