Media Advisory – Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security to Host Food Security Symposium

Advancing collaborative action on the issue of hunger that affects 4 million Canadians

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 23, 2019  – The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security will host its second annual Food Security Symposium on Friday, April 26^th in Toronto, bringing together more than 175 participants representing a broad range of skills, resources and interests from across Canada.

The Symposium will include speakers and panelists on topics including perspectives on progress and barriers from those with lived experience, government priorities and approaches, the power of collaboration to drive social policy, and perspectives from industry, civil society and government on what needs to change.

Media Availability Details

Government Speakers:

• The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Julie Dabrusin, Chair, Liberal Food Caucus
• Adam Vaughn, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Urban Affairs

Civil Society/Food Security Speakers:

• Pedro Barata, SVP Community Impact & Strategy, United Way of Greater Toronto
• Joseph LeBlanc, Director, Indigenous Affairs, Northern Ontario School of Medicine
• Nick Saul, President & CEO, Community Food Centres Canada
• Paul Taylor, Executive Director, FoodShare Toronto

Private Sector Speakers:

• Willa Black, VP Corporate Affairs, Cisco Canada
• Michael H. McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Honorary Chair, The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
• Kathleen McLaughlin, SVP & Chief Sustainability Officer, Walmart Inc. and President, Walmart Foundation

What:

• Media availability and photo op

When:

• Friday, April 26, 2019
• 8:30 a.m. EST – 4:00 p.m. EST

Where:

• Toronto Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, 2^nd floor, 789 Yonge St., Toronto, ON

Media RSVP:

• For media access and event agenda, please RSVP before April 26^th to Media.Hotline@MapleLeaf.com or 1-888-995-5030.

About The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security:
The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security (“The Centre”) is a registered charity that focuses on advocacy, funding innovative interventions, collective impact and knowledge sharing, with a goal of working in collaboration to reduce food insecurity by 50% by 2030. Launched in December 2016, the Centre partners with organizations that are testing and expanding innovative approaches to advance sustainable food security. The Centre shares learning from its work and supports networks, collaboration and research that builds further understanding of the issues and approaches that advance healthy, sustainable food for all Canadians.

Media Contact: Annemarie Dijkhuis, Media.Hotline@MapleLeaf.com, 1-888-995-5030; Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security Contact: Sarah Stern, Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security, Sarah.Stern@mapleleaf.com

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