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OTTAWA, October 1, 2026—Ottawa Tourism, La Tablée des Chefs and 23 hospitality partners are celebrating a major milestone as the À la Carte Food Recovery Program surpasses 500,000 meals recovered and redistributed to people experiencing food insecurity in the community.
Launched in May 2024, À la Carte is the first destination-led food recovery program of its kind in Canada. Through collaboration across Ottawa's hospitality sector, the program recovers surplus food from hotels, venues, caterers, and events, redirecting it to community organizations rather than allowing it to go to waste.
In just over two years, the program has become a model for how tourism can generate economic, social and environmental benefits simultaneously. In addition to providing more than 500,000 meals to community organizations, À la Carte has diverted approximately 150,000 kilograms of food from landfill, avoided 572 tonnes of CO2e emissions and conserved an estimated 148 million litres of water, which could fill the equivalent of 59 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The program's success has also attracted international attention. In 2026, À la Carte was recognized as a finalist at both the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Awards and the Convene 4 Climate Global Awards, highlighting Ottawa's leadership in sustainable tourism and community impact.
“Reaching 500,000 meals is an incredible milestone, but what makes me most proud is what it represents,” said Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “It demonstrates what is possible when an entire destination comes together around a shared purpose. Through À la Carte, Ottawa's hospitality community is reducing waste, supporting people facing food insecurity and demonstrating how tourism can have a positive impact far beyond the visitor experience. This program proves that when we work together, tourism can strengthen both our local economy and our community.”
“The leadership of Ottawa Tourism has been instrumental in mobilizing the hospitality and tourism industry behind the fight against food waste in our community,” said Jean-François Archambault, Founder and General Director of La Tablée des Chefs. “Going from zero to more than 500,000 meals recovered demonstrates that when organizations make food waste reduction a priority, we can drive both social and environmental impact! The results can be transformational for both communities and the environment. This is the new way of doing Corporate Social Responsibility in our industry!”
“The impact of À la Carte goes far beyond the numbers,” said Meighan Hartley, Chief Development Officer, Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. “Recovered food means nutritious meals for people experiencing homelessness and relying on our Community Kitchen. It also shows what is possible when Ottawa's hospitality community comes together with a shared commitment to caring for our city and the people who call it home.”
About Ottawa Tourism
Through its values of inclusivity, trust, collaboration, and innovation, Ottawa Tourism pursues its vision to be one of Canada’s most visited, sustainable, vibrant, and appealing urban destinations, as well as the tourism authority for key economic development and city-building decisions in Ottawa. Canada’s capital welcomes an estimated 11 million visitors annually who spend $2.3 billion in the community.
For more information, please contact:
Jérôme Miousse
Director, Public Affairs
Ottawa Tourism
[email protected]
