Cultivating Resilient Food Systems Summit

Banner for the “Cultivating Resilient Food Systems Summit.” The center has a dark green background with white and light green text: Cultivating Resilient Food Systems Summit. November 6, 2025. The Grove, Western Fair District, London ON. At the bottom is the Middlesex London Food Policy Council logo. On the left side, a basket of garlic, herbs, and jars of honey are displayed at a market stall. On the right side, a person is sorting produce behind crates filled with red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.

Cultivating Resilient Food Systems Summit

Date: Thursday November 6, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM

Lunch and Refreshments will be Included

Location: The Grove, Western Fair District (WFD), đź“Ť900 King Street, London, ON.  Located in the same parking lot as Gateway Casino.  The Western Fair District has multiple entrances and buildings and it can be a little tricky to navigate, so we encourage you to look up the location ahead of time (if using a navigation system, search “The Grove at Western Fair District”.)

Who Should Attend: Individuals and organizations involved in or influencing the food system, including producers, growers, community leaders, educators, policymakers, advocates, students, and community members. 

Food Summit Experiential Tour

Date: Friday, November 7, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM 

Overview: Join us for a hands-on tour with three site visits, lunch, and learning. This tour will build on relationships sparked at the Building Resilient Food Systems Summit held November 6, the day before the tour.  

Location & Meet-Up Point
đź“Ť 900 King Street, London, ON

A bus will be provided to take participants to each of our sites.
Please meet in the back of the parking lot, located at the northeast corner of Rectory Street and Florence Street. This is the same parking lot used by Gateway Casino and The Grove within the Western Fair District.

Details: 

The tour will include walking at the sites; please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Some locations may have uneven ground or limited seating. If you have accessibility needs or require accommodations, please let us know when registering.

Tour Sites: 

8:30 – 9:00
Registration, Coffee & Tea

9:00 – 9:30
Indigenous Opening Ceremony
Elder Mary-Anne Kechego

9:30 – 9:45
Welcome & Summit Overview
MC: Councillor Skylar Franke

9:45 – 10:45
Panel 1: Growing Food in Our Region
Moderator: Alyssa Rush
Panelists:

      • Laura Ramirez – Indigenous Farmer and Radical Force for Change
      • Micheal Courey – Owner, New Moon Community Homestead
      • Ben Wilcox – Director of Farm Operations, Urban Roots
      • Crispin Colvin – Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

10:45 – 11:00
Break – Snacks by Oneida Sweet Treats

11:00 – 12:00
Workshop 1: A Community Dialogue on Urban Roots’ Role and Future in London’s Food System
Facilitators: Dr. Lucy Hinton and Dr. Klaire Gain, King’s University College

12:00 – 1:00
Lunch – Catered by Growing Chefs

1:00 – 1:45
Panel 2: Strengthening Our Local Food Economy
Moderator: Brendon Samuels
Panelists:

      • Michelle Stranges – Specialist, Quality, Transformation & Innovation, St. Joseph’s Health Care
      • Chantel Crockett – Strategic Partnerships Manager, Agriculture Adaptation Council
      • Patrick Dunham – Patrick’s Beans

1:45 – 2:45
Workshop 2: Mapping the Honourable Harvest in Community Food Sovereignty
Facilitator: Sara Mai Chitty

2:45 – 3:00
Break – Snacks by Yaya’s Kitchen

3:00 – 3:45
Panel 3: Accessing and Sharing Food More Equitably
Moderator: Keisha Joseph
Panelists:

      • Mystery Furtado, RN – Owner, Granny P’s Inc.; Founder, Type Diabeat It
      • Nadia Lambek – Assistant Professor, Western University Faculty of Law
      • Matthew Wannan – Manager, London Food Coalition

3:45 – 4:15
Indigenous Closing, Final Remarks, Evaluations & Raffle

(For full speaker/panelist/moderator details, scroll to the bottom of this page)

Indigenous Ceremony

  • Elder Mary-Anne Kechego

Panel 1: Growing Food in Our Region

Moderator: Alyssa Rush
 

Panel 2: Strengthening Our Local Food Economy

Moderator: Brendon Samuels

Panel 3: Accessing and Sharing Food More Equitably

Moderator: Keisha Joseph

Workshop 1: A Community Dialog on Urban Roots’ role in Food Security

Facilitators: Dr. Lucy Hinton and Dr. Klaire Gain, Kings University College, London ON 

