Webinar recap: Chefs in Schools — Inspiring Ideas for Canada

3. Food Literacy and Student Engagement

• Classroom-to-kitchen learning approaches
• Practical cooking education as a tool for autonomy, confidence, and lifelong skills
• Programs that integrate culinary learning with academic curriculum

4. Inclusive and Community-Centered Food Culture

• The importance of representation and culturally grounded recipes
• Building school environments where all students feel welcomed, respected, and nourished
• Community partnerships that advance equity in school food access

Sam Phillips

Director of Programmes, Chefs in Schools (UK)
Sam leads program strategy at Chefs in Schools, a UK-based charity transforming school food by training kitchen teams to cook from scratch, reaching tens of thousands of children every day. He oversees national initiatives such as the Membership Programme and the School Chef Training Conference, helping school chefs gain the skills and confidence to serve fresh, inspiring meals.

Paul Heighton

Chef Educator, Northumberland Regional High School (Nova Scotia)
A seasoned culinary educator, Paul integrates classroom learning with school food access initiatives, including The Karma Closet, a program providing free lunches to students. His approach demonstrates how culinary education can build student confidence, teach practical skills, and foster inclusive food culture within schools.

Geneviève Massé

Directrice Éduquer (Brigades culinaires et Cuisine ton avenir), La Tablée des Chefs (Quebec)
A McGill graduate in Dietetics, Geneviève leads culinary education programs that have empowered thousands of youth across Canada to discover the joy of cooking, gain essential life skills, and explore meaningful careers in food.

Facilitator: Jesse Veenstra

Executive Director, Farm to Cafeteria Canada

Chefs in Schools (UK)
A UK-based charity that trains and mentors school kitchen teams to cook from scratch, improve food education, and transform school food culture through creativity, collaboration, and systemic change.
🔗 chefsinschools.org.uk

La Tablée des Chefs (Canada)
Since 2002, La Tablée des Chefs has mobilized chefs, youth, and partners to nourish people in need and educate future generations through culinary programs that foster autonomy and healthy eating.
🔗 tableedeschefs.org

Farm to Cafeteria Canada
A pan-Canadian capacity-building organization with a vision for food systems that nourish people and the planet, F2CC works to transform how food is experienced, learned and celebrated in all schools across Canada.  🔗 farmtocafeteriacanada.ca

The Coalition for Healthy School Food
A pan-Canadian network of non-profits advocating for a permanent, universal, cost-shared National School Food Program so that every child and every youth in Canada has access to healthy school food.
🔗 healthyschoolfood.ca