Save the Date: 2010 Canadian Chefs' Congress on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Registration is now open for the next Canadian Chefs' Congress, occurring September 11 & 12, 2010 in Duncan, British Columbia.

Chefs, cooks, apprentices and culinary students from across Canada will converge on Providence Farm in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley for two days of conversation and deliberation on the state of our water ways, our effect on marine life and what constructive steps that our industry can build to help improve the health of our oceans.

Delegates will have the opportunity to sample Canadian inspired dishes from leading provincial and territorial chefs from accross the country as well as enjoy the bounty of British Columbia as chefs from around the province present the very best that we have to offer. The weekend will be a series of unique tastes and experiences as you mingle with fellow chefs sipping BC wine, or trying our ales, beers, ciders, and mead.

Beginning with the keynote speaker, Dr. David Suzuki, you will have the opportunity to learn about our oceans and how we can effect change. A series of seminars and workshops on numerous food and ocean related topics will give the opportunity for the delgates to engage one on one with a variety of speakers on the topics of their particular expertise. Workshops and seminars are designed to provoke thought and conversation.

Representatives from a wide variety of sustainable fisheries will be on hand to help you learn how to get high quality sustainably harvested seafood onto your menus, what to look for, and the questions you should be asking.

We will have a variety of local suppliers, producers, and farmers displaying unique product and demonstrating responsible stewardship of valuable renewable resources.

Register Now

The 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress delegate package is $200 plus processing fee. The Congress is open to chefs, cooks, apprentices, culinary students and teachers from across Canada. Group bookings over 10 people get 10% off the standard delegate price. Space is limited.

Your delegate fee covers:

• Food and drink samples for the duration of the Congress
• Two camping areas on Providence Farm with access to lavatories and showers
• Participation in all workshops, seminars and farm tours
• Scheduled shuttle buses from Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal

Register early for a special heritage hog feast

The first 200 registrants are invited to the exclusive whole roasted pork media dinner on Friday, September 10, 2010. The heritage hogs will be specifically raised and fed for the event and the entire meal will be prepared by members of the Chefs’ Table Society of BC.

Dinner will consist of foods grown on Providence Farm. Chef Rob Belcham’s heritage breed pig roast is the only event open to media. You will have a chance to mingle with Michael Stadtlander, founder and president of the Canadian Chefs Congress, food network personalities and the Canadian chef delegation from across the country.

Canadian Chefs' Congress organises GMO Free Zone: Food Professionals Against GMOs

With the 2008 annual Chefs’ Congress behind us and with the 2010 Congress scheduled for British Columbia we’re asking for your continued involvement. In response to interest shown in Jeffrey Smith’s presentation about the threat posed by Genetically Modified Organisms, we’ve taken the opportunity to organise an online group to discuss these risks.

The purpose of this group is help inform and unite us around the fight to stop Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) from landing on our plates at home and in our restaurants. You can sign up for this discussion group by going to: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/gmofreezone

Chefs, hospitality professionals, restauranteurs, farmers, growers and fishers have the power to influence; the power to create awareness; and the power to change people’s eating habits one forkful at a time.

When you join GMO Free Zone - Food Professionals Against GMOs you also join the growing network of manufacturers, retailers, healthcare practitioners, the natural food industry and media that are already committed to informing consumers of the health risks associated with GMOs in our food supply. As food professionals we have the power to help direct the purchasing power of tens of millions of consumers through our organizations. We can help Canada reach that tipping point that will drive GMOs out of our food supply.

Please consider adding your name to the Campaign’s growing list of supporters because it not only addresses you and your community’s health concerns, but will also help influence the decisions of everyone in the food industry – restaurants, food manufacturers, distributors, and farmers. As Chefs and food professionals we interact with these people on a daily basis and therefore have the power to create change.

When you sign up to join GMO Free Zone you will receive a welcome-email with several concrete steps you can take to begin acting to stop GMOs.

Remember that we have the power to change! Take the first step and become a member of the Campaign so you can help be a part of the Non-GMO tipping point that is going on in North America. There is no fee to join. We need your help to take us to the next level in the rejection of GM foods in our food supply. Again, you can sign up for this discussion group by going to: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/gmofreezone

British Columbia to host the second Canadian Chefs’ Congress in September 2010

This exclusive biennial event, celebrating the unique food cultures of our country is next scheduled for September 2010 in British Columbia. The BC Congress is the second in a twenty-six year series. It will focus on the health of our oceans and also have a large First Nations presence and focus. The 2010 Congress will bring together over six hundred chefs from across Canada. Participants will savour an exceptional showcase of regional cuisine, with local fisher and farmer participation, including talks and tours.

Chefs Robert Clark and Vikram Vij of the Chefs’ Table Society, Vancouver will head up the BC Steering Committee. The BC Steering Committee have suggested such keynote speakers as Dr. John Nightangal representative of Ocean Wise, and Dr. Daniel Pauly professor and director of the fisheries centre and UBC. Topics of discussion will include sustainable seafood, pollution, federal and provincial reserves, and fishing methods.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Dixon

Public Relations and National Liaison, Canadian Chefs’ Congress

phone 647.999.0012

mdixon@canadianchefscongress.com

Michael Stadtländer

Executive Director, Canadian Chefs’ Congress

phone 519.922.2645

chef@canadianchefscongress.com

Robert Clark

Co-chair BC Steering Committee

phone 778.228.6517

seaclark@telus.net

What an amazing weekend!

