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Nourish Ambassadors

The Nourish Ambassador Program equips changemakers with tools and exciting opportunities to advance our shared vision of food as medicine.

At Nourish, we value collaboration. Our team has built a powerful network of health care and community leaders to help advance our mission.

The Nourish Ambassador Program empowers leaders dedicated to creating positive change within their communities by offering resources, support, and a platform to amplify their voices. As ambassadors, participants join a hive of like-minded individuals committed to advancing food security, sustainability, and community well-being. The program provides opportunities for collaboration, skill development, and advocacy, enabling ambassadors to lead impactful initiatives that align with the core values of Nourish. Through this program, these changemakers become catalysts for systemic change, driving progress towards more resilient and equitable food systems.

Ned Bell, Chef and Sustainable Food System Advocate

Ned Bell is a well-known Canadian culinary talent who has forged a path as a chef, sustainable seafood advocate, keynote speaker and educator. As one of the country’s leading chefs, he uses his voice, outgoing personality, and indomitable spirit to stand up for the world’s lakes, oceans, rivers, in addition to hyper-local farming sustainability through brand ambassador roles. Based in British Columbia, Ned is the co-owner of Hatch Hospitality, Chef Ambassador at Buy BC, Ocean Wise and Nourish, Culinary Director at Planetary Health, Board Member and Co-Chair of Sustainability at the Chefs Table Society, and as culinary and restaurant consultant at Hatch Hospitality Inc.

Dr. Elisa Levi

Dr. Elisa Levi

Dr. Elisa Levi is passionate about lifelong learning and supporting innovative causes that work towards positive change at an individual and population health level. As a consultant she has advised numerous non profit, government and Indigenous organizations on food and health strategies working with Indigenous peoples. She returned to school in 2018, graduating from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, later completing residency in the McMaster Rural Family Medicine program within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation where she currently practices family medicine. Honouring reciprocity, she has volunteered on several advisory committees and boards including the Anishnawbe Health Foundation. She holds a Master of Public Health from Lakehead University and Bachelor of Science with a focus on Nutrition from Toronto Metropolitan University as well as dual designation as a Registered Dietitian. She is a proud Anishinaabe, mother of two and member of the Chippewas of Nawash in Ontario.

Dr. Joseph LeBlanc

Dr. Joseph LeBlanc is a life-long Northern Ontarian and member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. Passionate about community health and wellbeing, he has extensive experience in asset-based community development and food system change throughout the region. Dr. LeBlanc is recognized as a leading expert in Indigenous food systems and community development in Canada. He has received several awards including a Top 20 under 40 Northwestern Ontario Visionary Award and a Forty under 40 Northern Ontario Business Award. Dr. LeBlanc is the former director of the Sudbury Social Planning Council and has developed national food policy with a focus on Indigenous food sovereignty. Dr. Joseph LeBlanc is currently the Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion and Assistant Professor of Indigenous Health at NOSM University.

Dr. Andrew Boozary

Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary care physician, policy practitioner, researcher, and founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network. He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and health policy training at Princeton University and Harvard University. His work at the intersection of health policy, social justice and equitable health care delivery aims to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations.
During the pandemic, Dr. Boozary served as co-lead of the Ontario Health Toronto Region COVID-19 Homelessness Response and holds the Dalla Lana Professorship in Policy Innovation at the University of Toronto. He is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Public Health Review and served in senior advisory roles for policymakers at various levels of government both nationally and abroad on public policy issues ranging from primary care reform to the implementation of pharmacare.
Dr. Boozary has published in high-impact academic journals, and his writing and analysis appear in print and broadcast media. He has been the recipient of a number of national and international awards, and is the youngest physician recipient of the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award and Commencement Speaker at the Temerty School of Medicine.

Dr. Elisa Levi

“I continue to see Nourish’s commitment towards elevating the notion that food is medicine, together with a growing network of communities and institutions which includes navigating the right to traditional food in health care. My hope is that more organizations incorporate the strengths of Indigenous Peoples towards systems change,”

– Dr. Elisa Levi

Chef Ned Bell Demonstrates that Healthy Food is Key to Patient Healing

Ambassador Ned Bell joined Nourish at the 2023 Food for Health Symposium and was featured on Global News to talk about opportunities for health care and how real food heals.