Board of Directors
Don Monsour – President | Contact
Don is the Chair of the Culinary Tourism Society BC and Chair of the International Culinary Tourism association. He is the past Chair of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) Product Development Committee and the Cuisine Tourism Subcommittee as well as the Destination Consortium. He is a founding member of the Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, of which he was appointed president in 2001. Don was also the Chair of the BCRFA and now currently holds the position of Vice Chair. Don has more than 45 years of experience in hospitality industry management. He is also past vice-chair of Tourism British Columbia and has been a member and director of many organizations including the Canadian Food Services Executives Association and the Victoria Chef's Association. He is the President of Hospitality Associates and Bon Appetit Foods.Wendy Taylor – Treasurer | Contact
Wendy is the founder and editor of PlanitBC.com, a very successful website that connects the enthusiastic consumer with the enthusiastic chef/producer/grower/event planner both regionally and internationally. Recently, she served as Western Canada representative for Wines of Chile and has worked with winery and hospitality clients since 2000 - independently and as part of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. Wendy’s broad perspective of the food and wine community in British Columbia from over 25 years in the food & beverage business has contributed to a variety of hospitality industry clients. Her wine industry knowledge gained through working in the wine business, and her WSET Higher Certificate gives her particular expertise. Currently, she is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (Past President, BC Chapter and the International board for 2008/09), the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation and is most passionate about the future of culinary tourism in British Columbia.Deirdre Campbell – Public Relations Chair | Contact
A founding partner of the Tartan Group, a full-service communications agency based in Victoria, Deirdre has been a communications professional for 13 years. Deirdre began her career in public relations working for Canadian Pacific Hotels (now Fairmont) as PR Director for The Empress. She held this position for eight years, and during this time Deirdre successfully completed her public relations accreditation (APR), was named PR Professional of the Year for Vancouver Island and won a YM/YWCA Woman of Distinction award for her work in the community. She completed her MBA in PR/Communications through Royal Roads University and now handles public relations and strategic communications for a variety of clients including resorts across Vancouver Island and British Columbia.Lee Murphy – Director, Vista D’oro | Contact
Lee Murphy co-owns and operates Vista D'oro Farms in South Langley, BC an agritourism destination in the Fraser Valley. As trained chef with a passion for local, farm fresh ingredients she has produced a line of artisanal preserves which are available at the Farmgate shop on the farm and at specialty retail outlets across British Columbia. Lee also dabbles in catering and cooking classes on the farm.
Bernard Casavant – Director, Executive Chef, Manteo Resort, Kelowna | Contact
Born and trained in British Columbia, Chef Bernard is currentl Executive Chef at the Manteo Resort in Kelowna. He and his wife, Bonnie have two children, Kristopher 27, and Steffanie 25, both pursuing their post secondary interests.
Chef Bernard’s cooking career began with the encouragement of his grandmother, and at age 16, he started with the position of cook at a local hotel. He states, “My Grandmother is the one who instilled in me my work ethic and drive, and my passion for respecting the food and the people who produce it”
His current food philosophy still reflects this. “Keep it simple, feel the food. Treat people how you would like to be treated, be humble, as after all, it is all about good food, good techniques, and good if not great staff.”Chef Bernard believes strongly in working with local farmers and producers to bring the freshest food to his guests. His long term working relationships with local and International suppliers ensure a world class dining experience for all his guests.
Chef Bernard completed the Culinary Arts Program at Malaspina College, Nanaimo B.C. in 1976. Upon graduation, he received the “Most Outstanding Student” award. He received his Certified Chef de Cuisine certification in 1986, one of the inaugural Chefs in Canada to complete the exam.
- He is a founding Board Member of Exclusively B.C.
- He is a charter member of Farm Folk, City Folk
- He is a Judge for the B.C. Apprenticeship Trade Certification Exams
Kathy McAree - Director | Contact
Kathy McAree has blended the perfect ingredients to form a successful culinary tourism career. Passion for exploration, food expertise and a splash or two of wine have mixed well to create Travel With Taste, Vancouver Island’s only culinary tour company. With a love of world travel and happiest when up to her elbows in gastronomic wizardry, Kathy was a foodie from a young age. She spent most of her career in hotels and packaged goods before having a “eureka” moment when traveling in Italy. She realized that the bounty of organic farms, vineyards, cheese makers, wild seafood, et al that make Vancouver Island unique, would appeal to a kind of globe trotting, palate pleased traveler. Kathy now brings the world to feast at the plenteous tables of Vancouver Island, knowing this secret is best when shared with many. Kathy is also a board member of the International Culinary Tourism Association. Bob Parrotta - Director | Contact
Bob Parrotta has developed his hospitality career directly within British Columbia's tourism market and was part of the initial management team during Expo 86, after which Bob spent several years in Whistler catering to a global clientele managing the fine dining Araxi Restaurant. Whistler was followed by a relocation to Vancouver and eventually the Granville Island Hotel as Food and Beverage Director. Presently, Bob is Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Canada's historic Butchart Gardens located in Victoria. Bob oversees the planning and development as well as the day to day operations of the various food establishments on its site including a fine dining restaurant, a casual dining restaurant, a coffee shop, a gelateria and several satellite locations to serve their visitors numbering up to 15,000 daily during peak season. Currently, Bob is a director of the BCRFA Victoria and he is a member of the Culinary Arts Program Advisory Committee at Camosun College. Previously, Bob also held the position of President of the Whistler Hospitality Association and over the years he has been recognized for his passion and his commitment for positive change in his communities. Julian Bond - Director | Contact
British-born, Chef Julian Bond found his way to B.C. in 1995 and never looked back. He opened the award-winning Star Anise and Oritalia restaurants before joining the test kitchen at Cactus Club Cafe where he partnered the chain with Ocean Wise and became a founding Green Table Network member. Now Executive Chef & Program Director at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Chef Julian combines his energy and talents along with his pasison for teaching and promoting kitchen sustainability to the next genereation of great Chefs. On the board of directors for the BC Chefs Table Society and a steering committee member for the Canadian Chefs Congress 2010, Chef Julian doesn't just promote BC Culinary Tourism, he lives it - often spending his hard earned vacation time travelling with his family experiencing the province's great bounty.Tim Ellison - Director | Contact
Born and raised in Vancouver, Tim is in his 35th year in the hospitality industry. He has worked in a variety of positions ranging from Exectuvie Chef to Director of Food and Beverage in restaurants, schools and hotels.
His education features a Diploma in Hospitality adminstration from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, British Columbia Provincial Instructor training through Vancouver Community College, and certification as a Chef de Cuisine from the Canadian Culinary Institute. Tim also has the distinction of being the only Certified Chef de Cuisine and Sommelier, that also holds the prestigious WSET Diploma of Wine & Spirits in Canada. These are the highest levels of certification in culnary andwine studies available in Canada at this time.
Tim has now joined the faculty at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts specializing in management, dining room service, and wine training.
Robert Thompson - Director |
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