OTTAWA — Ottawa Public Health is considering making the current voluntary food-safety certification mandatory for the city’s foodservice handlers, reports CBC News.

According to Sherry Beadle, Ottawa health department's program manager of food safety, there isn’t a problem with the current system, but there is a need to ensure food safety is always top of mind.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) is organizing an invite-only Restaurant Industry Summit on Parliament Hill.

The event, scheduled to run from Oct. 17 to 18, will provide a forum for members of parliament and the foodservice sector to discuss the role restaurants play in the country’s economy as well as policies that could impact the industry.

EDMONTON — Members of Culinary Team NAIT returned to Edmonton with four silver and six bronze medals following a sweep at the prestigious Hong Kong International Culinary Classic at HOFEX 2011, Asia’s leading food and hospitality tradeshow.

“This is premier competition with over 1,000 competitors from across the world,” said Vinod Varshney, chair of the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. “The quality of instruction provided through NAIT’s Culinary Arts program prepared our students to compete side by side against professional chefs from over 30 countries.”