MARCH 1-3, 2020

ENERCARE CENTRE, TORONTO
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SPEAKERS & INFLUENCERS

INDUSTRY EXPERTS & INNOVATORS

Don't miss this year's line-up of hospitality innovators, global leaders and foodservice futurists who will be sharing their insights and industry trends to help you operate with excellence.

FEATURE SESSIONS

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Look who is coming to dinner: Learn how to reach today’s changing demographics
Discover the emerging dominant demographic groups, how these consumers are spending their money and how to market to reach them.
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Diversify to thrive: Exploring new profit avenues
Explore the profit boosting possibilities of ghost kitchens, retail and events
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Addressing the labour crisis: How to attract and retain talent
Solutions to tackle one of the greatest challenges the foodservice and hospitality industry faces
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Views from the top: Restaurant CEO panel
Canada’s top restaurant brands’ CEOs share why their brands have staying power and what they do to stay at the top

RC Show Ambassadors & Curators

Evelyn-Chic

Evelyn Chick

Bar Manager, Pretty Ugly Bar & RC Show Bar & Beverage Curator

Evelyn Chick

Bar Manager, Pretty Ugly Bar & RC Show Bar & Beverage Curator

Bar & Beverage Stage & Bar & Beverage Workshop Stage
N/A

Evelyn’s career in hospitality started in Vancouver, with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Throughout the years she has accumulated pedigrees such as : BarSmarts certification, WSET, Certified Specialist of Spirits, while finding success in multiple national & international cocktail competitions, including a win at the Global Beefeater MIXLDN Cocktail championships in 2015; representing Canada against 31 other countries. She was given the opportunity to travel the world promoting Canadian cocktail culture, and her most recent project being the bar operator of PrettyUgly Bar in Toronto, ranked Canada’s top 10 bars two years in a row. She is a bartender, consultant, leader, mentor and an advocate for building a solid, inclusive and integrated bar community within the Canadian market. In the last few years, she took over as the Canadian coordinator of Speed Rack, an all female charity speed bartending competition - alongside co coordinator Christina Veira, they hope to build a platform in which female bartenders can showcase their skills in a male dominated industry, while simultaneously raising funds for breast cancer research and education. She is the Bar & Beverage co-coordinator for the Restaurants Canada Show 2019 & 2020, building dynamic, forward thinking educational programming for the restaurants industry. Needless to say, she is thrilled to be involved with our industry's rapid growth.

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Jeff-Osborne

Jeff Osborne

Sommelier & Wine Industry Insider

Jeff Osborne

Sommelier & Wine Industry Insider

Bar & Beverage Stage, Sommelier Service Competition
Sunday, March 2, 2:00PM-3:15PM

Jeff Osborne is the Sales Team Manager / Sommelier for Grape Brands premium wine and spirits, as well as a Sommelier at Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa and a member of the wine team at Charlies Burgers wine club and dinner series

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Christina-Veira

Christina Veira

Proprietor at Side Duties Events & Consulting & RC Show Bar & Beverage Curator

Christina Veira

Proprietor at Side Duties Events & Consulting & RC Show Bar & Beverage Curator

Bar & Beverage Stage & Bar & Beverage Workshop Stage
N/A

Christina Veira is thrilled to be returning to Restaurants Canada Show for their 75th anniversary. In 2019, she was honored to be chosen as one of Imbibe Magazine’s Imbibe 75 as well as WSET/IWSC (Wine and Spirit Education Trust/International Wine and Spirit Competition) Global Future 50. When not managing busy bars and events, she is a bar consultant for Toronto Cocktail Week, a national co-ordinator for Speed Rack Canada and a spirits educator for WSET. She has occupied every front-of-house position (and a couple in the kitchen) while pursuing certifications in wine and beer and even winning a cocktail competition here or there. Her passions are event execution, industry education and using the hospitality industry as a catalyst for community engagement and fundraising.

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Jennifer-Heuther

Jennifer Heuther

Master Sommelier, Gargoyle Wine

Jennifer Heuther

Master Sommelier, Gargoyle Wine

Bar & Beverage Stage, Sommelier Service Competition
Sunday, March 2, 2:00PM-3:15PM

Jennifer Huether has enjoyed a long career in wine -starting some 23 years ago in the business in Toronto. She has worked as Head Sommelier at MLSE as well as for wine companies Cliff Lede and Jackson Family based out of California. She is one of 30 female Master Sommeliers in the world and is heavily involved in competitions, mentoring, educating up and coming wine professionals as well as those working at the top of their game.

