Les Dames d’Escoffier British Columbia Chapter (LDBC) is delighted to introduce its new board president, Cassandra Anderton, and the slate of directors for 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, who is focussed on food and libations. She is also the publisher of Goodlifevancouver.com and a marketing consultant specializing in digital and social marketing. She creates content for brands in the food, drink, health, and travel industries, and has appeared on a variety of local TV networks 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.
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, Alumni Relations, Vancouver Community College)
- 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 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, 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.
