Building Your Food Future: Lessons from a Circular Economy
Date: June 11, 2026 from
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST (includes a 1-hour presentation and interactive discussions)
Location: Thorndale Lions Community Centre, 265 Queen St. Thorndale, ON
Guest Speaker: Justine Dainard, Lessons from a Circular Economy, Smart Cities Project Manager from Wellington County
Cost: General Admission is $20. To support accessible participation, we offer a Community Access option (no fee) for anyone who needs it. Complimentary registration is also available for students and seniors.
Registration opens April 30 and closes June 2, 2026.
Event Details
Join the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (MLFPC) on the morning of June 11, 2026 to explore the future of our Middlesex County food system. We are excited to welcome Justine Dainard to share key lessons and successful food system initiatives from Wellington County’s “Our Food Future”, Canada’s first circular food economy.
Following the presentation and Q&A period, our program includes interactive activities to help identify local needs and collaborate on evidence-based strategies for meaningful change. Join us to collaborate, learn, and help build a more resilient and inclusive food future for Middlesex County. Refreshments will be provided.
Who should attend:
- Individuals and organizations working in or influencing the food system in Middlesex county
- Food producers, growers and food processors
- Community leaders, policy makers and advocates
- Food security and food access programs in Middlesex county
- Food educators
Meet our Guest Speaker
Justine managed Wellington County’s participation in the four-year, federally-funded Our Food Future project (foodfuture.ca), working with the City of Guelph to create a circular economy of food. She works within the County’s Economic Development department and is focused on regional resiliency, with a portfolio which includes circular economy, agriculture, food access, and digital equity. Justine completed an arts undergrad at the University of Guelph, and holds an MA in Classical Archaeology (UBC) and a Masters in Library and Information Science (UBC). She believes in the power of saying “Yes, and…”
8:30-9:00 AM – Registration, coffee, tea and light refreshments
9:00-10:15 AM – Guest Speaker, Justine Dainard, Smart Citities Manager, County of Wellington
10:15-10:35 AM – Break
10:35-11:40 AM – Interactive Discussions
11:40-11:45 AM – Regional Food Systems Alliance Overview
1145 AM -12:00 PM – Closing and Evaluation
Foster Collaboration and Connection
Facilitate meaningful dialogue and relationship-building among diverse partners, to strengthen networks within the rural local food system.
Build Knowledge and Shared Understanding
Provide participants with opportunities to examine the current local food system, identify existing gaps and challenges, and explore evidence-based strategies, policies, and innovative practices that can drive meaningful change.
Create Collective Action
Inspire and equip participants to transform shared goals into actionable next steps by supporting the development of collaborative initiatives, partnerships, and policy efforts at the community level that advance a more inclusive and resilient food system.
Ginette Blake, BASc, RD, Registered Dietitian (RD) Coordinator, Middlesex London Food Policy Council
Sarah Finch, Executive Director, Investing in Children
Katherine Hogendoorn, Community Development Coordinator, Ontario Student Nutrition Program (VON)
Kathy MacKay, MSc, RD, Food Systems Facilitator, Middlesex London Food Policy Council
Tracy Ranick, Economic Development Officer, Middlesex County Primary Operations Centre, Middlesex County
Alyssa Rush, PhD (Candidate), Council Member, Middlesex London Food Policy Council; PhD Student, Queen’s University
Doruntina Uka, Business Development Specialist, PATCH Program
Siobhan Watters, PhD, Council Member, Middlesex London Food Policy Council; Postdoctoral Associate, Communication, Media and Film, University of Calgary
Joe Winser, Director of Human Services, Middlesex County
