Virtual Event
Canadian Pizza Virtual Summit 2021
October 18, 2021 at 1:00pm EST

Colleen Cross
Colleen Cross is the editor of Canadian Pizza magazine.

Joe Ward, Owner, Joes Family Pizzeria & Poutinerie, Pembroke, Ont.
After just over a decade in business, Joe and and his wife, Natacha Ward, have successfully embedded Joes Family Pizzeria & Poutinerie in its community of Pembroke, Ont., near Ottawa. Joes, the runner-up in our Pizzeria of the Year competition, supports many local causes and activities, and has found dozens of creative ways to connect with the community.

Mikey Wasnidge, Co-owner of Nimrods’ Floating Pizza Bar, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Mikey Wasnidge and his partners Nigel Haan, Bruce Rooney and Jesse Clasueheide have harnessed the power of social media and effective storytelling, used product discounting to make people feel rewarded and programmed tasteful community events that helped to turn Nimrods’ Floating Pizza Bar in Charlottetown harbour into a vibrant community hub. “We have prioritized people over profits at every step, not because it’s good marketing, but because it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “In return, we have rallied the support of the entire Island and we couldn’t be more proud of that.”

Kelly Black, Co-owner of Una Pizza + Wine, in Calgary, Alta.
Una Pizza + Wine has raised the bar for environmental sustainability, staff retention and community involvement. The Calgary restaurant opened its doors in 2010 and recently launched two new locations and takeaway service in the city as well as a location in Saskatoon. Kelly Black, who co-owns BMex restaurant group with Jayme MacFayden, believes in lifting up staff and community. They do this by collaborating with local breweries, working with local growers and businesses, helping support their team’s passionate causes through a Community Love Partner program, and taking part in the Mealshare program providing meals to youths in need.