In collaboration with Urban Roots London, Dr. Hinton and Dr. Gain (King’s University College) are conducting a SSHRC funded research project to guide the future of Urban Roots as an integral member of London’s food security system. Through focused questions and community discussion, this workshop will gather important perspectives that will support in shaping Urban Roots’ strategic plan for the future

Workshop 2: Mapping the Honorable Harvest in Community Food Sovereignty

Facilitator: Sara Mai Chitty

This interactive workshop will invite participants to collectively identify local assets, opportunities, and pathways that advance food sovereignty in our region. By mapping stories, places, and relationships, we will build a shared visual snapshot of our community’s strengths, challenges, and priorities—highlighting where we can take action together.

Cultivating Resilient Food Systems Summit is committed to building a connected, inclusive, and resilient food system through shared learning and collaboration.

This event will bring together individuals and organizations working in or influencing the food system, including producers, growers, community leaders, educators, policymakers, and advocates. We will examine how our current food system functions, where gaps and challenges exist, and what meaningful change is possible through local policy, partnerships, and community efforts.

Participants will gain a stronger understanding of our local food system, demonstrate a genuine commitment to shared goals and prepare to move ideas into actions.The Summit is designed to spark connections, support innovation, and serve as a launch point for the collective work ahead.

  • Anna Badillo – Executive Director, Urban Roots
  • Ginette Blake, RD – MLFPC Registered Dietitian (RD) Coordinator; Public Health Dietitian, Middlesex London Health Unit
  • Amy Ford – Director of Planetary Health, Nourish; Chair, Urban Roots Board of Directors 
  • Skylar Franke – Ward 11 Councillor, City of London
  • Mystery Furtado, RN – Owner, Granny P’s Inc.; Founder, Type Diabeat It
  • James Hannay – Policy Analyst, National Farmers Union
  • Ellen Lakusiak – Volunteer, MLFPC; Retired Dietitian and Former Dietitian Coordinator, MLFPC
  • Dianne McComb – Council Member, MLFPC; Former Director, Egg Farmers of Ontario; Retired Egg Farmer
  • Matthew Kang – Communications Professional; Former Communications Assistant and Current Volunteer, MLFPC
  • Kathy MacKay, RD – Food Systems Facilitator, MLFPC
  • Jose Medina – VP of Regulatory, Food Safety and Quality Assurance, The Original Cakerie
  • Sudeep Pathak – Professor, Fanshawe; Head of Quality Control, Sustainability, and Product Development, Jing Nutrifood in London, ON
  • Laura Ramirez – Agriculture Technician, Kakhwa’u:Kwe White Corn Project (Original Foods Oneida)
  • Alyssa Rush, PhD Candidate – Researcher; Volunteer, MLFPC
  • Brendon Samuels, PhD – Committee Member, City of London Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee
  • Gabor Sass, PhD – Sustainability Consultant, Sassafras Consulting
  • Susan Smith, RD – Council Member, MLFPC
  • Kim Sutherland – Executive Chef-Nutrition & Wellness Manager Ronald McDonald House,  Nourish Ambassador
  • Siobhan Watters, PhD – Researcher; Volunteer, MLFPC
  • Matt Wannan – Manager, London Food Coalition
  • Eunice Yidana –Secretary of MLFPC Executive Committee; Founder and CEO of EUNY BESPOKE MEDIA; Marketing and Communications Professional

Speakers, Panelist, and Moderator Details

Listed alphabetically, by last name

A smiling person with long dark hair, glasses. Standing in front of a grey background.

Sara Mai Chitty

Sara Mai Chitty is Michi Sagig Anishinaabekwe (member of Alderville First Nation) and a community weaver, auntie, storyteller and educator. Centering community and heart in everything she does, Sara Mai specializes in Indigenous and anti-colonial education, Indigenous educational sovereignty and self-determination. She has a master's in journalism and is currently a fellow with the Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. Sara Mai also teaches at King's University College and Fanshawe College. Some of her most recent projects include: co-creator of the award-winning online open course "Connecting for Climate Change Action" (on Coursera) and a lead collaborator in creating and implementing Western University's innovative and award-winning online learning bundle curriculum offerings Maatookiiying gaa-miinigoowiziying (Sharing Our Gifts).