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La-toya-Fagon

La-toya Fagon

Chef & Owner, Twist Catering

La-toya Fagon

Chef & Owner, Twist Catering

Culinary Consultant
N/A

Chef La-toya fell in love with cooking at the young age of 17. She graduated from George Brown’s Chef School and continued to train at a number of top restaurants and hotels throughout Toronto, Europe and Mexico.

Born in Canada of Jamaican descent, she grew up cooking and eating “island foods,” but didn’t truly appreciate that cuisine until recently. After gaining years of experience, La-toya’s creativity started to flourish and she crafted her own take on ‘Island Paradise’, fusing her cooking style of traditional Caribbean ingredients together with Mediterranean flavours. This created some new flavours, with some familiarity of home-style, soulful goodness. Within months of experimentation, determination and hard work, La-toya tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit and Twist Catering came to fruition.

“I love everything about food – the smells, the flavours, the tastes, the texture and colours and mainly combining the raw essence of ingredients and putting it together, creating an explosion of tastes on one’s palate. As my motto states its Culinary Simplicity with a Twist.”

La-toya is destined for stardom. She has been labeled as Toronto’s Rising Star and was formally named Executive Chef to LIVEstyle Entertainment Supper Clubs doing film festivals all over the world. She appeared monthly on Rogers Daytime Toronto and was the food expert on the Marilyn Denis show. She uses her passion for food matched with her vibrant and contagious personality to engage audiences to relate to her. The Toronto Star, Cuisine Noir and The Canadian Press are only 3 of the numerous stories written about La-toya and her exotic, innovative cuisine.

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Speakers

Jay-Wright

Jay Wright

President & CEO, Arterra Wines Canada

Jay Wright

President & CEO, Arterra Wines Canada

Bar & Beverage Stage, Bar CEO Panel
Tuesday, March 3, 1:00PM-1:45PM

Jay Wright is the president & CEO of Arterra Wines Canada. He oversees the domestic and international sales, marketing and operations of Canada’s leading wine company.

Jay joined the company in 2001 as president of Vincor International Inc. and became its CEO in 2006. From 2009 and onwards, he held various executive roles at Constellation Brands Inc. such as COO and EVP & president of Global Wine & Spirits where he was instrumental in leading the business on a premiumization growth strategy and the acquisitions of luxury brands Ruffino, Mark West, Casa Noble Tequila and Meiomi. In 2016, Jay became the president and CEO of Constellation Brands Canada, a privately held company owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which has now rebranded to Arterra Wines Canada.

Before joining Vincor, Jay was vice president and general manager at Borden Foods USA. Before that, he was director of innovation at Molson Breweries and spent 10 years at Nabisco, building brands such as Oreo and Del Monte. Jay, a native of Montreal, began his career in marketing at Procter & Gamble in Toronto.

Jay earned a bachelor of commerce degree with honours from Queen’s University. He serves on the Board of Directors for Arterra Wines Canada. He also sits on the boards of the Canadian Vintners Association, The California Wine Institute, The Toronto Jazz Festival and the Queen’s School of Business Advisory Board.

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Vince-Sgabellone

Vince Sgabellone

Foodservice Industry Analyst,NPD Group

Vince Sgabellone

Foodservice Industry Analyst,NPD Group

Speaker Stage, Rollin’ into the future: Foodservice & cannabis
Tuesday, March 3 - 2:00PM - 2:45PM

Vince has been a foodie since long before it was a fake word and has been developing his passion for food and cooking in his Italian mama’s kitchen. As a Foodservice Industry Analyst at The NPD Group, he provides his unique perspective on food and the foodservice industry, and help his clients improve their businesses. When he’s not busy analyzing the business, you can find him preparing meals for family or friends, or out in the neighbourhood trying out the latest new restaurant and analyzing the menus.

