WORTHshop: Women Shaping Canada's Culinary Future
Presented by Russell Hendrix


The culinary industry is evolving, and women are helping lead the way.

Join WORTH for an inspiring virtual panel discussion featuring some of Canada's most respected chefs, entrepreneurs, and hospitality leaders as they share their experiences, insights, and vision for the future of Canada's culinary landscape. Through candid conversation, our panelists will explore the realities of building successful careers in the industry, overcoming challenges, leading with authenticity, and creating pathways for the next generation of women in hospitality.

Whether you're an aspiring chef, an established hospitality professional, a student, or simply passionate about the culinary world, this session offers an opportunity to learn from women who are shaping the industry every day. Expect meaningful conversations about leadership, mentorship, innovation, resilience, and the importance of building inclusive workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

MODERATOR & PANELISTS

  • Marissa Gonzales – Pastry Chef, Hawksworth & Bel Café

  • Stacy Johnston & Minette Lotz – Chefs, The Restaurant at Poplar Grove

  • Marissa Leon-John – Chef & Entrepreneur, Quell

  • Joshna Maharaj – Chef & Food Activist, Quell

  • MODERATOR: Jasmine Baker, Toronto Lead for Yes Shef

FORMAT

The 60-minute session will include a live audience Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists and ask questions. Please note, this is not a Zoom webinar. All participants will be visible duing the session (cameras are optional).

DATE
August 17, 2026

TIME
10:00-11:00 AM Pacific | 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern

LOCATION
Virtual, hosted on Zoom

COST
Free to attend

This complimentary WORTHshop is part of WORTH's ongoing commitment to empowering women across recreation, tourism, hospitality, and culinary industries by creating opportunities for learning, connection, and leadership development.

REGISTER

Live attendance is limited to 100 participants. If you are no longer able to attend the session live, we kindly ask that you let us know so we can offer your spot to someone on the waitlist. Don't worry—you'll still receive the session recording afterward and can watch it at your convenience.

MEET THE PANELISTS

Marissa Gonzales
Pastry Chef, Hawksworth and Bel Cafe

Chef Marissa Gonzales, originally from Mexico, discovered her passion for pastry at an early age, thanks to her grandmother's influence. Upon relocating to Vancouver, she joined the team at MIX, a Point Grey bakery, where her love for all things sweet blossomed. Encouraged by her experiences at MIX, Marissa pursued her culinary aspirations at The International Culinary Schools at The Arts Institute of Vancouver, graduating with distinction in 2017.

Marissa's culinary journey continued at Hawksworth Restaurant, where her unwavering dedication, determination, and creative flair shone brightly. Her exceptional talents quickly propelled her into the role of Pastry Chef, a position she also assumes at Bel Café and Hawksworth Restaurant in 2021. Marissa Gonzales is the embodiment of a rising star in the culinary world, known for her mastery of the pastry arts and her commitment to delivering extraordinary culinary experiences.

Stacy Johnston & Minette Lotz
Chefs, The Restaurant at Poplar Grove

Chef Stacy Johnston believes that the ingredients make the dish. Growing up on her grandparents’ Saskatchewan homestead ingrained in Stacy a deep appreciation for excellent farming practices. Focusing on her food system ‘from the ground up’, Stacy strives to create food that tells the story of the ingredients, their farmers, and the season. 

Chef Minette Lotz’s passion is for terroir-driven and locally sourced ingredients. An avid forager, Minette finds her inspiration from exploring her surroundings and discovering new flavor combinations. A firm believer in what grows together, goes together, Minette creates dishes that are true to the exact time, place, and season they are created. 

In 2013, Minette and Stacy met in the kitchen. Their combined passion saw them cooking across western Canada, including working with Ocean wise and opening farm-to-table restaurants. 

In 2020, Minette and Stacy helped open the Naramata Inn, a terroir-driven dining experience in the heart of BC’s Okanagan Valley. In 2022 Stacy and Minette were Resident Chef’s at the National Art Center in Ottawa and were named two of ‘Canada’s next star chef’s’ by the Globe and Mail.  As they continue their new adventure at ‘The Restaurant at Poplar Grove’, they are excited to continue their journey of discovering the intersection of sustainably foraged and grown ingredients.

