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Are You ready?

FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED EXPERIENCE?

Quell is proud to host the inaugural 2-day unconference focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the food, drink and hospitality industry.

Held at the Evergreen Brickworks on March 28-29, 2023, the unconference will disrupt the traditional conference approach and thinking.

“BUSINESS HAS THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER TO CHANGE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE OPEN, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY”

The only unconference in Canada focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the food, drink & hospitality industries

An unconference centering 100% of voices and expertise from underrepresented groups with lived experiences

An unconference serving and highlighting diverse and smaller food businesses, outside of traditional conference food offerings

An unconference designed to inspire tangible action plans to impact change and new thinking

OPENING EVENT

Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering theapplication of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars within the food, beverage, and hospitality  industries.

2 day conference

Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering the application of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars.

CLOSING EVENT

Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering theapplication of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars within the food, beverage, and hospitality  industries.

Meet our thought leaders

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Evergreen BrickWorks - 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8

Unblock Unconference Tickets

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Bar Mordecai - 1272 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X7

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Axis Club - 722 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C4

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In Attendance

People who are connected to

         food | drink | hospitality

Policymakers
Educators
Business leaders
Decision makers
Community leaders
Visionaries
Changemakers

Expectations

Questions. Lots of them.

Taking comfort in being uncomfortable is progress.

Thinking differently and unlearning.

Learning to fall in love with the problem.

Immersive and interactive.

A safe space to learn, share and grow.

We don’t check boxes. We encourage meaningful action and accountability.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CONFERENCE

The programming is designed within the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering the application of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these pillars. 

  • Learn best practices for recruiting equity-seeking talent
  • Learn how to allow your equity-seeking staff to thrive
  • Broaden the diversity in your organization
  • Improve the equity in your field/organization
  • Leverage belonging for increased profit
  • Embrace neurodiversity at work
  • Identify and respond to workplace stress indicators
  • Critically examine your operations from a DEI perspective
  • Challenge old ways of thinking
  • Discover new products and services to help improve your business
  • Adopt best practices for reducing workplace barriers
  • Leave with valuable resources to address the current labour market
  • Collaborate for a brighter future in the service industry
 

AGENDA

MARCH 28

6:00-9:00pm

Opening Party @ Bar Modecai

KEYNOTE PANEL | Presented by Creemore Springs

Winning Strategy: When stepping to the plate with two or more strikes against you

  • Erica Karbelnik – Top Chef Canada Season 9 Winner, Chopped Canada Season 3 Winner
  • Erika Casupanan- Survivor Winner season 41
  • Marissa Leon-John – 2-time Master Chef Canada alumni
MARCH 29

8:45am

OPENING KEYNOTE | Presented by Foodism TO

  • Justin Wu, Award-winning Director, Photographer & Creative Director of T&T Supermarket
MARCH 29

10:15-11:30am

 

CONCURRENT SESSIONS A

1. DEI & leadership: Breaking Through Invisible Barriers: Leadership Journeys | Presented by Restaurants Canada

  • Debbie Shing, Co-founder, Vinequity
  • Hassel Aviles, Co-founder, Executive Director, not9to5
  • Cheryl Appleton, Founder, Canadian Women in Food
  • Moderator: Christina Veira, Co-owner Bar Mordecai, Owner, Stave

2. DEI & people/culture: Neurodiversity at Work

3. DEI & brand: Designing an Inclusive Customer Journey | Presented by ORHMA

  • Keziah Myers, Executive Director, Advance Music
  • Ryan Hinkson, Food Culturalist
  • Evelyn Chick, Owner/Founder Simpl Things, Ahma, Love of Cocktails
  • Moderator: Stephanie Lui-Valentim, Co-founder, Quell

4. DEI & food: Is it Spicy? A Journey in Flavour, Taste, and Tolerance | Presented by Chicken Farmers of Canada

  • Chef Devan Rajkumar
  • Chef Marissa Leon-John
  • Chef Rossy Earle
  • Chef Aicha Smith-Belghaba
  • Moderator: Joshna Maharaj
MARCH 29

11:40-12:55pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS B

1. DEI & leadership: Decolonizing the Table | Presented by University of Guelph

  • Chef and Educator Bashir Munye
  • Adda Blooms
  • Moderator: Ren Navarro

2. DEI & people/culture: Recruiting and Retaining Equity-Seeking Talent | Presented by LCBO Spirit of Sustainability

  • BIPOC Executive Search
  • Moderator: Leland Harper

3. DEI & brand: Leveraging Human-Centered Design for DEI | Presented by Destination Toronto

  • Destination Toronto
  • Facilitator:  Stephanie Lui-Valentim

4. DEI & food: Local Food is Indigenous Food: Unpacking our Connection to the Land that Feeds us | Presented by Canola Eat Well

  • Host:  Chef Joshna Maharaj
  • Chef Joseph Shawana
  • Chef Tawfik Sheheta
  • Chef Eva Chin
MARCH 29

2:00-2:45pm

 

EXECUTIVE PANEL  | Industry Executive leaders breaking barriers and sharing their journey of adversity 

  • Tina Lee, CEO, T&T
  • Shilpa Arora, GM, Doordash
  • Janice Bartley, CEO, Foodpreneur
  • Moderator: Ryan Hinkson, Food Culturalist, @eatfamous
MARCH 29

2:50 – 4:05pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS C

1.DEI & leadership: Adaptable Leadership in Nightlife, Bars and Restaurants | Presented by Lavelle Hospitality

  • Jessica Addario and Russell Palloo, Lavelle Hospitality

2. DEI & people/culture: Addressing and Overcoming the Labor Crisis | Presented by Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

  • Altaf Sovani, Author, Tourism Industry Expert & Educator, Former Academic Chair, School of Hospitality & Tourism
  • Dr. Jessican Ng, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
  • Ontario Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  • Moderator: Ren Navarro

3. DEI & brand: Beyond Land Acknowledgements

  • Chef Joseph Shawana
  • Aramark

4. DEI & food: Survey Says: Appreciation vs. Appropriation? | Presented by USDA

  • Host: Ryan Hinkson
  • Evelyn Chick
  • Chef Bashir Munye
  • Trevor Lui
  • Chef Imrun Texeira
  • Chef Wallace Wong
MARCH 29

4:15-4:50pm

 

CLOSING PANEL | Presented by Destination Toronto

John Wiggins, Vice-President of Organizational Culture and Inclusion, Toronto Raptors 

MARCH 29 

Doors open at 6pm

6:45 – 11pm

Closing Party @ Axis

Social cocktail event and fundraiser hosted in collaboration with Will Lou & Alex Wong

Thank you to our partners Thank you to our partners
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or providing in-kind donations, we would love to hear from you.  Contact us at info@unblockto.com