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Julian-Burzynski

Julian Burzynski

President, Canada, Breakthru Beverage Group

Julian Burzynski

President, Canada, Breakthru Beverage Group

Bar & Beverage Stage, Bar CEO Panel
Tuesday, March 3, 1:00PM-1:45PM

Julian is a strategic and results-oriented executive with 30 years of innovative, energetic leadership within the distribution and supplier tiers of the North American beverage alcohol industry. He is an insightful executive expert in leveraging relationships and opportunities for company growth. He is a motivational leader known for clearly defining mission and goals, aligning talent and resources, and consistently delivering results that exceed expectations.

In his primary role leading BBG’s Canadian beverage alcohol brokerage, he serves as the executive lead for key suppliers including Diageo, Jackson Family Wines, Piper-Heidsieck, and Charles Heidsieck Champagne. As part of his responsibilities, he systematically studies and courts new wine, spirits, and beer suppliers to support BBG’s Canadian growth goals. Among his many accomplishments are a strategic investment and partnership with PMA across the country with William Grant & Sons and Brown-Forman as key anchor growth suppliers.

Across almost three decades in the beverage alcohol industry, Julian has served in roles with increasing responsibility at Breakthru Beverage, Wirtz Beverage Group, Judge & Dolph, Diageo, and J. Lewis Cooper and Company. He is skillful at leading cross-functional teams to successful results including M&A activity, and he passionately develops future leaders and enhances team culture.

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Michael-Conway

Michael Conway

Executive Vice President & President, Starbucks Canada

Michael Conway

Executive Vice President & President, Starbucks Canada

Speaker Stage, Restaurant CEO Panel
Monday, March 1 - 1:00PM - 1:45PM

Michael Conway is executive vice president and president, Starbucks Canada. He oversees 1,400 company-operated stores and 23,000 partners. Michael is known as a leader who is committed to living Starbucks Mission and Values. He is personally championing the company’s social impact agenda as a leader in hiring Opportunity Youth and refugees, and is driving an ambitious agenda to operate Starbucks stores in Canada in greener ways. Previously, he served as executive vice president and president for Starbucks Licensed Stores business for the United States & Latin America.

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Jay-Ashton-

Jay Ashton

Business Resources Lead, Sysco Corporate Canada

Jay Ashton

Business Resources Lead, Sysco Corporate Canada

Speaker Stage, Leaders in distribution: How distributors are helping you meet changing customer demand
Sunday, March 1, 2:00PM-2:45PM

Jay started his career in the foodservice industry 30 years ago in Swift Current, Saskatchewan at the age of 14. He’s attended College in Medicine Hat and Red Deer Alberta and then finished off his post-secondary degree at the University of Lethbridge. While completing his Arts Degree, Jay continued to work in the industry he was drawn into.

After completing University, he worked his way up to successfully managing numerous chain and independent restaurants. Jays career took an amazing shift towards Sysco, where over the past 15 years he’s consulted, thousands and thousands of restaurants across Canada, ensuring they continue to succeed in today’s changing business environment.

Today, Jay enjoys leading Canada’s largest food service consulting team for Sysco. Where his leadership, passion and innovation are inspiring and leading edge."It’s all about driving a vision to inspire our teams to provide the best solutions and services to our customers every day. This is the absolute best industry to be a part of!

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Dr.Morgaine_Gaye

Dr. Morgaine Gaye

Food Futurologist & Director, Bellwether: Food Trends

Dr. Morgaine Gaye

Food Futurologist & Director, Bellwether: Food Trends

Breakfast With Champions, Hotel X
Tuesday, March 3, 7:00AM-10:00AM

Dr Morgaine Gaye is a Food Futurologist and director of bellwether: Food Trends, the first food trend research compendium. She has her own health-food product range of functional food blends called Dr Gaye, which are sold globally on-line.

Morgaine looks at food and eating from a social, cultural, economic, trend, branding and geo-political perspective. Her work involves running ideation sessions, consulting to food companies, developing new products and ideas; writing articles/ trend reports for PR and ad agencies; giving public , university and corporate lectures on specific food trends, developing new ideas for food-related TV and radio programmes and doing research on all elements of the eating experience from mouth-feel to olfactory perception. She consults to leading blue chip food companies and manufacturers, delivering bespoke trend briefings and NPD ideation.

