Sysco Canada Joins the 4th Annual All My Relations Healing Powwow as Our First-Ever Title Sponsor
At Closer to Home, we believe that healing happens when we come together. As we prepare for our 4th Annual All My Relations Healing Powwow, we are reaching an exciting milestone in our journey.
This year, we are incredibly proud to announce Sysco Canada as our first-ever Title Sponsor. To celebrate this landmark partnership, we sat down with Andrew Harris, Indigenous Relations Manager at Sysco Canada, to discuss their mission and why they chose to stand with us for this year’s gathering.
Q: Who is Sysco?
A: Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home. This includes restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, entertainment venues, and more. Sysco operates 339 distribution centers, in 10 countries, with 75,000 colleagues serving approximately 730,000 customer locations.
Sysco proudly serves communities across Canada, distributing food and nonfood products to organizations that prepare meals outside the home. This includes restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools, hotels, and many other foodservice operators.
Q: What are Sysco’s Mission and Vision?
A: Sysco is a purpose-driven, growth-oriented company that leads with integrity, inclusion and responsibility, all the while innovating the way forward. Our purpose is connecting the world to share food and care for one another and we strive to support our customers in every way possible, through our mission of delivering success for our customers through industry-leading people, products and solutions. We’re always looking to innovate and improve with our customers’ needs in mind.
Q: This is your first time working with Closer to Home. What specifically about our mission, vision, or values resonated most with the Sysco team?
A: Closer to Home is an organization that truly puts children and families first and approaches its work with care and intention. We share these values and are honoured to partner with your organization as the title sponsor of this year’s event.
Q: Why did Sysco choose to get involved with Closer to Home’s 4th Annual All My Relations Healing Powwow?
A: At Sysco Canada, we believe reconciliation is a shared responsibility—one strengthened by listening, understanding, and meaningful action. As Canada’s largest foodservice distributor, we are committed to building respectful, long-term relationships with Indigenous communities, partners, and businesses.
Sysco is proud to sponsor Closer to Home’s 4th Annual All My Relations Healing Powwow because the event strongly aligns with our commitment and creates a culturally safe space that brings together Indigenous peoples, community members, and service providers to promote healing, connection, and resilience.
Supporting this event allows us to contribute in a meaningful way, by standing alongside Indigenous-led organizations and supporting initiatives that are community-driven and grounded in respect, inclusion, and relationship-building.
Q: What is the importance of community to Sysco?
A: Serving the communities where we live and work is very important to Sysco. We use our position as a foodservice industry leader to help nourish communities around the world by providing food and other support. We work closely with customers and colleagues to make a real difference by donating meals and volunteering our time in partnership with community organizations. This all adds up to a bold 2030 ambition to give back $750 million in food, funds and volunteer hours, globally.
Sysco Canada is committed to the process of reconciliation through empowerment and sustainability of Indigenous communities across Canada. We understand the success of Indigenous communities is interwoven with, and critical to, Canada’s success.
Q: When we say “All My Relations,” what does that mean to Sysco?
A: “All My Relations” reflects the understanding that everything is connected — people, land, food, culture, and future generations. It reflects a worldview rooted in respect, where well‐being is collective rather than individual – closely aligned to Sysco’s Purpose of Connecting the world to share food and care for one another. It is a reminder that our actions have impact beyond ourselves and that care for one another is essential to shared wellness and the success of future generations.
Q: Why is it vital to support community cultural gatherings, like the All My Relations Healing Powwow?
A: Recognizing the profound connection between food, culture, and community, we are committed to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities. Supporting cultural gatherings like the All My Relations Healing Powwow aligns with our commitment to honour and respect the rich traditions and knowledge of Indigenous peoples, integrating wisdom into our practices.
When communities thrive, businesses thrive alongside them — and Sysco’s involvement reflects our commitment to doing business in a way that’s deeply connected to the communities where we live and work.
Q: Why is it important for Sysco to get involved with Non-Profits?
A: Non‐profit organizations are often on the front lines addressing critical issues such as food insecurity, community wellness, cultural preservation, and social inclusion. Sysco drives global impact through local action by working alongside trusted nonprofit partners and bringing Sysco’s people, food, and resources together, we make a meaningful difference in communities.
Q: What is your favourite thing that takes place at Powwows? The power of the drum? The Regalia? The Dance? Or perhaps the community coming together as one?
“This is a difficult question to narrow down. It is tough to beat the positivity felt when community comes together in celebration. Family and old friends re-connecting, new memories being made, singing, dancing and laughter filling the air. Tough to beat that.”
“But… if I had pick just one thing under the pressure of the question, for me it is absolutely the power of the drum. Each and every beat forces me to be present in that moment. It’s a calling, a reminder of sorts to be here in the now. It is also a visual and audio reminder of the power of many vs. the power of one. I get excited every time I see the drum, without fail!”Andrew Harris, Indigenous Relations Manager, Sysco Canada
As we look forward to the 4th Annual All My Relations Healing Powwow, we are reminded that it takes a village, and a community of dedicated partners, to foster true healing. Having our very first Title Sponsor marks a beautiful chapter in the growth of this event.
We are so grateful to Andrew Harris and the entire Sysco Canada team for their leadership, their humility, and their commitment to standing with us.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Powwow! For more information about the Powwow, click here!
