U of G Part of Food Day Canada
July 30, 2012 - Campus Bulletin
The University of Guelph will co-sponsor this week’s Food Day Canada, a national event intended to highlight the history and role of food and agriculture.
This year’s celebration is Aug. 4. U of G is one of two “charter partners” of the annual event, which was started by U of G friend and culinary expert Anita Stewart.
Food Day challenges Canadians to buy, eat or prepare food that was grown, produced or raised in Canada. People are encouraged to share their menus on a special website. Hundreds of restaurants across the country also take part.
“The goal is to create a day to celebrate the fact that we’ve got extraordinary ingredients and tremendous culinary talent on all levels,” says Stewart, founder of Cuisine Canada.
She has written 14 books and numerous articles promoting Canadian foods and wines, including many University of Guelph-flavoured selections. In 1999, she prepared a special menu for the 125th anniversary of U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). She received an honorary degree in 2011 from the College of Management and Economics (CME).
Known as “Canada’s food university,” U of G has been involved with Food Day Canada since the event began in 2003. That year, “the world’s longest barbecue” was held as a response to the mad-cow disease crisis that struck Alberta cattle farmers.
In 2010, U of G created the Good Food Innovation Awards as part of Food Day Canada. The awards honour food professionals using Canadian ingredients, following sustainable management practices and creating healthy, nutritious menu selections. The awards are presented by the U of G president’s office, OAC and CME. Judges always include U of G food experts.
“Guelph is Canada’s food university, so it is natural that we would be following the progress of Food Day,” says Sue Bennett, director of University and community relations. “The Innovation Award captures Guelph’s leadership role in Canada’s food system.”
