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GUELPH, ONTARIO – May 29, 2026 – Food Day Canada, in partnership with Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Good Food Innovation Awards (GFIA), recognizing leaders whose work is helping shape a more resilient, connected, sustainable and inspiring Canadian food future.
Hosted at the Anita Stewart Memorial Food Lab at the University of Guelph, the curated gathering brought together innovators from across agriculture, culinary arts, food literacy, Indigenous foodways, sustainability, hospitality, media and community development. The event created space for cross-sector dialogue and collaboration around the future of food.
Founded by the late Anita Stewart, the Good Food Innovation Awards were created to celebrate the people and ideas moving Canadian food culture forward, not only in restaurants and institutions, but in farms, schools, fishing communities, northern regions, local markets, community kitchens, media platforms and everyday tables across the country.
“We talk a lot about the future of food, and it’s already being built by those who understand that nourishing a community, stewarding an ecosystem, and keeping a food tradition alive are all acts of innovation,” says Evan Fraser, Executive Director of Arrell Food Institute. “This year’s recipients are a powerful example of that. Transformation in food systems isn’t only technical. It’s cultural, it’s relational and it depends on people.”
The 2026 recipients collectively represent many of the defining themes shaping Canada’s evolving food landscape: regenerative agriculture, food sovereignty, local economic resilience, Indigenous leadership, sustainability, storytelling, culinary creativity, accessibility, youth leadership and community-based food innovation.
2026 Good Food Innovation Awards Recipients
- Elisabeth Burrows, Emerging Canadian Food Leader
- Imrun Texeira, Emerging Canadian Food Leader
- Ashley Swan, Community Food Innovator
- Connie Powers, Good Food Storyteller
- Warren Barr, Canadian Menu Trailblazer
- Ajoah Mintah, Community Food Innovator
- Restaurant Pearl Morissette and RPM Bakeshop, Canadian Menu Trailblazer
- Stephanie Baryluk, Northern / Indigenous Food Champion
- Qwustenuxun (Jared) Williams, Northern / Indigenous Food Champion
- The Culinary Tourism Alliance
“Anita (mom) would be so happy to see the breadth of work and diversity of talent being recognized with these awards,” says Jeff Stewart, Executive Director of Food Day Canada. “You can see the impact these awards have on each recipient through the passion, purpose and sense of community they bring to their work.”
Rather than focusing solely on traditional award categories, the 2026 awards emphasized the interconnected ideas defining the future of food in Canada. The recipients’ work reflects Food Day Canada’s core values: celebrating Canadian ingredients, strengthening communities, advancing education and research, supporting environmental sustainability and elevating food sovereignty and food security.
The day also marked an important continuation of Anita Stewart’s legacy as one of Canada’s most influential voices in food culture. Her belief that “Canada is food and the world is richer for it” continues to inspire a new generation of leaders working across the food system.
The Good Food Innovation Awards are expected to continue growing as a national platform celebrating excellence, collaboration, and leadership in Canadian food culture.
Food Day Canada’s national celebrations continue August 1, inviting Canadians from coast to coast to coast to shop, cook, dine, and celebrate Canadian food.
About Food Day Canada
Food Day Canada is the longest standing national celebration of Canadian food, agriculture and culinary heritage, bringing together farmers, fishers, chefs, and home cooks to showcase the best of what Canada has to offer.
Founded in 2003, Food Day Canada has become a movement dedicated to strengthening food sovereignty, supporting local producers, and encouraging Canadians to explore and appreciate homegrown ingredients. Through annual events, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts, Food Day Canada continues to be a driving force for a more sustainable and resilient food system.
In 2024, Food Day Canada was proud to be the subject of the award-winning documentary short, A Nation’s Table. This powerful film highlights the importance of Canada’s diverse food culture, the people who sustain it, and the critical role of local food in shaping the nation’s identity.
About Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph
Arrell Food Institute exists to help shape sustainable, resilient and equitable food systems through research, collaboration, innovation and leadership.
Based at the University of Guelph, AFI connects research to policy, practice, education and public discourse while convening diverse partners to address complex food systems challenges in Canada and around the world. AFI’s work focuses on strengthening food security, climate resilience and the next generation of food systems leaders.
