Ayja Armstrong-Golder

From before she was old enough to taste it, Ayja has always had a keen interest in wine. After competing her WSET Level 2 in the Champagne region and traveling to several other French wine regions, she fell in love with the diversity of the country’s wines. Having recently completed her WSET Level 3 Ayja will focus on French wines using her scholarship to take the French Wine Scholar program. Ayja would like to thank Les Dames d’Escoffier for giving her the opportunity to do so.Read More

From before she was old enough to taste it, Ayja has always had a keen interest in wine. After competing her WSET Level 2 in the Champagne region and traveling to several other French wine regions, she fell in love with the diversity of the country’s wines. Having recently completed her WSET Level 3 Ayja will focus on French wines using her scholarship to take the French Wine Scholar program. Ayja would like to thank Les Dames d’Escoffier for giving her the opportunity to do so.

Margaret Britton

Maggie is from Saskatoon, is half Greek and speaks Greek fluently thanks to her mom who also first taught her to cook. She has always been a lover of the outdoors, and enjoys skiing, bicycle touring, running, climbing, camping, hiking, and lots more. She believes that the connectedness of food and our natural environment is indivisible, and is as passionate about our planet as the food it provides. Her interest in the culinary and pastry arts evolved as Maggie progressed through the completion of her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. She often found herself procrastinating in the kitchen, or "procrastin-baking", as it became known in her family. Her mother's ethnic background has given Maggie the desire to explore, travel, and understand other cultures, which, for her, most effectively happens through food.…Read More

Maggie is from Saskatoon, is half Greek and speaks Greek fluently thanks to her mom who also first taught her to cook. She has always been a lover of the outdoors, and enjoys skiing, bicycle touring, running, climbing, camping, hiking, and lots more. She believes that the connectedness of food and our natural environment is indivisible, and is as passionate about our planet as the food it provides. Her interest in the culinary and pastry arts evolved as Maggie progressed through the completion of her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. She often found herself procrastinating in the kitchen, or “procrastin-baking”, as it became known in her family. Her mother’s ethnic background has given Maggie the desire to explore, travel, and understand other cultures, which, for her, most effectively happens through food. Maggie is looking forward to using her scholarship towards the culinary and pastry arts program at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.

Genevieve Bussieres

Genevieve was born in Mascouche, a small town north of Montreal. When she turned 18, she started working at the SAQ and got interested in wine and food. During her eight years working at the SAQ, she travelled through Africa and South America. Fascinated with travelling, she moved to Vancouver Island, where she had a daughter. Relocating to Vancouver a few months ago for work and school opportunities, Genevieve will continue her education with the Court of Master Sommelier.Read More

Genevieve was born in Mascouche, a small town north of Montreal. When she turned 18, she started working at the SAQ and got interested in wine and food. During her eight years working at the SAQ, she travelled through Africa and South America. Fascinated with travelling, she moved to Vancouver Island, where she had a daughter. Relocating to Vancouver a few months ago for work and school opportunities, Genevieve will continue her education with the Court of Master Sommelier.

Gloria Chang

Gloria is an independent wine journalist and educator in Vancouver. She is also the founder and principal of Wine Adventures Magazine + Sommelier Services, an independent provider of wine journalism, and wine tastings, workshops, and wine reviews. Instilled with a passion for food from her Korean mother, she also leads workshops on Korean food, including how to make kimchi - taught of course by her mother with 50+ years of experience.Read More

Gloria is an independent wine journalist and educator in Vancouver. She is also the founder and principal of Wine Adventures Magazine + Sommelier Services, an independent provider of wine journalism, and wine tastings, workshops, and wine reviews. Instilled with a passion for food from her Korean mother, she also leads workshops on Korean food, including how to make kimchi – taught of course by her mother with 50+ years of experience.

Aman Dosanj

Since moving to the Okanagan, Aman Dosanj and her family started Poppadoms, a little family-run Indian restaurant that believes in seasonal and local. A self-taught cook with a marketing background, Aman’s endless curiosity has lead to collaborations and experiments all around the Okanagan. Aman was recently voted one of Western living Magazine’s 10 ‘Foodies of the Year’.Read More

Since moving to the Okanagan, Aman Dosanj and her family started Poppadoms, a little family-run Indian restaurant that believes in seasonal and local. A self-taught cook with a marketing background, Aman’s endless curiosity has lead to collaborations and experiments all around the Okanagan. Aman was recently voted one of Western living Magazine’s 10 ‘Foodies of the Year’.