Morgaine is a frequent media contributor in print, radio and TV. A number of her academic research papers have been published. She is a guest university lecturer in UK and Sweden and is on the reviewing panel for the International Food Design Conference, an academic journal. As part of the EU Commission, Morgaine was the chair at the Brussels Parliament for 2015. As part of TED X 2016, Morgaine’s talk was ‘It Doesn’t Make Scents’. She is currently writing a book ‘A Taste of Things to Come’ about food trends and why they matter and developing a future TV series with the Food Network, US.

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Dan-Lafrance

Dan Lafrance

President, Flanagan Foodservice

Dan Lafrance

President, Flanagan Foodservice

Speaker Stage, Leaders in distribution: How distributors are helping you meet changing customer demand
Sunday, March 1, 2:00PM-2:45PM

Dan joined Flanagan Foodservice in early 2019 as the first non-family President of the largest privately-owned broadline foodservice distributor in Canada. Dan brings 30 years of experience in the Canadian food industry gained in various roles over a long career with the Kraft Heinz Company, most recently as Vice President of Sales and Foodservice. As one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Flanagan’s has a reputation for exceptional customer service and an impressive track record of growth.

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Court-Desautels

Court Desautels

President, The Neighbourhood Group

Court Desautels

President, The Neighbourhood Group

Speaker Stage, Addressing the labour crisis: How to attract and retain talent
Sunday, March 1 - 12:00PM - 12:45PM

Court Desautels is the President of the Neighbourhood Group of Companies, a Certified B Corporation that operates a group of restaurants in Guelph & Kitchener called The Wooly Pub, Borealis Grille & Bar, Miijidaa Cafe + Bistro and the newly opened Park Grocery Deli & Bar. He is an innovative leader who has a vision of combining great hospitality with environmental and social initiatives.

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Bruce-McAdams

Bruce McAdams

Associate Professor, School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism Management, University of Guelph

Bruce McAdams

Associate Professor, School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism Management, University of Guelph

Speaker Stage, Addressing the labour crisis: How to attract and retain talent
Sunday, March 1 - 12:00PM - 12:45PM

Professor Bruce McAdams graduated from the University of Guelph’s School of Hotel and Food Administration in 1989 and immediately joined Red Lobster Restaurants where he worked for seven years in operations and training. In 1996 McAdams joined the fledging Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants as General Manager of Jump Café and Bar. During his 13 year tenure at O&B he was involved in the expansion of the group as well as the development of their service and ‘employer of choice’ propositions. McAdams was made a partner in Oliver & Bonacini Synergy in 2001 and five years later was named Vice President of the company.

After completing his Master of Arts degree in Leadership from the University of Guelph in 2009 McAdams left O&B to join the faculty of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. In 2011 McAdams started the University of Guelph Sustainable Restaurant Project (UGSRP). UGSRP holds yearly symposiums on issues regarding sustainability in Canadian restaurants and acts as a research avenue for both faculty and students.

McAdams has co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles on the effects of tipping on restaurants, food waste, and embedding triple bottom line approaches to education in hospitality schools. He has presented his research at conferences in Europe, the United States, and Canada. McAdams has recently completed a study on alternative work schedule design for restaurant managers and is collaborating on a government funded research project entitled “Understanding the Hospitality Industry: Demographic Intersectionality’s and the Wage Gap.”

In 2015 McAdams received an OHI Gold Award as educator of the year and most recently in 2017 was the recipient of an award from the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Management Education project. He considers himself an advocate for a stronger restaurant industry and is regularly asked to give his thoughts and opinions on restaurant issues to major media outlets including the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, The National, and NPR.

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Jo-Ann-McArthur

Jo-Ann McArthur

President & Chief Strategist, Nourish Food Marketing

Jo-Ann McArthur

President & Chief Strategist, Nourish Food Marketing

Main Stage, Demographic Panel
Sunday, March 1 - 12:00PM - 12:45PM

Jo-Ann has spent a career building brands with consumers and retailers at Procter and Gamble, Unilever and Cadillac Fairview.
As a divisional President of Molson Coors, and a member of its North America Management Board, Jo-Ann led the charge to sell more beer more profitably.

As a Founding Partner and President of Nourish Food Marketing, Jo-Ann now builds powerful brands for food and beverage products in Canada, the US and Europe, creating marketing strategies that help move products off the shelves, into the consumer’s shopping basket, onto their plates and into their hearts.

