THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
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What an incredible day of connection, learning and collaboration!
On October 20, 2026, more than 130 people from across the North, Central and South Okanagan came together at Okanagan College for the inaugural Region of Plenty: Okanagan Food System Summit.
Together, we explored the opportunities and challenges facing our regional food system through five interconnected themes: Grow, Connect, Nourish, Celebrate and Sustain.
From Indigenous food sovereignty and local food production to infrastructure, food access, culinary innovation and sustainability, the day showcased the incredible work already underway across our region and the potential to accomplish even more together.
Thank you to every participant, speaker, facilitator, volunteer and partner who helped make this gathering possible!
The Summit was just the beginning. We're now bringing together the insights, ideas and opportunities that emerged to help inform future collaboration and collective action across the Okanagan.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
A REGION OF PLENTY
A REGION OF PLENTY
The Okanagan is one of Canada's most celebrated food regions. From thriving orchards and vineyards to innovative farms, bustling farmers' markets, award-winning wineries, and a globally recognized culinary culture, food is woven into the identity of our region.
As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the Okanagan is internationally recognized for the richness of its land, the diversity of its producers, and the strength of its food community.
Yet despite this abundance, too many people in our communities continue to experience food insecurity. Rising food costs, climate pressures, changing agricultural landscapes, and increasing demand for food support remind us that a thriving food system is about more than producing exceptional food, it's about ensuring everyone has the opportunity to benefit from it.
This contrast presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
MORE THAN A CONFERENCE
MORE THAN A CONFERENCE
A Working Session, Not a Sit-and-Listen Day
A Working Session, Not a Sit-and-Listen Day
The Summit is intentionally designed around five collaborative working sessions shaping the region.Together, we will discuss how we:
SUMMIT AGENDA
SUMMIT AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Registration, Coffee & Connections
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Registration, Coffee & Connections
Check in, grab a coffee, explore the Marketplace and connect with fellow attendees.
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Welcome & OPENING REMARKS
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Welcome & OPENING REMARKS
Setting the stage for a day of learning, sharing, celebrating and strengthening our regional food system.
9:30 – 10:15 AM | Indigenous Food Sovereignty
9:30 – 10:15 AM | Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Exploring connections between land, food, culture and community through perspectives from Hannah Field and Dixon Terbasket of ntámłqən Community Garden & Food Hub
10:15 – 10:45 AM | MORNING Break
10:15 – 10:45 AM | MORNING Break
Refresh your coffee, explore the Marketplace and connect with fellow attendees.
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Food-System Perspectives: Stories from Across the Region
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Food-System Perspectives: Stories from Across the Region
Hear from people and organizations working across five interconnected areas of our regional food system. Through short, informal stories, speakers will share what they're seeing from their place in the system and what they want others to understand about the opportunities, challenges and work happening across the Okanagan.
GROW | Food Production & Stewardship
Exploring local agriculture, sustainable food production, land stewardship and the people growing our regional food system.
Dan Connolly, Helen's Acres Community Famr
Haley Schonhofer, Young Agrarians
CONNECT | Infrastructure, Distribution & Access
Exploring the relationships, infrastructure and networks that move food from producers to communities, including opportunities to strengthen distribution, procurement and equitable access.
Damon Chouinard, Grow & Connect Association / Central Kootenay Food Policy Council
Joy Haxton, Lake Country Food Bank / Helping Through Sharing Network
NOURISH | Food Security, Literacy & Community Well-Being
Exploring how food security, food literacy and access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food contribute to healthier, more connected communities.
Kristi Tatebe, School District 67 School Food Programs Coordinator
Jason Ranchoux, Childhood Connections
CELEBRATE | Local Food Economy & Community Connection
Exploring the people, culinary traditions, businesses and experiences that connect communities through food and contribute to our regional identity and economy.
Chef Kai Kroll, Okanagan Chefs Association / City of Gastronomy
Peter Boyd, Former Owner of Kelowna's Independent Grocery Store
SUSTAIN | Food Recovery, Circular Systems & Future Resilience
Exploring innovative approaches to reducing food waste, recovering and redistributing surplus food, and strengthening the long-term resilience of our regional food system.
Melissa Hemphill, Rural Food Bank Procurement Network / Good Food Box
Marianne Wyne, ThePivot.Earth
12:00 – 1:00 PM | Local Lunch, Networking & Marketplace
12:00 – 1:00 PM | Local Lunch, Networking & Marketplace
Enjoy a locally inspired lunch, explore the Marketplace and make connections with others working across the food system.
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Five Concurrent Breakouts: Improving Our Food System
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Five Concurrent Breakouts: Improving Our Food System
It's time to move from listening and learning to imagining what's possible together.
Participants will join one of five facilitated conversations focused on Grow, Connect, Nourish, Celebrate or Sustain, building on the perspectives and stories shared throughout the morning.
These interactive conversations will bring together different experiences and perspectives to identify shared challenges, build on existing strengths and surface opportunities for regional collaboration and action.
The ideas and priorities emerging from each group will be shared with the wider Summit during our afternoon report-back, helping us identify connections across the five streams and opportunities to move forward together.
2:00 – 2:45 PM | Afternoon Break
2:00 – 2:45 PM | Afternoon Break
Enjoy a refreshment, reconnect with fellow attendees and explore the Community Marketplace.
2:45 – 3:15 PM | Collective Insights & Shared Learning
2:45 – 3:15 PM | Collective Insights & Shared Learning
Reflect on emerging themes, connections and opportunities from the breakout conversations.
3:15 – 4:15 PM | Plenary PANEL: Investing in Regional Food Infrastructure
3:15 – 4:15 PM | Plenary PANEL: Investing in Regional Food Infrastructure
Join a regional conversation exploring three significant food infrastructure initiatives taking shape across the Okanagan. We'll hear how these investments are addressing challenges in food processing, recovery, storage and distribution, and explore opportunities to strengthen coordination, reduce duplication and build a more connected regional food system.
Featuring:
South Okanagan: Summerland Food Hub, Katie Sardinha
Central Okanagan: Food Transformation Centre, Trevor Moss, Central Okanagan Food Bank
North Okanagan: The Food Shed, Liz Blakeway, Land to Table
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Closing Reflections & What's Next
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Closing Reflections & What's Next
Celebrate what we've learned and consider how we can continue strengthening our regional food system together.
GETTING TO THE SUMMIT
GETTING TO THE SUMMIT
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR SPONSORS
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR SPONSORS
EVENT CATALYST
EVENT CATALYST
Region of Plenty is convened by the Central Okanagan Food System Collaborative, with seed funding and backbone support from the KGH Foundation through Thrive Okanagan.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PROMOTIONAL PARTNER
PROMOTIONAL PARTNER
SUMMIT SUPPORTERS
SUMMIT SUPPORTERS
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