GUELPH, Ont. — Canadians shared good food and Canada was lit up from coast to coast for this year’s Food Day Canada celebrations last Saturday, July 31st. Almost 50 buildings and icons — from Government House in St. John’s, Nfld. to Niagara Falls, the Fairmont Banff Springs and up to the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre in Whitehorse — were glowing with red and white lights to show gratitude to all the people who help get food to our tables.
“It’s our pleasure to invite all Canadians to take part in Food Day Canada celebrations,” says Crystal Mackay, Food Day Canada coordinator. “The harvest is in and there are so many options to enjoy anywhere and everywhere. Come together at backyard barbecues, picnics, potlucks, patios and kitchen tables, in person and online.”
There were a number of ways to celebrate Food Day Canada, including:
- Taking the pledge to shop, cook and dine like a Canadian on FoodDayCanada.ca
- Shine a Light — visit one of the icons lit up red and white near you or DIY shine your own lights at 9 p.m. for a wave of light from east to west.
- Dine like a Canadian — Enjoy Canadian-grown, Canadian-made food and drinks made at home or support your local restaurants and favourite chefs. Look for the Food Day Canada partner restaurants and icons being lit up on the map on our site.
- Share like a Canadian — Post your stories, menus and pictures with everyone using #FoodDayCanada and @FoodDayCanada. Follow along, join the millions of conversations and enter to win some fabulous giveaway prizes too.
To launch this year’s Food Day Canada, Jason Bangerter, executive chef at Langdon Hall and Denis Fontana, owner of LaFONTANA in Elora, Ont. came together with Stewart’s family to create an amazing tribute to Anita Stewart featuring some of her favourite local, award-winning chefs and recipes.
According to Fontana “I am very proud of the incredible event we have put together to celebrate Anita’s philosophy to care about what is around you. When I think of Anita Stewart, I think of what the hospitality and culinary world should represent: passionate individuals who care about food, more than just for nourishment.” He continued, “Anita directed us to become a centre of showcasing what’s available in our ‘backyard,’ even when featuring a foreign cuisine.”
For Bangerter, “Anita Stewart was a long-time mentor, supporter, close friend and a national culinary icon in her tireless advocacy for Canada’s food industry. Using Canadian ingredients is at the forefront of our ethos at Langdon Hall, and Food Day Canada provides an important opportunity to educate and celebrate our local foods, farmers, fishers, home cooks, chefs, bakers, brewers, wine makers and so much more,” he says. “I’m so happy we can honour our nation’s cuisines and the legacy Anita has left us. I miss her dearly and I am so proud to be able to continue her work and cook Canadian with Canadians on Food Day Canada.”
The dinner and Food Day Canada kickoff was hosted on July 29, 2021 at LaFONTANA restaurant in Anita Stewart’s hometown of Elora, Ontario. Proceeds from the evening were directed to the Anita Stewart Tribute Fund at the University of Guelph.
