Metro Ontario returns as sponsor of Toronto culinary event

Metro Ontario is a returning sponsor of Taste of Toronto -- a culinary festival that brings together chefs from across the city. As part of its support of the four-day event, the grocery retailer is bringing back its Metro Master Class cooking sessions.

Festival goers can prepare, cook and sample dishes alongside local celebrity chefs using fresh ingredients supplied by Metro. The sessions are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are approximately 30 spots available per class and Metro is hosting 20 sessions during the event, which runs June 15-18.

"As a food industry leader in Canada, our sponsorship of the festival is of particular significance this year as we set out to honour Canada’s 150th with our belief that the best celebrations in life always include food and music," said Jennifer James, director of marketing for Metro Ontario, in a press release. "Taste of Toronto is the perfect opportunity to support premier food innovation in our country and to share our passion for fresh, local food along the way."

Metro Ontario is also paring food and music through a series of pop-up parties in communities across the province for its Homegrown Tour. Running as part of its celebration of Canada's 150th, the grocery retailer partners with a chef at each stop to prepare meals using locally-sourced ingredients.

Metro is also marking the country's sesquicentennial with a limited-edition canvas tote bag that is available at select locations in Ontario.