Madeline Edmeston

Madeline lives in Vancouver and has been cooking her whole life. She is currently in Grade 12 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary while completing her Professional Cook Level 1 at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary. She works part-time at Earls as a cook and will be apprenticing there. Madeline is looking forward to graduating from high school so that she can eventually travel and learn to cook around the world. She hopes to complete all her Professional Cook levels in the near future and earn her Red Seal. Madeline dreams of working as a head chef one day and, perhaps enrolling in a WSET program as she and her palette mature!Read More

Madeline lives in Vancouver and has been cooking her whole life. She is currently in Grade 12 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary while completing her Professional Cook Level 1 at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary. She works part-time at Earls as a cook and will be apprenticing there. Madeline is looking forward to graduating from high school so that she can eventually travel and learn to cook around the world. She hopes to complete all her Professional Cook levels in the near future and earn her Red Seal. Madeline dreams of working as a head chef one day and, perhaps enrolling in a WSET program as she and her palette mature!

Ruth Inglis

Volunteering and cooking for women of the neighbourhood for nearly 10 years with the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Ruth went back to school as the first step towards becoming a high school culinary arts teacher. As a result, she is readying herself to leave the women's centre and find work in the restaurant/catering fields in an effort to diversify her knowledge and experience and better prepare herself for teaching. She loves to garden and loves nothing more than cooking food from her garden and sharing it with friends and family. Ruth has been awarded the John Bishop Culinary Scholarship to further her culinary training.Read More

Volunteering and cooking for women of the neighbourhood for nearly 10 years with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, Ruth went back to school as the first step towards becoming a high school culinary arts teacher. As a result, she is readying herself to leave the women’s centre and find work in the restaurant/catering fields in an effort to diversify her knowledge and experience and better prepare herself for teaching. She loves to garden and loves nothing more than cooking food from her garden and sharing it with friends and family. Ruth has been awarded the John Bishop Culinary Scholarship to further her culinary training.

Kelsey Jacobsen

Kelsey lives and works on Commercial Drive. She is beginning her journey into wine and spirit education, and is inspired by the endless diversity of flavour and history. Her interest in this field has come from a family background of wine and spirit expertise - you could call it a family tradition. She uses her knowledge on a regular basis as a bartender, server and hostess. Kelsey is also an artist with a Diploma of Fine Arts from Langara College. Her future goals are to collaborate an education in fine art, beverage and service with an epicurean philosophy to enjoy and share the good things in life!Read More

Kelsey lives and works on Commercial Drive. She is beginning her journey into wine and spirit education, and is inspired by the endless diversity of flavour and history. Her interest in this field has come from a family background of wine and spirit expertise – you could call it a family tradition. She uses her knowledge on a regular basis as a bartender, server and hostess. Kelsey is also an artist with a Diploma of Fine Arts from Langara College. Her future goals are to collaborate an education in fine art, beverage and service with an epicurean philosophy to enjoy and share the good things in life!

Ruth King

Ruth started out as a Horticulturist earning her B.Sc. from a state school in California. After 13 years in the industry she took off to Melbourne, Australia to make wine with a boutique winemaker. Since, she has spent five years in various facets of the industry and is currently the Sales & Portfolio Director for New District, a Vancouver start-up selling and marketing craft BC wine online. She also runs a nonprofit called The Monthly Wine Society through which she will be launching a wine club this summer. Ruth will use her scholarship toward her Winemakers Certificate at UC Davis which she will complete this fall.Read More

Ruth started out as a Horticulturist earning her B.Sc. from a state school in California. After 13 years in the industry she took off to Melbourne, Australia to make wine with a boutique winemaker. Since, she has spent five years in various facets of the industry and is currently the Sales & Portfolio Director for New District, a Vancouver start-up selling and marketing craft BC wine online. She also runs a nonprofit called The Monthly Wine Society through which she will be launching a wine club this summer. Ruth will use her scholarship toward her Winemakers Certificate at UC Davis which she will complete this fall.