Marissa Leon-John
Chef | Entrepreneur, Quell

Born and raised in Montreal, Marissa Leon-John’s kitchen reflects the multicultural food haven she hails from. Her Caribbean heritage is the foundation of her passion for honoring tradition, and you taste this in every bite of food she prepares. A proud MasterChef Canada alumna, Marissa uses her voice and platform to provide more visibility for other young, black LGBTQ+ members of the culinary community. Marissa’s goal is to share the love and passion that she has for food with as many people as possible. Come have warm and inviting, sometimes adventurous and always delicious experiences with her. You know that feeling when you take a bite of something so incredibly good and don’t want it to end? Marissa lives for that moment and makes it her mission to relive it as often as possible. “The best thing about it is that food is meant to be shared – and that extends to all those amazing sensations. So that’s what I do – create delicious dishes that make you feel all the feels right down to the very last bite.” With a focus on accessibility, Marissa channels her passion, expertise, and drive to create immersive full experiences through her brand, ELLEJAY’S – a space where Marissa shares her love for food by curating unique menus. She also launched her own line of "Fairy Dust" spice blends, which are versatile, magical, and delicious. She hopes to inspire home cooks to create "magical" culinary experiences in their kitchens without breaking the bank. In 2025, Marissa was a finalist on Flavour Network’s inaugural season of  Big Burger Battle.

Joshna Maharaj
Chef | Food Activist, Quell

Joshna is a celebrated chef, award-winning author, educator, and outspoken food activist whose work has reshaped how institutions, communities, and audiences think about food. Equally at home in professional kitchens, classrooms, boardrooms, and on global stages, Joshna bridges inspiration and action, connecting the lived experience of dining with the systems that shape how food is grown, prepared, served, and valued.

Grounded in a deep belief that food is both nourishment and social responsibility, Joshna is unapologetic in her advocacy for chefs as agents of change. Through the lens of social gastronomy, she champions hospitality rooted in dignity, sustainability, and justice, and challenges industries to move beyond intention toward meaningful, measurable impact.

A powerful and captivating speaker, Joshna is a two-time TEDx speaker and a sought-after voice across sectors, engaging audiences from corporate leadership and education to healthcare, hospitality, and public institutions. Her ideas are practical, human-centred, and deeply resonant—inviting audiences to rethink their relationship with food and their role within the systems that sustain us.

Joshna is the former host of Kitchen Helpdesk, a nationally broadcast food advice segment on CBC Radio, and co-host of the food podcast Hot Plate, where she translated complex food issues into accessible, compelling conversations. She is the author of Take Back the Tray (ECW Press), a seminal work exploring innovative, value-driven models for institutional food procurement, production, and service.

Blending lived experience with rigorous scholarship, Joshna recently completed a Master's degree in Gastronomy & Food Studies at Technological University Dublin, further deepening her ability to connect policy, culture, and practice. Whether leading a keynote, facilitating education, or delivering a chef-driven culinary experience, Joshna Maharaj inspires audiences to see food not just as fuel—but as a powerful catalyst for connection, care, and lasting change.

MODERATOR

Jasmine Baker, Yes Shef Toronto Lead

Jasmine discovered a love for hospitality at an early age. She started learning the business from her mom. They would spend hours in the kitchen, tasting, exploring and creating dishes.

Over the last twenty years, Jasmine has become a force in the entertainment and hospitality world. She has worked at top restaurants with top chefs and produced some of this city's most notable events. As the founder of EVNT MGMT, Jasmine has curated thoughtful hospitality experiences for a wide range of clients, including Restaurants Canada, Field Trip Music & Arts, Taste of Toronto, WayHome, The Big Feastival & the Toronto International Film Festival.

Jasmine has always found time to play in the kitchen. Food is her love language, and her ideal day is a day spent cooking for the people she loves.

In May 2021, Jasmine welcomed her twin boys into the world, and she began her greatest role yet, as mom. In her spare time, she finds herself in the kitchen, tasting, exploring and creating dishes to share with her boys, just as her mom did with her.

WHY YOU’LL WANT TO JOIN

  • Be inspired by some of Canada's leading women chefs and hospitality professionals.

  • Walk away with practical leadership and career advice you can apply immediately.

  • Learn how mentorship and community can help accelerate your career.

  • Participate in a live Q&A and ask questions directly to the panel.

  • Discover WORTH and the opportunities available to support your professional journey.

  • Can't make it live? Register anyway to receive access to the recording.