Published on April 30, 2026
Rendez-vous des institutions 2026: A Day Dedicated to Advancing Local Food Procurement
On April 29, 2026, around 100 people from the institutional food service and agri-food sectors gathered in Montreal for the 6th edition of Rendez-vous des institutions, organized by Aliments du Québec as part of its Aliments du Québec au menu program.
Among the attendees were representatives from institutions participating in the program, all sharing a common goal: sourcing as much local food as possible to offer more Québec products to the people they serve. Industry partners also joined the event to help advance local food procurement in institutional settings.
With conferences, a panel discussion, presentations and workshops, the day was all about sharing experiences, making connections and turning ideas into action. Here's a look back at the highlights of this year's event!
Nourishing Our Communities and Taking Action Together
The day began with the conference Purpose-Driven Leadership: Nourishing Our Communities and Taking Action Together, presented by Annie Gauvin, CEC, of Gestion Ænima, as part of L’Académie des transitions. It was a great opportunity to reflect on leadership and the power of collective action to drive change.
The discussions continued with a panel moderated by Mathilde Laroche-Bougie, Head of the Aliments du Québec au menu program and Strategic Partnerships at Aliments du Québec. Three panellists from different backgrounds shared their experiences and practical approaches to bringing more local foods into institutional food services: Huguette Bergevin (Services alimentaires Laniel St-Laurent), Murielle Vrins (Équiterre) and Luciana Deschenes (CPE La Petite-Patrie).
A valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and explore different ways to make local food procurement part of everyday practices!
Initiatives to Support Institutions
Pauline Faivre, Marketing Director at Aliments du Québec, then presented several projects and initiatives designed to showcase institutions participating in the Aliments du Québec au menu program and support them in their local food procurement efforts.
- Astuces de chefs (Chefs’ Tips): A web series featuring short videos in which institutional chefs share their best tips for cooking with Québec products.
- Québec Fish and Seafood Week: An annual opportunity to discover and showcase Québec seafood products, with restaurants and institutions taking part.
- Institutions Eat Local!: An annual fall event inviting institutions across Québec to celebrate local foods, with free promotional tools available to help them organize their activities.
- Aliments du Québec’s new website: A shared platform for Aliments du Québec and Aliments du Québec au menu, featuring new functionalities and a simplified member portal to manage memberships.
Workshops: From Inspiration to Action
Participants also took part in four workshops exploring different aspects of local food procurement and offering practical ideas tailored to their needs:
- From Needs to Ideas, led by Dominique Lacroix (Aliments du Québec): An overview of Québec’s agri-food market and tools to help identify local products for institutional menus.
- From Ideas to Implementation, led by Sébastien Joanneau (Goûtez-moi ça!): An exploration of pilot projects designed to make it easier to incorporate Québec ingredients into institutional kitchens.
- Local Institutional Purchasing and Short Supply Chains, led by Laurence Deschamps-Léger (Forum sur les systèmes alimentaires territoriaux) and Lyne Royer (Équiterre/Commun’assiette): Identifying practical ways to strengthen local food procurement.
- Social Innovation to Support Local Food Procurement in High-Volume Food Services, led by Véronique Allard (CISA), with contributions from Jessica Vigneault (CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec) and Jean-Marc Riverain (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal): Exploring collaborative initiatives that help bring more local foods into institutional settings.
The day wrapped up with a cocktail reception catered by Bouchée double, featuring locally sourced bites and beverages. It was a great opportunity to continue the conversations, share key takeaways and network in a relaxed atmosphere!
Thank You to Our Valued Partners!
The 6th edition was proudly presented by our main sponsor, Colabor. A big thank-you also goes to Gordon Food Service (GFS), Goodjob and Dubé Loiselle for their valuable contributions.
We would also like to thank all the businesses that generously contributed to the gift bags, door prizes and food offerings throughout the event.
Finally, thank you to everyone who joined us for your participation and continued commitment to local foods. By sharing experiences and ideas, we can keep moving local food procurement forward in Québec’s institutions!
We look forward to seeing you again in 2027!
About Rendez-vous des institutions
The Rendez-vous des institutions is an annual event organized by Aliments du Québec as part of its Aliments du Québec au menu program. Developed in collaboration with Équiterre and with support from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), the program recognizes institutions that incorporate Québec products into their food service offerings.
Learn more about the event
Photos Credit © Audrey-Ève Beauchamp
