Unblock – Quell

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

Meet our thought leaders

unblock Conference tickets

March 29, 2023 (8:30am - 5:00pm)
A full day of unprecedented education and networking with all sectors from the industry from academia, to business leaders to operators. This interactive day will include access to two keynote speakers and an executive keynote panel, a selection of three immersive workshops, a curated Vendor food Market and a Bodega of twelve small business entrepreneurs. See below agenda for more!
$598.00 - Two day all access registration , $498.00 - One day conference registration

unblock Opening Party

March 28, 2023
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Kick off the unconference at our networking opening party at one of North America's 50 Best Bars in Toronto. Ticket includes one drink, small bites, networking with conference attendees, a keynote panel with guests Erika Casupanan- Survivor Winner, Marissa Leon-John - 2 time Master Chef alumni, Erica Karbelnik – Top Chef Season 9 winner and moderator, Azalea Hart. Opening Party is avaiable for conference attendees only.
Included in 2-day conference registration

unblock Closing Party

March 29, 2023
Time: 6:45 - 11:00pm (Doors open at 6:00pm)
The closing party is a social cocktail event and fundraiser hosted in collaboration with Will Lou & Alex Wong of “The Raptors Show.” They will be joined by Bobby Webster, Toronto Raptors general manager, for a discussion about his career journey and the importance of diversity and inclusion in sports. Attendees will also enjoy live DJ, performace by Canadian hip hop artist BEALS, bites & sips, and access to the live event. A portion of closing event ticket sales will be donated to the Bobby Webster Scholarship Fund.
$50.00 + HST

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

Unblock Unconference Tickets

March 29, 2023

Attend

party

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

Unblock Opening Party

March 28, 2023

Attend

party

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

Unblock Closing Party

March 29, 2023

Attend

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

Melly’s Workplace

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