Crispin Colvin

Crispin Colvin is a Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, representing farmers in the southwestern Ontario counties of Lambton and Middlesex. He and his wife have a small herd of beef cows and grow corn, soybeans and wheat together with their son and his young family. Crispin was first elected to the OFA board in 2016 as a director-at-large. He is also past Chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario. He’s a former Mayor of Thames Centre, Warden of Middlesex County and Chair of the Board of Governors of Fanshawe College, and has also been involved with the Thorndale Fair Board and the boards of Western University, London Training Centre and London Convention Centre. He is passionate about land use planning and farmland preservation, as well as issues related to livestock production and animal welfare. Crispin is bilingual and a graduate of both Western University and Fanshawe College.

Michael Courey

Michael Courey is a farmer, academic, and community organizer based in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, where he co-founded New Moon Community Homestead with his partner Kristina and their four children. Living on a 200-acre community-owned farm, they produce vegetables, mixed meats, and eggs while fostering local food processing and community development. With roots on his uncle’s beef farm in Quebec and nearly two decades studying human, community, and economic development, Michael now works to unite these fields by approaching agriculture as a platform for positive social change.

A smiling woman with long blonde hair stands in a cornfield, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt. She is surrounded by tall green corn stalks and looking directly at the camera.

Chantel Crockett

Chantel Crockett has spent over a decade building connections between Ontario’s agri-food sector and the communities it feeds. As Strategic Partnerships Manager at the Agriculture Adaptation Council, she has developed initiatives that strengthen producer-public relationships, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable food practices. Elected to Thames Centre Council in 2022, Chantel represents the predominantly rural Ward 3, where she amplifies rural perspectives and advocates for agriculture, food literacy, and community-focused initiatives. She has championed projects like the Dorchester Community Garden, supporting the local food bank and providing hands-on learning opportunities. Named a 2025 Food System Champion by the Middlesex London Food Policy Council, Chantel is recognized for her leadership in connecting agriculture, community, and local food systems. Passionate about education, local investment, and accessibility, she strives to strengthen both the food system and the communities it serves.

Patrick Dunham

Patrick’s Beans is a London-based coffee roastery dedicated to quality, community, and ethical sourcing. Founded in 2014 by master roaster and professional chef Patrick, the company roasts every bean in small batches to ensure freshness, consistency, and exceptional flavor. All beans are organic and ethically sourced, reflecting Patrick’s commitment to responsible coffee production. Beyond great coffee, Patrick’s Beans actively supports local communities through fundraising initiatives and the Beanstalk Project™, donating 1% of every batch to local emergency shelters and food aid programs. Today, the roastery supplies over 60 restaurants, cafes, and retail clients across Southwestern Ontario.

Mystery Furtado

Mystery Furtado is a nurse, entrepreneur, and community advocate dedicated to health, wellness, and food equity. She founded Type Diabeat-it, a London-based non-profit supporting racialized and marginalized communities living with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes. The organization combats food insecurity and promotes culturally relevant, diabetes-friendly nutrition through community gardens, food literacy programs, and the distribution of Afrocentric vegetables. She is also the founder of Granny P’s, a woman-owned business offering preservative-free, nutrient-rich sea moss products inspired by her grandmother’s legacy of holistic health. Mystery has been recognized for her impact on the London community, receiving the 2024 Food System Champion award from the Middlesex London Food Policy Council, the “20’s in Her 20’s” award, and support from the TD Zone grant program. Her work continues to empower communities through inclusive health education, culturally responsive food initiatives, and sustainable wellness practices.

Skylar Franke

Skylar Franke is serving her first term as Councillor for Ward 11, bringing a strong background in environmental leadership and community engagement. She previously worked for over eight years on diverse environmental projects in London, including as Executive Director of the London Environmental Network and with ReForest London. On Council, she serves as Vice Chair of the Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee, sits on the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee, and chairs the London Transit Commission. She also contributes to the Middlesex-London Health Unit Board, the Lake Huron Water Supply System, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

Dr. Klaire Gain

Dr. Klaire Gain is an Assistant Professor in the Social Justice and Peace Studies Program at King's University College. Dr. Gain centres ecofeminist and decolonial theory in researching areas of gender, ecology, global health and community resistance. Dr. Gain is committed to scholarly activism, merging academia and grassroots organizing as an avenue for social, gender, and ecological justice.

