The Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, in partnership with Canada Beef and Food Day Canada, released a new documentary A Nation’s Table to celebrate the legacy of Anita Stewart, the late U of G food laureate who founded the day 21 years ago.
A Nation’s Table explores Stewart’s life of food activism and her efforts to uncover untold stories of Canadian cuisine.
Still from A Nation’s Table (Ward 1 Studios)
“This documentary celebrates Stewart’s contributions and builds momentum towards positioning Canada as a global food leader,” says Alice Raine, director of operations at the Arrell Food Institute. “A Nation’s Table and Stewart’s story underscore the importance of resilience and creativity in building a food system that can sustain both its people and the planet.”
Food Day Canada, this year falling on Aug. 3, is an annual celebration of Canadian-grown food to honour the work of farmers, fishers, chefs, researchers and more across the food system. In May 2023, the Food Day in Canada Act was passed in Parliament, making the occasion an officially recognized day on the national calendar.
The genesis of Food Day Canada was in 2003, when Stewart organized “The World’s Longest Barbecue” to support Canada’s beef farmers struggling with the U.S. border closure during that year’s outbreak of “mad cow disease,” or BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).
Stewart’s gesture of support evolved into an annual celebration of Canadian cuisine, a source of pride for U of G.
Stewart was a cookbook author, culinary historian and passionate supporter of Canadian agriculture. In 2012, she was appointed U of G’s inaugural food laureate, the first at any university, to provide advocacy and leadership to strengthen the University’s international reputation for food research, teaching and innovation.
Following her passing in 2020, the University established the Anita Stewart Tribute Fund to advance her contributions and work as its food ambassador. In 2021, the Anita Stewart Memorial Food Laboratory opened in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. The space is used by U of G nutrition and hospitality students to learn about food preparation, safety and culture. It also serves as an event space and broadcast studio for researchers to share their food knowledge across the globe.
A full list of events and ways to participate can be found at the Arrell Food Institute’s website. They encourage people to use the hashtag #FoodDayCanada on social media with a photo of Canadian cuisine that they are enjoying.