Leah Learmonth

Leah grew up in the Okanagan eating peaches and picking raspberries. The Kitchen has always been her haven. She started mixing mud pies in her tree house, then took over cooking dinner for her busy mother as she got older. As a teenager, she trained at a cafe, then worked at the finest local restaurant after graduation. She spent her apprenticeship in Vancouver at a boutique hotel, and returned to the Okanagan to bake at a Winery. She is currently enjoying her first season at Canadian Mountain Holidays Bobbi Burns Lodge, and snowboarding in the backcountry with guests from all over the world. Leah believes the kitchen is a place of creativity, handwork, enjoyment, and family. She thanks Les Dames d'Escoffier for recognizing and furthering her passion in the pastry kitchen, the sweetest kitchen of all, with the Cacao Barry Scholarship at The Chocolate Academy in Montreal.Read More

Leah grew up in the Okanagan eating peaches and picking raspberries. The Kitchen has always been her haven. She started mixing mud pies in her tree house, then took over cooking dinner for her busy mother as she got older. As a teenager, she trained at a cafe, then worked at the finest local restaurant after graduation. She spent her apprenticeship in Vancouver at a boutique hotel, and returned to the Okanagan to bake at a Winery. She is currently enjoying her first season at Canadian Mountain Holidays Bobbi Burns Lodge, and snowboarding in the backcountry with guests from all over the world. Leah believes the kitchen is a place of creativity, handwork, enjoyment, and family. She thanks Les Dames d’Escoffier for recognizing and furthering her passion in the pastry kitchen, the sweetest kitchen of all, with the Cacao Barry Scholarship at The Chocolate Academy in Montreal.

Joey Liu

Joey is passionate about food, sustainability and community. Currently she is the Community Development Coordinator for The World In A Garden (TWIG) and the Growing Kids Coordinator at Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA). She is also the Founder and Facilitator of The Food Connection, a passion project that brings the community together for monthly potlucks and free food workshops. Joey will use her scholarship to complete a Horticultural Therapy Certificate, which will allow her to advance her work in empowering people to grow and eat healthy food.Read More

Joey is passionate about food, sustainability and community. Currently she is the Community Development Coordinator for The World In A Garden (TWIG) and the Growing Kids Coordinator at Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA). She is also the Founder and Facilitator of The Food Connection, a passion project that brings the community together for monthly potlucks and free food workshops. Joey will use her scholarship to complete a Horticultural Therapy Certificate, which will allow her to advance her work in empowering people to grow and eat healthy food.

Kate-lynn Lloyd

Katie has been apart of the hospitality industry for 10 years and has typically spent most of her time in the kitchen. She is now focusing on switching to the Front of House and working towards a supervisor and/or administrative position and is currently enrolled in the VCC's Hospitality Management Two-Year Diploma. Katie is honored to receive a scholarship from the BC Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier and is looking forward to learning about the world of wine in WSET Level 1 at PICA this coming fall.Read More

Katie has been apart of the hospitality industry for 10 years and has typically spent most of her time in the kitchen. She is now focusing on switching to the Front of House and working towards a supervisor and/or administrative position and is currently enrolled in the VCC’s Hospitality Management Two-Year Diploma. Katie is honored to receive a scholarship from the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and is looking forward to learning about the world of wine in WSET Level 1 at PICA this coming fall.

Kim Marchuk

Kimberley has been a cake designer, decorator and instructor for the last eight years. She recently decided to move into the realm of Pastry Arts and to improve her skills in that area. Her end goal is to open a garden to table cooking school/bed and breakfast and to reconnect people with the food they eat and where it comes from, starting with dessert! Kim will be attending The Pastry Centre of Vancouver with Chef Marco Roepke guiding her dream.Read More

Kimberley has been a cake designer, decorator and instructor for the last eight years. She recently decided to move into the realm of Pastry Arts and to improve her skills in that area. Her end goal is to open a garden to table cooking school/bed and breakfast and to reconnect people with the food they eat and where it comes from, starting with dessert! Kim will be attending The Pastry Centre of Vancouver with Chef Marco Roepke guiding her dream.

