Mission Food Symposium 2026
Learning Together to Reduce Hunger in the Fraser Valley
The Mission Food Coalition is a local network of organizations, service providers, growers, educators, health partners, and community volunteers working together to strengthen food systems in Mission and the surrounding region.
The Coalition focuses on connection, coordination, and shared learning, creating space for groups to exchange knowledge, build relationships, and explore collaborative solutions. The Food Symposium is a key initiative of the Coalition, bringing this network together in one shared space while extending learning opportunities to the broader community.
The Mission Food Symposium is a free, ticketed, full-day gathering bringing together organizations, professionals, and community members working across food systems, food sustainability, and food security. Organized by the Mission Food Coalition, the Symposium creates space for shared learning, dialogue, and practical exchange focused on reducing hunger and strengthening local food systems.
The Symposium is designed as a multi-directional learning space that includes panel conversations, facilitated discussions, breakout sessions, a live cooking demonstration, and interactive resource booths. Participants are encouraged to share experiences, explore challenges, ask questions, and exchange practical ideas that support more connected and resilient food systems.
The event brings together food system practitioners, researchers, health partners, growers, frontline organizations, grassroots initiatives, educators, and members of the public. Participants are being invited from across Mission, the Fraser Valley, the GVRD, and other parts of British Columbia.
Anyone interested in food access, local food systems, sustainability, and community well-being is welcome.
February 21, 2026 · 9:00 am–3:30 pm
Ecole Mission Senior Secondary School
Cafeteria, Street Parking
32939 7th Ave, Mission BC V2V 2C5
Free, ticketed event · Vegetarian Lunch provided · Bring your refillable water bottle and coffee mug
Happening at the Food Symposium
Chef Melissa Magnusson will lead a live cooking demonstration using a box of what the food bank would serve to families. She will prepare simple, healthy, low-cost meals with the ingredients they most commonly receive. Her demonstration will be built entirely around those ingredients, highlighting practical, realistic meal ideas that reflect the everyday experience of local households accessing food recovery or food assistance programs
The Symposium will include a wide range of booths from charities, food hubs, growers, farmers, food producers, and community organizations across the Fraser Valley and GVRD. Each group who sign up will be invited to share resources, highlight their programs, and connect with both the public and other service providers.
Our Sponsors
We are grateful to the groups sponsoring this event: FoodMesh, Envision Financial, City of Mission
We are also very grateful to the groups of volunteers who are organizing this event: Fraser Health, Dunsmuir Neighbourhood Association, MPSD75, MCSS, MCSC, Karen McDiarmid, Fraser Valley Artisan Food Hub,