She has worked with entrepreneurs launch award winning products and with Municipal, Provincial and Federal agencies to create programs that support Canada's food industry.
Jo-Ann is founding chair of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada, a Past President of The Empire Club of Canada where she hosted leaders from around the globe, and serves as Board Chair of ABC Life Literacy Canada.

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George-Croft

George Croft

President and Chief Executive Officer, Waterloo Brewing Ltd.

George Croft

President and Chief Executive Officer, Waterloo Brewing Ltd.

Bar & Beverage Stage, Bar CEO Panel
Tuesday, March 3, 1:00PM-1:45PM

George is a beer industry expert with over 30 years of experience in the Canadian beer industry. Becoming President and CEO of Waterloo Brewing Limited in May 2008, George has restructured the business and taken the company from a financial loss to sustainable profitability. Waterloo Brewing is the fifth largest brewer in Canada and the fourth largest brewery in Ontario.

George joined Waterloo Brewing from Lakeport Brewing Income Fund, where he was President and Chief Operating Officer. He began his career with Labatt Breweries of Canada, where he held various senior management assignments, including President of Oland Specialty Beer Company and President Labatt Breweries of Ontario.

George is a graduate of the University of Alberta, a Chartered Director and a Management Accountant.

George has served on the Executive Committee of Labatt USA Board, the faculty of McMaster Not for Profit Board Governance and the Board of Director of The Beer Store.

He is a Board Director of Waterloo Brewing, past Chairman of Beer Canada and Board Director of Beer Canada.

George was also an Ontario Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist as well as Canada’s Passion Capitalists finalist.

Waterloo Brewing was proudly named Business of the Year in 2019 by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

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Chris Elliott (2)

Chris Elliott

Senior Economist, Restaurants Canada

Chris Elliott

Senior Economist, Restaurants Canada

RC Leadership Conference, Hotel X
Monday, March 2, 8:00AM-12:30PM

As the Senior Economist for Restaurants Canada, Chris Elliott manages and produces a comprehensive research program that has made Restaurants Canada a leading source of information for and about Canada’s $93-billion foodservice industry. Chris produces a number of member reports that analyze key industry trends and economic forecasts. He also provides research to support Restaurants Canada’s lobbying efforts on issues that affect foodservice operators – from payroll taxes to food costs.

Chris has worked with Restaurants Canada for 20 years, has a Bachelor of Arts and Master Degree in Economics and specializes in economic modeling and forecasting.

Since its founding in 1944, Restaurants Canada has grown to represent 30,000 businesses in every segment of the foodservice industry, including restaurants, bars, clubs, cafeterias, and contract and social caterers. Through advocacy, research, member savings and industry events, we help our members in every Canadian community grow and prosper.

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sleeman

John Sleeman

President & CEO, Sleeman Breweries

John Sleeman

President & CEO, Sleeman Breweries

Bar & Beverage Stage, Bar CEO Panel
Tuesday, March 3, 1:00PM-1:45PM

At 23 he launched his first business, a British-style pub and after three years sold that establishment and founded The Imported Beer Company, which successfully grew into a national company. He estarted family brewing business in Guelph in 1985. As President and CEO of Sleeman Breweries he successfully expanded the business across Canada. He currently remains as Founder and Chairman of the Board following its acquisition by Sapporo Breweries. Co-Founder and President of Spring Mill Distillery re-launched in Guelph from 1836 Sleeman family heritage.

Member of YPO, past Director and Chair of Beer Canada, past Director of Brewers Retail, as well as the British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce. From 2001 to 2007 he was the Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Charter for Business. Past Development Committee Chair for the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation. Recipient of several awards, including the Order of Canada. John lives in the Toronto area.

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Ori-Grad

Ori Grad

Broker & Managing Director, CHI Real Estate Group

Ori Grad

Broker & Managing Director, CHI Real Estate Group

Learning Lounge, Costs & Clauses: Things to know before negotiating & signing a commercial lease
Sunday, March 1, 1:00PM-1:45PM

Ori Grad is the Managing Director and Broker of CHI Real Estate Group, a boutique real estate team that is specialized in the hottest aspect of the commercial real estate game - restaurants. Grad has been selling real estate for 15 years, and in that time, he's become the go-to guy for chefs eager to open restaurants and restaurateurs looking to expand.

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