Melissa Masters

Melissa’s passion is culinary, but her first love is her beautiful family. She has dreamt about becoming a chef for over 22 years and is thrilled that her family supported her dreams. In 2013, they packed up everything they had and left all of their family and friends to move from Alberta to the Okanagan. Melissa excelled in school and graduated top of her class and was awarded multiple scholarships to continue her hard work and fuel her passion for the field. She positively loves the world of culinary and can't learn enough about it! Melissa is looking forward to using her scholarship to continue learning, now moving onto the first level with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.Read More

Melissa’s passion is culinary, but her first love is her beautiful family. She has dreamt about becoming a chef for over 22 years and is thrilled that her family supported her dreams. In 2013, they packed up everything they had and left all of their family and friends to move from Alberta to the Okanagan. Melissa excelled in school and graduated top of her class and was awarded multiple scholarships to continue her hard work and fuel her passion for the field. She positively loves the world of culinary and can’t learn enough about it! Melissa is looking forward to using her scholarship to continue learning, now moving onto the first level with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Joanne Mogridge

In 2002, Joanne opened her Cocoa West Chocolatier on Bowen Island with an intimate seating area which offers a view of the production facility and the courtyard outside. Customers can watch the chocolatier in action or simply enjoy the fruits of Joanne's work and contemplate the view of the mountains. Some of her creations; lemon and thyme-infused white chocolate truffles and the 'Bowenberry' truffle made with blackberries grown locally on Bowen Island. Joanne uses Certified Organic ingredients almost exclusively, and is constantly inspired by the foods around her to create new and different combinations. She will use her scholarship to attend the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, E Series.Read More

In 2002, Joanne opened her Cocoa West Chocolatier on Bowen Island with an intimate seating area which offers a view of the production facility and the courtyard outside. Customers can watch the chocolatier in action or simply enjoy the fruits of Joanne’s work and contemplate the view of the mountains. Some of her creations; lemon and thyme-infused white chocolate truffles and the ‘Bowenberry’ truffle made with blackberries grown locally on Bowen Island. Joanne uses Certified Organic ingredients almost exclusively, and is constantly inspired by the foods around her to create new and different combinations. She will use her scholarship to attend the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, E Series.

Caroline Montemayor

Caroline is a 19 year-old grade 12 student who is currently enrolled at Burnaby South Secondary School. Her hobbies are cooking, baking, eating, and playing with kids. She loves watching YouTube videos of people baking and decorating cupcakes in her free time. In 2010, Caroline came to Canada along with her father and two sisters. Her passion for cooking started when she was about 12 years old. She will use her scholarship to attend Vancouver Community College Culinary Arts (Professional Cook 1 and 2) with the goal to attain her Red Seal.Read More

Caroline is a 19 year-old grade 12 student who is currently enrolled at Burnaby South Secondary School. Her hobbies are cooking, baking, eating, and playing with kids. She loves watching YouTube videos of people baking and decorating cupcakes in her free time. In 2010, Caroline came to Canada along with her father and two sisters. Her passion for cooking started when she was about 12 years old. She will use her scholarship to attend Vancouver Community College Culinary Arts (Professional Cook 1 and 2) with the goal to attain her Red Seal.

Victoria Newbury

Victoria is 17 years old and in Grade 12 at Surrey Christian Secondary School. Her love for the culinary and pastry field started at a young age with monthly trips to Granville Island in search of items for dinner. The idea of buying all ingredients locally and then making a meal was something that really made Victoria want to pursue a culinary career.  Victoria was an avid volleyball player before acquiring position as line cook at My Shanti by Vikram Vij. It’s the customers who rave about the food that makes Victoria want to excel.  She loves the fact that the meals they work hard to push out in a timely manner, are enjoyed by others. Providing quality, fresh and flavourful meals is what makes her so excited for her journey to begin this fall at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.Read More

Victoria is 17 years old and in Grade 12 at Surrey Christian Secondary School. Her love for the culinary and pastry field started at a young age with monthly trips to Granville Island in search of items for dinner. The idea of buying all ingredients locally and then making a meal was something that really made Victoria want to pursue a culinary career.  Victoria was an avid volleyball player before acquiring position as line cook at My Shanti by Vikram Vij. It’s the customers who rave about the food that makes Victoria want to excel.  She loves the fact that the meals they work hard to push out in a timely manner, are enjoyed by others. Providing quality, fresh and flavourful meals is what makes her so excited for her journey to begin this fall at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.

