Bio:

PATRICK GALE teaches Culinary Arts, Foods, ECO Academy, Sustainability, and other subjects in Sooke, BC. He supports a large school garden that engages hundreds of students in learning, growing, and harvesting 12 months of the year. Patrick cultivates community partnerships and advocates for food, environment, and social justice issues at all scales.

SHAWN THIR – Before founding the Courtenay Elementary Community School Society in 2018, Shawn spent half his life living and working in Japan, and, upon his return to Canada, was flabbergasted to realize that Canada had no universal school food program. His work at Courtenay Elementary has been focused on implementing the Japanese “kyuushoku” lunch program the best he can in the school.

TRICIA UNREINER – I am proud to serve as the principal of George Davison School. Over my 27‑year career, I have taught in Northlands (on a reservation), Prairie Rose (in rural, farming communities), and Medicine Hat Public School Divisions throughout Alberta.  I have worked as a counselor at Alexandra Middle School and Medicine Hat High School and later became vice principal at George Davison. I also supported students and families as co‑principal of the Medicine Hat At‑Home Learning Hub and later worked at Crescent Heights High School. These experiences shaped me into a compassionate collaborator who always asks, “What’s best for kids?” I believe deeply in nourishing family and community through support, nutrition, and love as we work together to foster student success and belonging.  I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and am proud to engage our community through Seed to Table initiatives.

BRITTANY LEBLANC – I am a Family School Liaison Worker with the Medicine Hat Public School Division, where I support student and family wellbeing through relationship-based, community-centered work. I am passionate about community building as a foundation for resilience, belonging, and wellness for students and their families. I believe that celebrating our rich cultural diversity is an essential protective factor for children and their families. My work focuses on projects that create meaningful connections between nutrition, identity, and culture, recognizing food and shared experiences as powerful pathways to connection and wellbeing.

ELLEN WALSH is the Central Principal for Secondary Alternative Schools East for the TDSB. I have been an educator for 28 years, in the areas of Special Education, Education Partnership classrooms ( treatment and youth justice)

NATALIA ARBUZOVA is a former biologist and science teacher who now serves as a homeroom teacher in a community class at Richmond Hill High School. With a strong foundation in life sciences, she brings an inquiry-based, systems-thinking approach to food education and sustainability initiatives. Natalia integrates garden-based learning into everyday school life, helping students understand the connections between ecology, nutrition, and community well-being. She is passionate about creating inclusive, hands-on opportunities that empower students of all abilities to participate meaningfully in growing, preparing, and sharing food through the school’s breakfast program.

JASON ZACHARY is a culinary educator, entrepreneur, and food-equity advocate with nearly four decades of experience in hospitality and education. He began his career in professional kitchens in 1986 and owned and operated a restaurant from 1999–2010, gaining extensive experience in operations, staffing, and community-focused hospitality. Jason Since 2012, Jason has taught Culinary Arts and now serves as the Culinary Education and Food Equity Lead for the Algoma District School Board. His work focuses on re-imagining K–12 food delivery through cafeterias, community partnerships, and sustainable models that ensure equitable access to nutritious food. He also leads Sweetened Chocolate Academy, a student-run social enterprise supporting school food programs.”

SUSIE LEAMEN – teacher, Red Seal Chef, foodie at heart. Susie taught a student-led school food program in Whitehorse for five years and then brought the program to Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, QC, four years ago. She firmly believes that food connects us, that feeding kids whole foods helps them learn how to grow and cook, and that this provides them with skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.