{"id":53122,"date":"2025-03-03T13:43:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T20:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodlifevancouver.com\/staging\/2138\/?p=53122"},"modified":"2025-03-03T13:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T20:43:28","slug":"flourish-fundraiser-for-vancouver-community-college-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodlifevancouver.com\/staging\/2138\/flourish-fundraiser-for-vancouver-community-college-students\/","title":{"rendered":"FLOURISH Fundraiser for Vancouver Community College Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 5, 2025\u00a0 VCC Foundations’s Flourish, A Fusion of Food, Wine and Fundraising with a Star-Studded Culinary Lineup<\/h2>\n

The Vancouver Community College (VCC) Foundation is proud to announce the return of Flourish<\/em><\/strong>, its signature fundraising event, taking place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the VCC Broadway campus (1120 E. 7th Ave). This annual event celebrates food, wine, and philanthropy, bringing together alumni chefs, industry leaders, and the community to raise funds for student scholarships.<\/p>\n

We’ll be there with Sea Cider!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Flourish<\/p>\n

\u201cVCC is an institution committed to excellence in education and industry leadership, and its renowned culinary program is celebrated nationwide. We are thrilled to host\u00a0Flourish again<\/em><\/span>\u00a0to highlight alumni talent and raise funds for student scholarships,\u201d\u00a0says<\/strong>\u00a0Moira Gookstetter, executive director, VCC Foundation<\/strong>. \u201cThis event is an opportunity to support the next generation of chefs, hospitality professionals, and tradespeople who will go on to shape our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tickets start from $175 and are available\u00a0online<\/a>\u00a0now. This year,\u00a0Flourish<\/em>\u00a0will feature 13 gourmet food sampling stations, including a great line-up of VCC alumni chefs and VCC\u2019s team of distinguished chef instructors, such as:<\/p>\n

\"Flourish<\/p>\n

Warren Chow<\/strong>, executive chef, Wildlight Kitchen + Bar; 2023 MICHELIN Guide Vancouver Young Chef Award Winner
\nStarri Chow<\/strong>, executive chef of Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel since 2010
\nShahni Arshad<\/strong>, culinary director, Supper Club YVR
\nTret Jordan<\/strong>, culinary director, Truffles Fine Foods
\nEdison Antejos<\/strong>, Showcase Restaurant at Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel
\nKishore Rangan<\/strong>, Culinary Director Sodexo Live! and Vancouver Convention Centre
\nHamid Salimian<\/strong>, VCC Culinary Arts instructor since 2013; VCC\u2019s Chef’s Table
\nTobias MacDonald<\/strong>, VCC Culinary Arts instructor since 2012; Certified Master Chef
\nMontgomery Lau<\/strong>, VCC Culinary Arts instructor; former executive chef of Bacchus
\nKaren Gin<\/strong>, VCC Culinary Arts instructor since 2012
\nSonny Ho<\/strong>, department head, VCC Asian Culinary Arts
\nLeanne Bentley<\/strong>\u00a0&\u00a0Esther Kosa<\/strong>, instructors, VCC Baking & Pastry Arts
\nBill Chan<\/strong>\u00a0&\u00a0Stacy Bestard<\/strong>, instructors, Employment Access & Skills Development
\nRonnie Nugent<\/strong>, instructor, VCC Culinary Arts<\/p>\n

\"Flourish<\/p>\n

Each chef will be assisted by VCC students from culinary and hospitality programs, allowing them to further their education experience. VCC is known as Western Canada’s largest culinary school. In addition to tasting exclusive dishes, guests will also have the chance to sip wines from BC\u2019s Naramata Bench Winery Association and ciders from Vancouver Island\u2019s Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse.<\/p>\n

During the evening, guests will enjoy a variety of activations highlighting VCC\u2019s diverse programs, including:<\/p>\n