The Interceptors Event in Partnership with Farm-to-Plate Marketplace

Film synopsis

The Interceptors follows the story of a new community driven, technology enabled network with the goal of reducing food waste and nourishing the Vancouver community. The film follows first generation Filipino-Canadian Chef TJ Conwi as he turns a mountain of rescued food collected by Vancouver Food Runners into delicious meals which are distributed to the food insecure.

Panelist bios

TJ Conwi | Panelist

TJ has a passion for both West Coast and Asian cuisine and has become well known in Vancouver as a talented chef, as well as for his commitment to supporting the Vancouver community. As the owner-operator of Ono Vancouver, TJ runs a kitchen consulting company that helps small to medium scale business food programs. In his community work, since the beginning of the pandemic, TJ has committed himself to supporting local community partners, using surplus food to provide over 1,200 meals a week for community partners, including Health Initiatives for Men, Directions Youth Services and Kilala Lelum.

Chloe Leslie | Panelist

Chloe is the Program Manager for Vancouver Food Runners. She holds a B.Sc from the University of British Columbia and is currently working on completing a certificate in Non-Profit Management at Simon Fraser University. Prior to joining VFR, Chloe worked in Community Programming at the YM-YWCA of Vancouver Island in Victoria, BC. Chloe is a member of the Westside Food Collaborative, and is also an organizer and advocate for various groups within the Downtown Eastside. Chloe is passionate about food justice, housing rights, harm reduction, and connecting with her community.

Caroline Manuel | Moderator

Originating from the East Coast of Canada, Caroline made her way from traditional Mi’kmaq lands in Halifax to Asia and Europe before settling in Vancouver. Over the years, she has harnessed her development and communications skills to make meaningful impact.

Caroline’s professional path has been marked by collaboration with a diverse range of small sustainable food businesses across Canada and work with nonprofit organizations like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society in BC. She has dedicated herself to addressing pressing issues like sustainable food systems and security while fostering community connections. Today, Caroline is excited to be a part of the Story Money Impact team, where she supports issue-focused documentary storytelling aimed at inspiring and catalyzing change.