With everything that's going on in the world, it can make it tough to keep up-to-date on everything that's happening in our country's food and drink industries. This week, there's much to take note of.
The passing of Canadian cuisine pioneer Anita Stewart has rocked the food community from coast-to-coast.
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that despite ongoing efforts to stabilize food security in Nunavut, food insecurity continues to rise in the region. The study’s authors called for more effective government initiatives to help resolve the crisis.
In happier news, a Montreal-based non-profit organization recently repurposed the busses they were using for mobile testing into mobile food markets to deliver fresh and affordable, locally-sourced fruits and vegetables throughout the community.
Get caught up on these stories and more with today's Canadian food news roundup.
Food Day Canada founder Anita Stewart passes away at the age of 73
Truly heartbreaking news spread across the country this week with the passing of Canadian food advocate Anita Stewart. A longtime resident of Elora, ON, Stewart penned 14 cookbooks over the years as well as founded the national local food-focused campaign Food Day Canada which takes place annually on the first Saturday of August.
Social media posts in memoriam have been flowing since Thursday as well as articles in memoriam by CBC, Toronto Star and our own Dan Clapson.
Food insecurity worsens in Nunavut
According to new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, in the years since the Nutrition North Canada program was introduced in 2011, more Nunavut households have struggled to consistently put food on the table.
Despite the fact that the program’s budget received a boost from $60 to $99 million in 2018, data still shows that the percentage of the territory’s population affected by food insecurity continues to rise.
Find the full story at CTV News.
Bobsled from Cool Runnings stolen from Ranchman’s in Calgary
After the iconic Calgary venue Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall was put up for lease last month, more bad news befell the beloved landmark when news broke that the bobsled shell from the movie Cool Runnings–which was filmed in Calgary in the early 1990s–had been stolen. The bobsled had been a decor fixture and Calgarians are hoping this piece of local cinematic history can be found.
Visit CBC News for the full story.
Toronto barber sparks shop local movement
A Toronto man who launched a barber shop on Lakeshore Boulevard this summer recently introduced a new promotion in an effort to bolster small businesses in his community. If you bring him a receipt that proves that you recently shopped locally, he’ll give you $5 off your haircut.
Head to CBC News for more.
Montreal non-profit launches food market on wheels
Mobile testing units from a Montreal neighbourhood that was once considered a COVID-19 hotspot are now being repurposed into mobile food markets to deliver fresh, locally-sourced fruits and vegetables.
The initiative was launched by Pari Saint-Michel, who is working to make fresh food available at an affordable price for its community.
Check out CTV News for more.
A return to critiquing Canadian restaurants despite the pandemic
Canada's premier restaurant critic, Alexandra Gill recently shared her thoughts on resuming restaurant reviews amid the current pandemic. Returning with retaurant health and safety procedures front of mind–and, of course, food and drink quality–Gill reinforces that restaurant reviewing has an important part to play in keeping cautious, but curious food-loving people informed.
"When a night out is even more precious, the choices are often fraught with worry and restaurants are redefining themselves almost overnight, the role of an independent, unbiased critic has never been more essential," she says in her latest column in The Globe and Mail.
