Food connects us - to place, to people, and to each other. A NATION'S TABLE is an inspiring session plenary session built around a national movement.

Opening with a screening of A Nation's Table, an award-winning film that captures the heart of Canada's food system through the voices and experiences of farmers, fishers, producers, and chefs from across the country. Through powerful storytelling and striking imagery, the film explores the values that unite Canadian kitchens: respect for ingredients, connection to land and sea, and pride in feeding communities.

Following the screening, Executive Director Jeff Stewart shares the story behind Food Day Canada and how it has grown into a national movement celebrating Canadian food from coast to coast to coast. He reflects on the essential leadership role that chefs play - not only as culinary professionals, but as storytellers, educators and advocates for a resilient and distinctly Canadian food culture.

The session invites chefs to see themselves within this story. Rather than prescribing rules, it focuses on inspiration and possibility - showing how everyday choices in sourcing, menu design, and storytelling can strengthen local economies, build trust with guests, and deepen connections within the food community.

Chefs will leave reminded of the impact their work has beyond the plate, inspired by a shared national story, and invited to be part of a growing movement that honours Canadian food, celebrates those who work with it, and shapes the future of Canada's table.