TORONTO — Last night more than 200 industry executives packed into Toronto’s Old Mill for the 36th Top Management Night.
The gala evening featured the presentation of five awards, including Media Awards presented by Foodservice and Hospitality magazine and Ontario Restaurant News. Champions of Education awards were presented by the night’s host, the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals (CAFP).
In presenting the Hans Bueschkens award to Pizza Nova, F&H editor and publisher, Rosanna Caira, acknowledged the importance of giving back to the community, something that has become a significant part of Pizza Nova’s success. In fact, since 1994, the company has donated more than $1 million to the community through various initiatives.
In addition to corporate event sponsorships, the company has a special place in its heart for children’s charities, with fundraising efforts directed to the Hospital for Sick Children and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario. Every year on the second Tuesday in May, Pizza Nova offers one medium pepperoni pizza for $3.99, including tax, with $1 of the price donated to Variety. The single day event in 2009 raised more than $109,000. To date, Pizza Nova has raised more than $700,000 for the cause. The pie company is also involved in a host of other charities, including: Villa Charities (raising $100,000 to date); Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Unicef (Schools of Africa program); United Way and Sick Kids Hospital. In accepting the award, vice-president, Domenic Primucci, stressed the importance of community, applauding the invaluable efforts of his team.
Other award presentations included Ontario Restaurant News’ Restaurant Company award, which went to Mandarin Restaurant and the Newsmaker of the Year award, which was presented to Tim Hortons. The Champions of Education and Training awards were presented to Joe Baker, of George Brown College for educator and to Garland Canada for corporate.
Capping off the evening, Richard Worzel, futurist and author of Who Owns Tomorrow spoke of the need to heed trends to better understand where we’re going. Interestingly, Worzel reminded the audience that 9/11, SARS and Hurricane Katrina, were forecast but dismissed as alarmist. “We have a failure of imagination,” said Worzel, “We think tomorrow is going to be like today.”
Worzel also discussed drivers of change, like climate, food and technology. “The next decade will see huge changes in technology,” said Worzel, pointing to the continuing development of robotics. “Automation will come into the workplace in a very big way and change the dynamics of an industry that is very dependent on human labour.” He reminded the audience that the “best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