Dr. Lucy Hinton

Dr. Hinton is an Assistant Professor in Political Science and International Relations at King's University College. Dr. Hinton works at the intersection of political economy, food studies, and development studies, with research projects rooted in global and local food politics, and a particular interest in local food systems

Keisha Jospeh

Keisha Joseph is the Chair for the Middlesex London Food Policy Council. She has an educational background in Nutrition and Dietetics and a professional background in food security. She has a passion for community nutrition, food security, food sovereignty, and creating an inclusive and diverse food system.

Mary-Anne Kechego

Mary-Anne Kechego has spent over 30 years fostering communities through food. As the owner of Gramz Kitchen, she specializes in powwow favorites and traditional Indigenous dishes, catering events that bring people together. She also supports First Nations communities through wellness work and educates about treaties, including the Two-Row Wampum Belt and the Dish with One Spoon.

Nadia Lambek

Nadia Lambek joined Western University’s Faculty of Law in 2021, where her research examines the role of law in shaping food systems, social movement engagement in lawmaking, and property law. She is a founding member and co-chair of the Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy and collaborates with civil society and Indigenous organizations on food system governance, including the UN Committee on World Food Security. Prior to Western, Nadia was a fellow at Harvard Law School’s Institute for Global Law and Policy, practiced labour and human rights law, and advised UN Special Rapporteurs on the right to food. She holds a JD from Yale Law School and is completing her SJD at the University of Toronto, where she was recognized with multiple prestigious fellowships.

Laura Ramirez

Laura Ramirez (They/She) is Taino Michif from the communities of Yukaheke Cibu Quiskeya and Rat Portage FN (family names Gagnon/Gauthier). Laura is a radical force of change in food insecurity, spearheading community support and development in the Agri-food sector.

A person with glasses and a white bucket hat with orange flowers is standing in a green outdoor setting, picking blueberries from a bush. They have tattoos on their arms and are wearing a light-colored tank top and a crossbody bag. The background shows more bushes and a netted structure.

Alyssa Rush

Alyssa is a PhD student at Queen’s University, currently based in London, Ontario. Her research focuses on agroecology, feminist studies, sustainable agriculture, and local food systems. Passionate about research, writing, and community engagement, Alyssa brings a strong commitment to equity and social justice to her work. As an active volunteer with the Middlesex London Food Policy Council, she supports initiatives that promote local food security and sustainability across the region.

Brendon Samuels

Dr Brendon Samuels is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. Brendon serves on the City of London’s Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee as a former chair, and he is currently the vice chair of London’s Old North East Neighbourhood Association.

Michelle Stranges

Michelle is a specialist for the Quality, Transformation, and Innovation team at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and specialized in food services. She has worked in Food and Nutrition Services for the past 10 years and has led a variety of projects including supporting various service and production model changes in the kitchens, and process improvements. Since 2022, she has led the St. Joseph’s Nourish project through the National Nourish Anchor Cohort program which focused on starting an on-site garden in partnership with Urban Roots London, localizing food procurement, reducing food and packaging waste, and piloting a food prescriptions program. In 2024, Michelle received the Green Leader Community Choice Award and earned first place at the Canadian College of Health Leaders Innovation Event for her projects.

Matthew Wannan

Matthew Wannan is the Manager of the London Food Coalition, where he leads with compassion, collaboration, and a hands-on approach. Dedicated to ensuring that surplus food from local grocers, restaurants, and farmers reaches community partners across London, Matt works to make good, nourishing food accessible to everyone. His leadership fosters a welcoming, values-driven environment where volunteers, partners, and community members feel connected and supported.

Ben Wilcox

Ben Wilcox is the Director of Farm Operations at Urban Roots London, a non-profit organization that revitalizes underused land in the City of London for community-based agriculture. A champion of sustainable farming and community engagement, Ben brings creativity, deep agricultural knowledge, and a commitment to continuous learning to his work. His leadership and mentorship create an inclusive, welcoming environment where staff, volunteers, and community members can thrive.