Virtual Dialogue Speakers
Suman Roy, Moderator
Suman has an extensive career in private, public & not-for-profit sector business operations globally. His contributions have led to the development and support of numerous social planning programs, business ventures and successful community initiatives.
He has been a corporate and executive chef in various organizations like Campbell Soup, University of Toronto, Sodexo Canada and Marriott International. In his role in these organizations, Suman proved to be a very successful business leader, while focusing on building a strong community with food security and justice.
Suman was a member of the Toronto Board of Health, Toronto Food Policy Council, during which he supported the launch of Toronto Youth Food Policy Council. He has also served as Chair of the Board of Director at FoodShare Toronto. Suman was also one of the key consultants who helped write the first Food Strategy for the City of Toronto. He initiated Scarborough Food Security Initiative, to spread the awareness and combat food apartheid in Scarborough.
He is also the author of an International award winning best-selling book “From Pemmican To Poutine – A Journey Through Canada’s Culinary History” and taught in various colleges across GTA including Humber, Centennial and Durham.
Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor is the Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto, and a lifelong anti-poverty activist. Growing up materially poor in Toronto, Paul has used his experience to fuel a career focused not just on helping others, but dismantling the beliefs and systems that lead to poverty and food insecurity, including colonialism, capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchal structures.
Each year, FoodShare provides a quarter million people with fresh produce, and fights for their right to have access to “good” food on their own terms, rather than charity on someone else’s. Paul’s experience includes Executive Director roles at Gordon Neighbourhood House and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House. He has also chaired the British Columbia Poverty Reduction Coalition, served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and as Vice-Chair of Food Secure Canada.
Gwen Chapman
Gwen Chapman was appointed interim provost and vice-president (academic) for the University of Guelph in August 2020. Gwen joined the University of Guelph as Dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences in February 2016. Prior to that, she was Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she served as Director of the Food, Nutrition and Health program, and Associate Dean Academic in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.
Gwen completed her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto in 1992. As a faculty member at UBC since 1991, she built a research program exploring how everyday food practices are shaped by socially constructed notions about food, health, bodies, and social roles.
Gurneet Kaur Dhami
Gurneet Kaur Dhami is an MSc Candidate at Mount Saint Vincent University conducting ground-breaking work on dietetic diversity in Canada. Her thesis "Re-setting the Table: Exploring the Counter-stories of Racialized Dietitians in Canada" is the first study of it's kind to explore racism through Critical Race Theory prespectives in Canadian dietetics.
As a settler residing in Canada, Gurneet’s identity as a South Asian (Panjabi-Sikh) woman guides her work to be grounded in social justice where every she goes. Gurneet's experiences beyond her studies includes co-leading communications with the Healing Arts Dinner Circle, Board Member with the Toronto Home Economics Association and various roles with Meal Exchange since 2017. Currently, Gurneet is supporting youth consultations at York Region Food Network as a Community Food Animator in her current community.
Connect with her online @gurneetkdhami or at www.gurneetkdhami.com
Kayla Weiler
Kayla Weiler (she/her) is the National Executive Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario where she helps coordinate the campaigns and services of the student movement, both nationally and provincially.
Kayla served two executive terms at Local 54, University of Guelph Central Student Association as the Vice-President External Affairs. At her local, she worked on building student and worker solidarity with CUPE 1334 and 3913, fought for free education through the Fight the Fees campaign and pushed for fossil fuel divestment with Fossil Free Guelph. Kayla is passionate about access to clean water and has worked with Wellington Water Watchers in their fight against Nestlé.
Kayla recently graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor’s degree in history.