Workshops, webinars, and kitchen tours.

Community Clean-up

By Inglewood Community League Hall

Join your neighbours this Saturday, October 31 from 10 AM to 12 PM for a community cleanup before the Halloween fun begins. Meet outside the Inglewood Community Hall, 12525 116 Ave NW Bags and gloves provided Costumes welcome, just dress warm! We’ll have prizes for the best…

Shared Kitchen Webinar (Evening April 23)

Register Here Discover how cafes, community centres & churches can rent their kitchens and earn extra money: covering permits, insurance, and logistics. Across Nova Scotia, many licensed commercial kitchens sit underused during the week in cafés, community centres, churches, legions, and other shared spaces. At the same time, small food businesses entrepreneurs are often struggling to find affordable/part-time kitchen space to operate. This webinar explores how existing kitchens can safely and responsibly be shared with local food businesses, helping kitchen owners generate extra income while supporting the growth of local food entrepreneurship. During this session we’ll discuss: How shared kitchens work Permits, regulations, and food safety considerations Liability insurance and risk management Practical logistics like scheduling, storage, and kitchen access Best practices for renting kitchen space to outside food businesses This session is primarily designed for kitchen owners/managers & ecosystem partners , including: Cafés and restaurants with extra kitchen capacity Community centres Churches and faith organizations Legions and service clubs Fire halls and municipal facilities Economic development officers, municipal staff, and non-profits interested in supporting local food businesses and shared infrastructure. Food entrepreneurs looking for kitchen space to rent are welcome to attend, but this session focuses primarily on the perspective of kitchen owners and organizations considering sharing their space. Webinar Details This session will be hosted live on Zoom. A link to join will be sent to registered participants before the event. The webinar will begin with a short presentation introducing the shared kitchen model and key considerations for organizations thinking about renting their kitchen space. The second half of the session will be open for questions and discussion, giving participants the opportunity to ask about their specific kitchen, organization, or situation. Our goal is to make this a practical and interactive conversation, not just a presentation. Register Here

Shared Kitchens Webinar (Daytime - April 21)

Register Here Discover how cafes, community centres & churches can rent their kitchens and earn extra money: covering permits, insurance, and logistics. Across Nova Scotia, many licensed commercial kitchens sit underused during the week in cafés, community centres, churches, legions, and other shared spaces. At the same time, small food businesses entrepreneurs are often struggling to find affordable/part-time kitchen space to operate. This webinar explores how existing kitchens can safely and responsibly be shared with local food businesses, helping kitchen owners generate extra income while supporting the growth of local food entrepreneurship. During this session we’ll discuss: How shared kitchens work Permits, regulations, and food safety considerations Liability insurance and risk management Practical logistics like scheduling, storage, and kitchen access Best practices for renting kitchen space to outside food businesses This session is primarily designed for kitchen owners/managers & ecosystem partners , including: Cafés and restaurants with extra kitchen capacity Community centres Churches and faith organizations Legions and service clubs Fire halls and municipal facilities Economic development officers, municipal staff, and non-profits interested in supporting local food businesses and shared infrastructure. Food entrepreneurs looking for kitchen space to rent are welcome to attend, but this session focuses primarily on the perspective of kitchen owners and organizations considering sharing their space. Webinar Details This session will be hosted live on Zoom. A link to join will be sent to registered participants before the event. The webinar will begin with a short presentation introducing the shared kitchen model and key considerations for organizations thinking about renting their kitchen space. The second half of the session will be open for questions and discussion, giving participants the opportunity to ask about their specific kitchen, organization, or situation. Our goal is to make this a practical and interactive conversation, not just a presentation. Register Here

Local Food Connections

Cape Breton Food Hub Announcing: Local Food Connections 2026 "Local Food Connections" brings farmers, food producers, chefs, restaurants, and retailers together in one energetic, fast-paced and fun networking event! For producers: Explore opportunities to get your products onto menus and shelves. You stay at one table and highlight your products and share your story as chefs/buyers pass through. For chefs and buyers: You rotate through the producers in a timed "speed dating" style rotation, discovering high-quality local products your customers will love. If local food matters to you, you won't want to miss this chance to connect. This event is FREE. Please register as spaces are limited, by calling 1-902-863-4705 or emailing victoria.simpson@novascotia.ca. Where: Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre, 9650 Highway 105. When: Friday, February 27, 2026 from 1 PM to 4 PM

2026 Nova Scotia Restaurant Awards

A Night Celebrating the People Behind Our Plates The Nova Scotia Restaurant Awards are back in 2026, bringing the province’s food and beverage community together for an evening dedicated to excellence, creativity, and connection. This annual celebration shines a spotlight on the restaurants, cafés, bars, and food trucks that help define Nova Scotia as a destination for great food and warm hospitality. From standout chefs and bartenders to community-driven kitchens and unforgettable dining rooms, the awards honour the people and places pushing our local food scene forward. The evening doubles as an industry social—expect complimentary bites and drinks, live music, and a room full of peers from across the hospitality world. Whether you’re there to cheer on nominees, reconnect with colleagues, or simply celebrate a great year in food, this is one of the province’s signature industry nights. 2026 Nova Scotia Restaurant Awards – Finalists Social Media Award Dear Friend Bar · Margaret’s · Via Condotti Community Engagement Old No. 7 Restaurant & Sports Bar · TACOcentric · Upward Mobility Kitchens & Cafe Local Hero Award Justamere Cafe | Bistro | Bakery · Mystic · Upward Mobility Kitchens & Cafe Best Beverage Program Dear Friend Bar · Espresso 46 · Tribute Restaurant Best Atmosphere Crème · Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard · The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar Best Outdoor Dining Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard · Tuna Blue · Water Polo Hospitality Award Casa Di Stefano · EDNA Restaurant · Oxalis Restaurant Best Limited Service Restaurant Deedee’s Ice Cream · Vandal Doughnuts · Xena’s Bread & Butter Ltd Best Restaurant – Cape Breton The Annex · Table Doucet · Panorama Best Restaurant – Mainland Nova Scotia Bessie North House · Le Caveau · Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyard Best Restaurant – HRM Mystic · Oxalis Restaurant · Tribute Restaurant Best New Restaurant Reta’s Restaurant · Tribute Restaurant · Water Polo Best Chef Chef Chris Pyne · Chef Colin Bebbington · Chef Steph Ogilvie Best Bartender Dylan Brentwood · Elise Sergerie · Mark Bradbury