This past long weekend would have been the Caribana festival in Toronto. Unfortunately, this is the second straight year the festival is canceled due to COVID-19.  For those who are not familiar, Caribana is North America’s largest cultural festival and brings an incredible energy to the city of Toronto. 

My mother was a “secretary” in the 1970s until she retired as an office manager in 2005. I grew up listening to her work stories at the dinner table and came to understand it was often a thankless job, especially when it came to bringing in lunch for the team.

We had the pleasure of speaking with restaurateur Justin Tisdall, to talk about Vancouver's restaurant scene, BIPOC owned restaurants, and how he used COVID-19 as an opportunity to re-examine his whole business.

Toronto's multiculturalism has shaped its diverse food scene and distinctive restaurant landscape. From Korean in Koreatown to Greek on the Danforth to Italian in Little Italy, the coexistence of cultures and creativity of cuisines are all experienced in one place.

Secretly the best food city in Canada, dining in Vancouver is a whole new experience. The coexistence of cultural influences, local ingredients, and modern elements shape Vancouver’s distinct food scene.

COVID-19 has changed everything about how we work. Above all, it has highlighted the importance of prioritizing employee’s health and wellbeing - both physical and mental.