Thanks to all who attended, participated and supported the first Canadian Chefs' Congress we had the most amazing weekend! Many who've emailed us have said that this Congress has helped transform the way they're approaching their work. We couldn't have asked for more. In the next few weeks we'll be changing the format of the website and adding new and breaking information. We hope you'll continue to look for our upcoming events and announcements too. Please subscribe to our FeedBlitz news feed and we'll make sure you get updates. In the meantime feel free to post your comments on the blog and we'll take your suggestions and comments in mind for the next Congress. Also, if you're interested in making a bid for the next Canadian Chefs' Congress in 2010 we'll be posting the call soon.

Blue Mountain Resort SHUTTLE INFO

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for those of you coming from Blue Mountain Resort.

Our volunteers will be making two runs FROM Blue Mountain to the Congress on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 at 10:00 am and 11:00 am. Return shuttles to the Blue Mountain Resort will run in the evening at around 11:30 pm (To Be Arranged details will be announced at the congress.)

On MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 we will be running the shuttles at 8:00 am, in time for your presence at the breakfast. A shuttle will run at the end of the event for those of you who need to get back to the Blue Mountain Resort. (To Be Arranged details will be announced at the congress.)

All schedules of shuttles are subject to change!

Online registration closing September 19 at 5 pm

Registration is set to close at 5:00 pm on Friday, September 19.

You may register at the Congress on Sunday, September 21. Remember, cash or cheque only - no credit cards. Click here to register online - payment online is by PayPal in Canadian dollars.

Registration is set to close at 5:00 pm on Friday, September 19.
You may register at the Congress on Sunday, September 21. Remember, cash or cheque only - no credit cards.

Important Reminder about Registration

A lot of you are confused about whether or not you have registered!? Please be aware that you are not registered for the congress unless you pay for your registration! Your registration information is not kept on file unless you pay using PayPal online or make other arrangements.

If you think you are registered but didn't keep a copy of your payment confirmation from PayPal, you can email us at congress2008@canadianchefscongress.com to have us check your payment status. Please be aware, we will not have access to the congress email after 5:00 pm EST on Friday, September 19. If you have registered and paid but don't have a record we can check at the registration desk on Sunday, September 21 at the farm.

Three days and counting

Just a reminder that the Canadian Chefs' Congress is coming fast! We'll be closing the online registration on Friday, September 19 at 5:00 pm EST. If you wish, you may still register at the farm, just remember - at the farm we cannot accept credit cards. You may pay in person with cash or cheque only. If you choose to take advantage of one of the roughly 30 remaining seats on the bus from the Palais Royale, you'll also need to bring cash or a cheque. We will have a desk for purchasing water bottles and t-shirts, etc. you will want to bring some cash for those purchases also. The closest bank machine to the farm, is approximately 1/2 an hour away by car.

An Important Announcement from the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance

Chefs are important ambassadors and educators for healthy, sustainable farming and culinary culture. Good food requires fresh air, clean water and good soil. We will be asking delegates to endorse a statement calling for comprehensive land use protection for our host site and across Canada. The Congress will present this message to the Minister of Tourism for Ontario.

Please visit the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance website by clicking this link. 

For more information please click here to visit the ResTerra Strategies website.

Shuttle Bus news

Steffan Howard, Executive Chef of The Palais Royale Ballroom has generously offered for our shuttle bus to embark from the Palais Royale parking lot. The bus will start boarding on Sunday morning, September 21 at 6:00 am. Chef Steffan has also offered to have organic coffee, tea and snacks available for all those taking the shuttle to the Canadian Chefs' Congress. The Palais Royale Ballroom is located at 1601 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Toronto. The map to the Palais is shown below. You can download a copy by clicking the map.
The steering committee of the Congress would like to offer special thanks to Steffan Howard for his enthusiasm and embracing of the spirit of the Canadian Chefs' Congress.

Sasha Chapman - Globe and Mail article

Sasha Chapman has written an excellent piece in today's Globe and Mail that captures the spirit of our Congress.
Click Here to have a read online.

Register Soon to attend Congress in September!

Registration is NOW open for the Canadian Chefs' Congress.

Registration is $250. Sign up before September 1, 2008 and you'll be automatically entered in a draw for $1,000 worth of AllClad cookware. Click here to register now! 

Eric G. says, "i have been intrigued and excited about the idea of the congress since first hearing about it from 'the oysterman' many months back." and Anita S. says, "Brilliant! Congratulations. It will be a memorable (historic) event!"

This industry only event will be the first of 13 biennial Congresses to be held in every province and territory. A first for Canada!

See the Itinerary posted below. Let's make it a success! 

Click here to register now!