Les Dames d’Escoffier, British Columbia Chapter Appoints New Board for 30th Anniversary Year

Here’s some news about an organization I am so proud to work with. Look forward to hearing about some great fundraising events for 2023!

Les Dames d’Escoffier British Columbia Chapter (LDBC) is delighted to introduce its new board president, Cassandra Anderton, and the slate of directors for 2022/2023, which were installed during the organization’s annual general meeting at The Vancouver Club in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The board, led by President Cassandra Anderton, will guide LDBC during its 30th anniversary year in fulfilling its mission to inspire, advance, and support all women in food, beverage, and hospitality to achieve excellence in leadership and philanthropy.

Cassandra Anderton is a travel, food, wine, and lifestyle writer, blogger, and broadcaster focused on food and libations. She is also the publisher of Goodlifevancouver.com and a marketing consultant specializing in digital and social marketing. She is focused on content creation for brands in the food, drink, health, and travel industries, and has appeared on a variety of local TV segments dishing out advice on everything from the latest cooking tools and hostess gifts, to what and where to eat and drink. Cassandra has been published in many online and print magazines including her most recent contributions to Vita magazine.

As President, Cassandra is excited to work with the new board comprised of a talented group of women from diverse regions of BC. Cassandra states, “I am honoured to accept the role of President and thrilled to work with our new board. We have hit the ground running, exploring new initiatives and ways to enhance existing programs to provide effective leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy to our members and the BC community.” LDBC has 67 members who will benefit from the board’s leadership.

2022/2023 Les Dames D’Escoffier, BC Chapter Board of Directors:

President: Cassandra Anderton (Good Life Vancouver Publisher, Freelance Writer, Brand Ambassador, Blogger, PR, Events, Social and Digital Media Consultant)
First Vice President: Ruth Grierson (Chargee de Missions, Chaine des Rotisseurs, Gourmet Warehouse)
Secretary: Karen Dar Woon (Owner/Chef, Your Secret Chef)
Treasurer: Lois Gilbert (Bailli, Chaine des Rotisseurs, Okanagan)
Past President: Cate Simpson (Marketing, Communications & Public Affairs, Granville Island Public Market)
Director, Communications: Sandra Merk (Principal, Insight Productions)
Director, Green Tables: Shobna Kannusamy (Chef, Consultant)
Director, In Reach: Margot Baloro (Director of Operations, Farm to Facility, Plenty & Grace Co. Ltd.)
Director, Fundraising: Carolyn Hornell (Director of Corporate Relations, Odd Squad Productions Society)
Director, Membership: Linda Seiffert (President, Snowcap Enterprises Ltd.)
Director, Scholarship: Rossana Ascencio (Chef, Encanto Culinary Services)
Director at Large: Lesley Stav, Vancouver Island Liaison (President, Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks, North Vancouver Island Branch)
Director at Large: Christina Ferreira, Okanagan Liaison (Event Planner, Impact Events)
Director at Large: Christine Blackwood (Owner, Blackwood Career Apparel + Essentials)

New members inducted into LDBC in 2022 include: 

Lesley Brown (Sales Director, Vintage West Wines)
Jennifer dela Luna (Executive Assistant, The Vancouver Club)
Cristina Dias (Owner, Mogiana Coffee)
Christina Ferreira (Owner, Impact Events + Brand Management)
Lois Gilbert (Bailli, Chaine des Rotisseurs Okanagan)
Carolyn Hornell (Director, Alumni Relations, Vancouver Community College)
Shobna Kannusamy (Chef, Coach, Consultant)
Ashley Kiptoo (Instructor, Camosun College)
Sandra Merk (Principal, Insight Productions)
Evelyne Quinti (Sommelier, Gotham/French Wine Agency)
Shelley Robinson (Chef, Consultant)

Throughout the year, LDBC will be fundraising to support their scholarship programs for all women in the fields of culinary, beverage, agriculture, and hospitality, as well as their outreach programming, which currently includes Growing Chefs, and the Okanagan Chefs Association’s Chefs in the Classroom program.

Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality. The organization has 2,400 members in 44 chapters across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy who provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy. In 2021, LDEI chapters raised and donated more than $525,000 to community non-profits and philanthropic organizations.

The organization is named after Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935), a French chef known as “The Chef of Kings” and the “The King of Chefs”. He is recognized as the most innovative chef in history, whose philosophy, accomplishment, and philanthropic deeds serve as inspiration to culinary professionals today.

More information about Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter is available at:

Website: lesdames.ca 

Twitter: @LesDamesBC 

Instagram: @LesDamesBC 

Facebook: @LesDamesBC 

LinkedIn: Les Dames d’Escoffier British Columbia