Linda Olson

Linda took a few detours before finding her culinary path, including the pre-commerce program at the University of British Columbia, a brief stint in retail, and seven years managing a soup shop on Granville Island where she discovered a passion for food. At the same time, Linda met her future husband who impressed her with his home-cooked meals and encouraged her to explore her culinary side, supporting her as she left work to attend culinary school. After graduation, Linda joined Culinary Capers Catering and has worked her way up to the sous chef position. While working there, Linda was introduced to the Growing Chefs program and was immediately hooked. Six years later, she still loves to volunteer with their classroom program and has become a member. Linda is very excited and honoured to receive the Les Dames d’Escoffier Scholarship and is looking forward to expanding her education with the WSET Level 2 course at PICA.Read More

Linda took a few detours before finding her culinary path, including the pre-commerce program at the University of British Columbia, a brief stint in retail, and seven years managing a soup shop on Granville Island where she discovered a passion for food. At the same time, Linda met her future husband who impressed her with his home-cooked meals and encouraged her to explore her culinary side, supporting her as she left work to attend culinary school. After graduation, Linda joined Culinary Capers Catering and has worked her way up to the sous chef position. While working there, Linda was introduced to the Growing Chefs program and was immediately hooked. Six years later, she still loves to volunteer with their classroom program and has become a member. Linda is very excited and honoured to receive the Les Dames d’Escoffier Scholarship and is looking forward to expanding her education with the WSET Level 2 course at PICA.

Danika Peltzer

Danika grew up in the small town of Creston, BC, where, shortly after graduation, she was able to open her very own small baking business. Danika worked at a busy meats and deli shop and the owner was gracious enough to allow her to bake her goods there and sell out of his storefront. She is now enrolled in the Pastry Arts program in Kelowna, and loving it! She hopes to someday go back to Creston and start her own business again giving back to the community that helped and encouraged her to be doing what she loves to do! Danika will attend Cacao Barry’s The Chocolate Academy in Montreal.Read More

Danika grew up in the small town of Creston, BC, where, shortly after graduation, she was able to open her very own small baking business. Danika worked at a busy meats and deli shop and the owner was gracious enough to allow her to bake her goods there and sell out of his storefront. She is now enrolled in the Pastry Arts program in Kelowna, and loving it! She hopes to someday go back to Creston and start her own business again giving back to the community that helped and encouraged her to be doing what she loves to do! Danika will attend Cacao Barry’s The Chocolate Academy in Montreal.

Kali Philp

Kali graduated from the University of Victoria with intentions of pursuing accounting, and quickly realized that her heart belonged to the hospitality industry. She has since worked in several hotels and resorts on Vancouver Island, and is currently an Event Coordinator at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. Kali aspires to combine her background with her passion for wine & spirits and work in the beverage industry in a sales and marketing capacity. Kali will be attending the WSET program at PICA.Read More

Kali graduated from the University of Victoria with intentions of pursuing accounting, and quickly realized that her heart belonged to the hospitality industry. She has since worked in several hotels and resorts on Vancouver Island, and is currently an Event Coordinator at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. Kali aspires to combine her background with her passion for wine & spirits and work in the beverage industry in a sales and marketing capacity. Kali will be attending the WSET program at PICA.

Grace Pineda

Grace has been cooking for over 10 years and is an Instructional Assistant at Vancouver Community College’s International Culinary Arts Program. She has learned the importance of balance in both her career and her life. Grace loves to teach others how to cook with confidence and their whole heart. She looks forward to her future as teacher and, one day, a business owner. Grace has received a scholarship to take Artisan Bread Baking at the Pastry Centre of Vancouver.Read More

Grace has been cooking for over 10 years and is an Instructional Assistant at Vancouver Community College’s International Culinary Arts Program. She has learned the importance of balance in both her career and her life. Grace loves to teach others how to cook with confidence and their whole heart. She looks forward to her future as teacher and, one day, a business owner. Grace has received a scholarship to take Artisan Bread Baking at the Pastry Centre of Vancouver.

Rachel von Sturmer

Rachel is a WSET Diploma candidate; she graduated from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts with a culinary diploma at the top of her class. She’s passionate about all things wine, and her own blog. Her goal is to enter the Master of Wine program in 2016. Rachel is currently seeking wine-related opportunities in Vancouver and will use her scholarship toward her WSET Diploma.Read More

Rachel is a WSET Diploma candidate; she graduated from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts with a culinary diploma at the top of her class. She’s passionate about all things wine, and her own blog. Her goal is to enter the Master of Wine program in 2016. Rachel is currently seeking wine-related opportunities in Vancouver and will use her scholarship toward her WSET Diploma.