Hospitality Community Unites to Discuss Issues Involving Gender, Substance Use and Mental Health, Introduces Employee Assistance Program, Free to Industry Workers
Tacofino is set to host Shift Change — an event designed to bring the local hospitality community together to create dialogue and exchange ideas to improve the quality of life for those working within an often-challenging industry — at its Ocho location at 8 E 5th Avenue on Monday, November 25 at 6 p.m.
The inaugural Shift Change event aims to engage hospitality workers and professionals in a discussion on how to increase awareness of issues involving gender, mental health and substance use, reduce stigmas and effect sustainable change in the industry by providing a platform for awareness and support.
During the event, industry support hub Mind The Bar, which provides resources for hospitality workers dealing with thoughts of suicide, substance use, depression, anxiety and workplace harassment, will launch an employee assistance program initiative that will provide 24/7 access to free, short-term in-person or over-text clinical counseling to all of its members.
The evening will also feature a moderated panel discussion with four individuals who are recognized for creating positive change within the industry:
- Shoel Davidson — a 20-year restaurant industry veteran who owns and operates Gringo Gastown and Dixie’s BBQ whose battles and experience with depression, anxiety and addiction inspired him to create Mind The Bar, which last year won the Tahona Society’s prestigious International ‘Collective Spirit’ award;
- Kristin Bower — an award-winning diversity and inclusion professional who formerly worked in the industry and is a psychological health and safety leadership coach and workplace consultant who brings her two decades of experience to a wide variety of clients through her Kristin Bower Consulting practice;
- Makenzie Chilton — a consultant, psychologist and career coach with Love Your Mondays who works with people and businesses to create happy and healthy workplaces and is also psychology advisor for Mind The Bar;
- Heat Laliberte — a local chef and founder of One Arrow Meats who volunteers his time at community charity events and speaks to youth on the Downtown East Side about on how to set goals and live a healthy lifestyle.
Tickets to the Shift Change event are $30 per person plus tax and include canapés created by Tacofino Co-Owner Jason Sussman and Regional Executive Chef Stefan Hartmann, a creative menu of cocktails and zero-proof beverages, live music, displays by local artists and raffle draws that include a trip for two to Tofino. All proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Mind The Bar.
“The goal of this event — and the whole premise of Shift Change — is not only to encourage meaningful discussions about issues that are inherent to the hospitality industry but also promote positive, lasting change,” says Gino Di Domenico, Managing Partner of Tacofino. “We want people to walk away from this with some concrete, tangible goals that they can implement immediately in their own lives and workplaces and start effecting change in the industry.”
TICKETS
A limited number of tickets to the inaugural Shift Change event taking place at Tacofino Ocho on Monday, November 25 at 6 p.m. are available for $30 per person plus tax and gratuity and may be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/shift-change-tickets-78130655895.
To learn more about Shift Change or sign up for a newsletter, go to shiftchangenow.com, become a fan of /ShiftChangeNOW on Facebook or follow @shiftchangeNOW on Instagram.
ABOUT SHIFT CHANGE | A new industry initiative spearheaded by the team at Tacofino, Shift Change aims to encourage meaningful dialogue about issues prevalent in the hospitality industry like gender, mental health and substance dependency and find meaningful and lasting solutions. At its core, the goal of Shift Change is to inspire positive and sustainable change for a range of hospitality professionals who work in restaurants, bars, hotels in BC and abroad by highlighting the opportunities that exist to seek out help, find solace and promote a greater sense of community and support within the industry. | shiftchangenow.com
Instagram: @shiftchangeNOW | Facebook: /shiftchangeNOW | #shiftchangenow
ABOUT TACOFINO | Since its inception, the Tacofino brand has been celebrated for its trademark fusion of sun-dappled, surf-centric spirit and quality, fresh and affordable fare with an environmental and nutritional conscience. From its humble beginnings in Tofino, where the Tacofino Cantina was first launched at the back of the Live to Surf parking lot in 2009, the brand has now grown to include the original Cantina, a fleet of roaming food trucks, seven brick-and-mortar restaurants in Vancouver and Victoria, a growing workforce of more than 300 employees and a legion of loyal fans. | tacofino.com
Instagram: @TacofinoVAN | Facebook: /TacofinoVAN | Twitter: @TacofinoVAN
